A car for driving purists: the new Toyota GR Supra with manual transmission

GR Supra was Toyota’s first global Gazoo Racing (GR) model and from the moment of its launch in 2019 has been the perfect embodiment of the spirit of GR and the dream of Toyota President Akio Toyoda to deliver a car that is purely about the joy of driving.

Subsequently, the introduction of the GR Yaris and the imminent arrival of the GR86 coupe have reinforced the special qualities that define the GR brand – cars that are born out of a passion for motoring and which draw directly on the world championship-winning expertise and experience of Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Since launch, GR Supra has been offered with a straight-six 335bhp/250kW 3.0-litre engine matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A year later, a new 254bhp/190kW 2.0-litre engine was added to the range, again with auto transmission as standard.

While the car and its performance have received high praise worldwide from media and fans alike, perhaps inevitably the question of whether a manual gearbox would be available persisted.

#SAVETHEMANUAL

Toyota has listened to sports car fans and customers, and can confirm that a new GR Supra with six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) will be introduced in Europe soon, engineered to delight drivers who love the control and rewards offered by precisely timed manual shifts. Its addition to the line-up means Toyota will offer all three of its GR models available in Europe with manual transmission and three pedals either as standard (GR Yaris) or as an option (GR Supra, GR86).

True to GR Supra’s thoroughbred engineering quality, this development has not been simply a matter of using an off-the-shelf solution. A new transmission, including a new clutch, has been engineered specifically to suit the power and torque characteristics of the 3.0-litre engine.

At the same time, GR Supra’s braking control systems and suspension have been retuned for even better performance – changes that are being introduced throughout the model range.

The new-look range features two manual versions: the 3.0-litre Pro and the standard 3.0-litre, which is lighter in weight by almost 40kg compared to the standard automatic*, adding to the car’s handling agility.

*Previously part of the 2021 GR Supra range.

NEW SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION

GR Supra’s new manual transmission has been engineered and tuned specifically for use with the coupe’s straight-six engine.

The engineering team were able to modify existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gear set components and remove elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which further reduced weight.

At the heart of the transmission is a clutch that has been re-engineered with a larger diameter and reinforced diaphragm spring. With a larger friction area and a stronger spring, this has the high performance capability appropriate for use with GR Supra’s high-torque engine.

INTELLIGENT OPERATION

The iMT transmission uses an intelligent control system programmed with new software that prioritises sporty performance. When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimise engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance.

The iMT is set as the default but can be switched off in Sport mode if the driver prefers.

To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46. The result is response and gearing appropriate for sports car performance.

SUSPENSION AND STEERING TUNING

All GR Supra versions – automatic and manual – benefit from retuned suspension.

The measures include more rigid vulcanised rubber in the front and rear anti-roll bar bushes and re-tuned shock absorbers. The mechanical components in the electric power steering and the system’s operating parameters have also been re-tuned.

REVISED CENTRE CONSOLE AND GEAR SHIFT

The changes to accommodate the new manual transmission were not confined to the powertrain. Close attention was also paid how the new system could be accommodated in the driver’s cockpit.

This was not simply a matter of changing one shift lever for another; consideration had to be given to ensuring the gear knob was optimally placed for precise, rapid and rewarding gear changes.

The existing centre console design allowed insufficient clearance between the shift lever and the air conditioning control panel. To achieve the perfect ergonomics, the console unit and the control for drive mode selection have been redesigned. In addition, the lever ratio has been changed and the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear has been adjusted.

The revised layout provides a comfortable 42mm clearance between the shift knob and air conditioning panel.

The feel of the gear shift in the hand and the weight of operation are part of the human sensory connection with the car, so attention has been paid to the weight and shape of the gear knob and the quality of shift engagement. As a result, Toyota adjusted the effort level to engage reverse and opted for a heavier gear knob (200g) for a more pleasing inertia effect when used.

TRACTION CONTROL

GR Supra’s traction and braking have been optimised for operation with manual transmission.

With an automatic, it’s possible to use second gear when pulling away uphill when opposite wheels are on surfaces with different grip levels – for example, when the car is parked partly on an icy road margin. Progress is smooth with no rolling back or wheel slip. With a manual gearbox, first gear has to be used and releasing the clutch brings a greater risk of wheel spin. To address the issue, Toyota engineers have tuned the car’s traction control (TRC) to achieve smooth operation like that experienced with the automatic. The system is also optimised for GR Supra’s characteristic high engine torque, wide tyres and rear-wheel drive.

BRAKING AGILITY AND STABILITY

The car’s behaviour when accelerating out of a corner is a key element in the “fun to drive” quality Toyota has developed for GR Supra. For the new manual version, the traction control has again been the focus of measures to ensure an ideal balance of agility and stability when exiting a corner on the throttle. TRC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – the car keeping faithfully to the driver’s intended line – while allowing the right amount of power for a sporty feeling.

NEW HAIRPIN+ FUNCTION

The ambition to make GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios has helped inspire the introduction of a new Hairpin+ function. This is designed to allow more freedom and reward specifically when taking tight bends on an uphill gradient (more than 5 per cent) with a high-friction road surface, like those found on European mountain routes.

More “free” wheel spin can make such routes more enjoyable to drive, so Toyota has optimised engine torque control to allow a greater difference in the degree of left and right-side wheel spin.

ANTI-ROLL PROGRAMME

A highly agile vehicle with high peak friction tyres may be sensitive to sudden “snap-off” oversteer – something that is hard to control with the car’s vehicle stability control (VSC) alone. To counter this behaviour, an anti-roll programme (ARP) has been adopted for both the manual and automatic versions of GR Supra. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to cover any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting is used.

In addition, the Track mode has been tuned to allow for easy drifting with freedom of throttle control. The vehicle remains agile, but the there is less risk of spinning thanks to specific engine and torque control.

GR SUPRA WEIGHT SAVING

The standard GR Supra 3.0-litre manual model benefits from weight-saving measures that together achieve a total reduction of 38.3kg, compared to the kerb weight of the previous, 2021 3.0-litre automatic model.

Fitting the new manual gearbox and new 19-inch alloy wheels saves 21.8kg; a further reduction of 16.5kg is gained by changing the audio system and deleting the seats’ leather upholstery, power adjustment and lumbar support – features that are part of the standard specification of the 3.0-litre Pro model. This reduction enhances the car’s handling agility.

REVISED MODEL RANGE

In the UK, the GR Supra range retains the 2.0-litre Pro automatic as the entry model, alongside the 3.0-litre Pro automatic. The 3.0-litre manual is expected to be the most popular GR Supra version, with the 3.0-litre Pro manual and automatic models positioned at the top of the line-up.

Full details of UK pricing, specification and sales schedule will be announced later.

The new GR Supra range also benefits from new paintwork options with the addition of Moareki Grey and Dawn Blue.

ENDS