RUMOR: Inside Scoop On The Upcoming Toyota Supra? Due Out In 2019? 400+ Horsepower?

The BMW/Toyota project has probably been one of the industry's most interesting partnerships in recent memory. That's because in I am pretty sure anyone's wildest imaginations this was an unlikely union.

Kind of like Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman. It's the kind of thing that makes you go "Say what?"

That said, the enthusiast community has been awaiting some fresh news about the upcoming Toyota Supra. While BMW revealed a concept of its all-new Z4 at this year's Monterey Car Week, it's been crickets over at Toyota.

Aside from waiting and scoping out the latest spy shots emerging from global R&D centers, there's not much to do but sit and wait. It turns out though that someone from an off-roading forum with a good contact at Toyota corporate may have gotten an inside scoop.

According to this forum user, this is what he got out of his contact:

- Any info on the upcoming Toyota Supra?
-- Release date early 2019; should have north of 400hp, expect a manual option. Dave would not comment on powertrain other than to indicate it was a joint build with BMW and it will NOT be using BMW's ubiquitous 3.0 twin turbo inline 6. He said it may have a 3.5 v6 turbo and there may be a hybrid variant.

So, are you buying it? What say you, Spies?

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MDarringer - 8/26/2017 4:47:42 PM

-1 Boost

The money move was to aim it straight at the very lucrative Mustang/Camaro segment dollar for dollar. Like the GT86 this will be a footnote. We already know that like the GT86, the styling will be a major letdown.

Agent00R - 8/26/2017 5:05:46 PM

0 Boost

I don't know. If it looks like the FT1 it will be staggering.

But, of course, the question is how much will it get diluted from concept to reality? Time will tell...

MDarringer - 8/27/2017 9:12:03 AM

0 Boost

@00R have you NOT seen the pictures of the prototype? It could not have a more dull and uninspiring shape if it tried. The Counterfeit Sagaris styling of the show car was too much to hope for.

Agent00R - 8/27/2017 10:51:45 PM

-1 Boost

The prototype pictures show a car that is VERY camo'd still.

Too early to tell.

MDarringer - 8/28/2017 8:36:36 AM

-1 Boost

Umm. NO! You can tell the final shape rather easily. Placement and shape of the lights is readily apparent as well. All its got on it at this point is shrink wrap. What you're seeing is what you're getting.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/26/2017 6:04:47 PM

+4 Boost

I personally dislike the FT1 styling. Clamshell cartoon theme is not cool and a poor replacement for the old Supra. MD is right in that it is being positioned to compete with the Mustang GT/ Camaro on paper. I think the Supra buyer will be different more educated, upscale. Might compare it to a BMW coupe, it depends on pricing/ price levels. They could do a reg car and a model with a turbo motor like before. The more sophisticated the styling the more upscale buyer it will attract. Time will tell. FT86 will live on as the buyer is like 15 years younger than the Supra buyer and makes $100k less a year. BMW sales person once told me a 5 Series buyer/lessor is pulling down $350k on average. Back then they used a formula of 3X the car value to determine true target market income.

MDarringer - 8/27/2017 9:30:28 AM

+1 Boost

@canadiancomments It's fine to believe that "...the Supra buyer will be different more educated, upscale. Might compare it to a BMW coupe...", but if that's true, then the Supra is dead in the water. Those nose-uppity people are brand conscious and would not want a car that is associated with and coveted by low-class, import-tuner bubbas. The Supra never developed credibility as a premium sports car, but finding one that has not been raped to hell by an import-tumer boy and his JC Whitney "tuning" mentality is difficult. I'd abandon the "let market to a more refined customer" bullshit and sell more cars.

Where do you get your marketing info that the "FT86" (sic) buyer is 15 years younger than a Supra buyer...or that 5 Series buyers make $350K a year...oh yes...from the incontrovertible source of that BMW salesman who apparently you trust as an oracle.

The notion that a buyer's income is 3X the price of the car is a "fact" pulled from someone's ass.

bperlow - 8/26/2017 6:43:23 PM

+2 Boost

350K for 5 series buyer/lessor? Im not sure about that. At least in SoCal. Ive seen plenty of Folks with 5 series (fairly cheap base leases) who have roommates and just want to show off. I knew a guy who had an M6 and was sharing an apt with a woman old enough to be his mom(not involved) . He would go to clubs and pick up women and bring them to his place ideally in the dark. He conveniently had the car stolen in Palm Springs and replaced it with a cheaper 335i convertible...

MDarringer - 8/27/2017 9:32:45 AM

0 Boost

That guy sounds like someone I know.