SPL LIVING
Toyota
Returns with a Roar PHOTOS/TOYOTA
BY NITISH S. RELE Putting the new Supra through a test drive of tight turns and hard acceleration and braking, I realized the name truly fits Toyota’s latest iteration of its sports coupe. In Latin, “supra” means “above” or “beyond.” Employing that spirit in designing the 2020 Supra, Toyota has created a car worthy of the beloved marque’s dramatic and much-awaited U.S. comeback after a nearly 20-year hiatus. Picking up design cues from the sleek 1967 Toyota 2000 GT (double-bubble roof, for one!) and the fourth-generation 1993-2002 model with its rounded look and high performance, the all-new Supra GR exhibits a rakish exterior combined with a clean unfussy interior. Under the long swelling hood crouches a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine. This power plant produces a whopping 334 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 365 pound-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. That translates into 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Remarkable for a slightly 3,397-pound vehicle? You bet. Push the starter button to summon the twin-scroll turbocharger, and the rev-happy Supra emits a throaty exhaust roar. Keeping that muscle on the road are a double-joint spring McPherson strut front end and a multilink rear suspension that provide a stable refined ride even on harsh roads and in bad weather. An adaptive variable suspension instantly adjusts damping force in response to
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driver input and road conditions. The 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters in the all-wheel-drive vehicle is sprightly in any situation. The sport-calibrated electric power steering — direct, responsive and accurate — gives extra confidence behind the wheel. Stopping the two-seater, which rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, are 13.7-inch ventilated front discs and 13.6-inch rear disc brakes. Four-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control join in to avoid any mishaps. Safety is built into the Supra with eight airbags, and a precollision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure and forward-collision warnings. The optional $1,195 driver-assist package fetches you dynamic radar cruise control (varying speed and maintaining a safe distance from vehicle in front), blind sport monitor, rear-cross traffic alert, and parking sensors with emergency brakes. Appearances matter, too. The prominent triple-grille front fascia gives the car a hungry look and provides generous air intake. Above, sweptback six-lens LED headlamps have integrated daytime running lights and turn signals. Think muscular! Same goes for the rear with the tall retractable spoiler reminiscent of the 4th-
