This is a model that came back to great anticipation for the 2020 model year, after a lengthy absence from Toyota showrooms. The Supra was one of the models that really helped put Toyota on the map in the 1980s and '90s, as its sportiest offering. The fourth generation, which has been admired for years, and has become a coveted modern classic, was dropped in 1998 from the U.S. market.
That one that marked the return in 2019, while a Toyota product, was very closely related to the BMW Z4 two-seat roadster. The two companies shared the development costs, so the result was a Toyota with a BMW engine. In fact, the entire car was built by BMW in Germany, though Toyota created the design and was able to do their own fine tuning to the engine management and exhaust note.
At first, you could only get the new Supra with an automatic transmission connected to the turbocharged inline-six engine. That produced more grumbling from enthusiasts, as a manual had been available in the four earlier Supra generations. Eventually a 6-speed manual was offered, and also a lower-priced version with just four cylinders dubbed the Supra 2.0 due to the engine size. (And here too, a BMW-sourced engine.)
When the Supra came back to showrooms after such a long hiatus (1998-2019), there was mixed reaction. A lot of people were thrilled that Toyota's sports car star was returning, but others were not so happy about the fact that underneath the Toyota skin the car was a BMW.
Toyota's next sports car, however, will be all Toyota under the hood, with no surprise, hybrid power. The upcoming GR GT, from Toyota's sub-brand Gazoo Racing, is not a Supra replacement. Rather, it's going way up the performance car ladder to do battle with cars like the Porsche 911, with a commensurate price tag. There will even be a track version to do battle in GT3 racing.
But rumors persist that Toyota will also bring out a next-generation Supra, and yes, probably with Toyota hybrid power. In the meantime, if you missed out on getting the last of the earlier Supras back in the '90s, there may be some 2026s at dealerships. Maybe even a Final Edition, though it's an expensive way to say goodbye. The base MSRP is $69,745.