The reborn Toyota Supra reached the market last year but automaker is dressing it up for 2021, adding more power to one version and bringing on a second iteration equipped with a four-cylinder engine for the first time.
For starters, the 2021 GR Supra’s inline six cylinder gets a 14% power boost and revised chassis tuning with increased roll resistance and enhanced cornering stability — improvements made even though the 2020 GR Supra earned plenty of praise for its ride and handling.
The power in the 2021 Supra’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six jumps from 335 horsepower at 5,000-6,500 rpm to 382 hp at 5,800-6,500 rpm. Torque rises from 365 pound-feet at 1,600-4,500 rpm to 368 lb-ft at 1,800-5,000 rpm.
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The increased output results from a slew of upgrades throughout the engine, and gives the new model a 0-to-60 time of just 3.9 seconds, down from the 4.1 mark from last year’s model. For 2021, the Supra 3.0 Premium and A91 Edition, come with Brembo brake calipers painted red, featuring the “Toyota Supra” logo.
Toyota said the price increase on the 3.0 Premium grade is $500, and it comes with a starting price of $54,490. The 3.0 grade base model starts at $50,990, up $1,000 from the 2020 model year.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Supra 2.0 offers an intermediate model between the Toyota 86 and the Supra 3.0, giving the customer three distinct Toyota sports cars, expanding the Supra line.
The 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine shares much of its technology with the 3.0-liter inline six, including a twin-scroll turbo, direct fuel injection and continuously variable timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. The variable intake valve lift system adjusts intake valve timing and duration. The bottom line is 255 hp at 5,000-6,500 rpm and a stout 295 lb-ft peak torque at 1,550 to 4,400 rpm.
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The Supra 2.0 uses the same 8-speed automatic transmission as the 3.0, and that’ll get you a 0-to-60 mph time of just 5 seconds, which will make it Toyota’s second quickest vehicle in the line-up. The Supra 2.0 has the same electronically limited 155 mph top track speed as the 3.0, and its fuel consumption will be lower.
The 2021 Supra 2.0 offers much more than a lower price point. At 3,181 pounds, it is more than 200 pounds lighter than the Supra 3.0 while maintaining that model’s exemplary near perfect weight distribution. That’s because the weight reduction is spread throughout the car:
The Supra 2.0 does not have the Active Differential and Adaptive Suspension used on the 3.0 model and a four-speaker audio system is standard, compared with the Supra 3.0’s 10-speaker system.
A “Safety & Technology Package” is new for MY21 and available on the 2.0 and 3.0 grades. It costs $3,485 on the 2.0 and $3,155 on the 3.0, which includes dynamic radar cruise control, blind-spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert as well as parking sensors and navigation system.
(First Drive: 2020 Toyota Supra.)
The Driver’s Assist Package will still be an available option on the 3.0 Premium and A91 Edition. That package costs $1,195 and includes, Toyota said.
