What a pleasure! It’s been months since we tested a car we really liked. True, small sports cars gradually disappear due to a lack of profitability. Punitive taxes on bigger engines is also killing some 4-wheeled toys. So let’s rejoice and make the most of this test, with a car not sitting at the very top end of the market…
The Supra 3.0-litre Lightweight comes with a manual gearbox. A new gearbox and clutch were designed for it while the suspension settings were modified to match the performance of the new manual transmission. The Lightweight version was… lightened by no less than 38.3 kg compared with the auto version. The new manual gearbox and 19-inch alloy wheels save 21.8 kg, while the weight is reduced by a further 16.5 kg using another audio system and removing the leather upholstery, power seats and lumbar support.
I like it
You immediately feel at home in the Supra. The driving position is perfect and the driver’s environment just urges you to drive it. The gear lever sits perfectly in the right hand and its consistency is reminiscent of… BMWs. Something quite logical as the Supra is based on the BMW Z4. These two share the same chassis as well as the 340bhp in-line 6-cylinder engine and transmission. It’s a great machine to drive, and one that delighted us throughout our test drive. It’s comfortable and rather silent and muted, allowing you to take advantage of the 500 Nm generous torque value, being easy on the throttle and cruising along in a relaxed way.
Quite clever
As soon as the road gets twisty, the engine awakens with a deep roar and the car moves along with alacrity, gently letting its rear end drift away if you select the Sport driving mode. The new Hairpin+ mode is designed to allow the driver more freedom and get an even more rewarding ride, especially when taking tight, uphill bends (over 5%) on high-friction surfaces. In short, sitting behind the wheel of this Toyota is really fun. The steering is perfectly calibrated and braking is adequate. However, fuel consumption really impressed us. After two hours driving the car in a very sporty way, we managed 10.5 liters/100 km… as a reference, we get 9.5 liters/100 km driving our own GT86!
I don’t like it
This purist’s car is not very child-friendly : there are no rear seats. The boot is just 290 liters, that’s enough for two. Outside vision is far from ideal in city driving but is less of a problem on the open road as there won’t be many people to keep up with you, anyway…
Why I buy it
Driving such great cars from time to time is a real pleasure. Rear-wheel drive, an in-line six cylinder engine mated to a manual gearbox – these are the timeless ingredients for having fun behind the wheel. Find a few pretty Ardennes roads and your mood will become as radiant as that of a Tibetan monk discovering a giant Buddha. It turns, it brakes, it moves along with enthusiasm, but it can also be driven gently at 70 km/h to enjoy the scenery or a golden hour during a majestic sunset. Comfort is guaranteed and there’s plenty of room for two.
Why I don’t buy it
The Lightweight version retails for €65,360 and is not the most expensive Supra available. However, it competes with a certain Porsche Cayman… a highly seductive car, even if, it’s priced by above the Toyota. Add a few extras and the price gets even more stratospheric compared with the Supra’s. It is first and foremost a GT car for childless couples. Despite its « lightweight » tag, the car doesn’t feel like it’s a hardcore sportscar through and through. Nevertheless, in this day and age, isn’t it better to get a lively rather than extreme machine if you’re not going to use it on racetracks? (Translation: Dimitri Urbain)
