2008 Supra Return? Plus recent news on the Le Mans Audi.

[McLaren]

Could this be the new Supra instead?

Toyota can't be thrilled standing in the shadows while Nissan enjoys incredible success with the 350Z and Infiniti G35 Coupe. Therefore, our sources tell us to expect an all-new fifth-generation Supra very soon, looking much like this computer-generated image. The curvy coupe will be smaller than the recently shown 2-seat Lexus LF-A supercar. Plan on V-8 power and rear-wheel drive.-Mike Monticello

These photos were Japanese interpretations of the next-gen Supra. Toyota is currently testing a supercar in the $100,000 range. Technology from this car may pass down to a future Supra, which may receive anything from a boosted V6 to a V8, or even a hybrid in its top form. Toyota has no comment, but the Supra nameplate will be back.

http://www.modernracer.com/spyshots/spyshots3.html
Some other unique looking concepts there.

More news to come as I find it on the Supra.

Story 2:

...Winkerton also said it will be essential for Audi to have a 2-seater sports car such as the mid-engine Le Mans concept, the production version of which will be probably be shown at Frankfurt later this year...

News will come for this as soon as I find it.

 

[Blackbird.]

If anything it's going to destroy the name if that is indeed the prototype they are working with.

 

[Jay]

That prototype looks like it follows similat lines and has similar front to the Toyota 2000GT.

 

[a6m5]

I love the overall shape of the body. 👍

 

[eliseracer]

So far so good. Don't mess it up Toyota.

 

[Purple Platypus]

Looks good. Personally, I think that Toyota could definitely use a sports car. But I'm not sure about reviving the Supra nameplate. They're moving from a straight 6 to a V8, which is a very different overall philosophy, in my opinion. It just seems like this new angle at a sports car should come with a new name.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Hmm... I don't know... we'll see I guess. Kind of taking that TVR look so far.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

Personally, I don't like the way that Supra concept look. A bit too bulky in the front for my liking. Sometimes I wonder to myself when it comes to the competition between Nissan and Toyota...will Toyota at least try to find a way to compete with the upcoming GT-R's special AWD? (I think its called Attessa?)

 

[inferno]

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

Sometimes I wonder to myself when it comes to the competition between Nissan and Toyota...will Toyota at least try to find a way to compete with the upcoming GT-R's special AWD? (I think its called Attessa?)

Well, it's really never been a problem before. with a measly 300 or so hp the supra being rear wheel drive was actualy an advantage. Awd eats up more power than Rwd, especialy the active diffs of the Attessa system. But now that the cars are getting up their in the power levels, (500 or so for the GT-R) the skylines Awd will start to show it's advantages.

Basicaly, if a Rwd car can put all it's power down out of the corners without getting squirly then your set. If it cant, Awd will help it dig its way out of the corners. So the more power these cars make the more of an advantage the Skyline will have. Is 500 hp too much for a rwd car like the supra? Only time will tell.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Just to be Ricer (politically) Correct it's Altezza. :tup:

 

[JohnBM01]

I made an old thread talking about what COULD be the next Supra. An assortment of pictures I've seen includes cars that look like a 1999-type Celica, a modified version of the MKIV Supra, and even a model based on my favorite Japanese classic, the Toyota 2000GT. Speaking of which I remember when I seen this car on display at this year's Houston Auto Show, I was shocked to see one. The 2000GTs are pretty rare and selling for big money in great condition. I actually imagined the Supra looking more like its 2000GT. The only thing I might change was the rear end, making the fastback car look more modern.

Regardless, the majority of stuff I read and heard about the next Supra is that it will be based on the Toyota 2000GT. I think if Toyota tried to bring back the FJ Cruiser, bringing back the 2000GT would likely be possible for Toyota. As long as it improves on the sporty and even aggressive looks of the MKIV Supra, and pack the meanness of the early 1990s Supras, the next Supra would likely be something special. REAL special.

 

[Emohawk]

I think those concepts are actually pretty old, and very unofficial. The second one especially just looks like a photoshoped MkIV Supra.

Just to be Ricer (politically) Correct it's Altezza. :tup:

I think she was talking about the Skyline GT-R's AWD system (attesa), not the Toyota.

 

[SkylineObsession]

My Skyline has the Attesa 4WD system too - saved me many times from spinning out.

 

[Izanagi]

Not a bad design IMO. I do think that Toyota have to be extremely careful when they choose the final design for the Supra because it will make or break them.

The 2000GT front styling looks pretty cool but is not what would fly on a 21st century high performance car. The back doesn't look too bad since there's not that much change from the original...maybe a little more wide body in the rear would help it look more settled and keep the back end glued to the road. No need for AWD, just a wide rear with wide tires.

Same with the powerplant choices. As nice and convenient as a V6 or V8 sounds, I'd like to see and I personally think that deviating from the I6 engine is a mistake. It's just NOT a Supra. Japanese cars have, for the most part, had Inline engines so replacing them with V-type powerplants makes the cars lose their legendary qualities, IMO. I can't imagine a Supra with a V8!!! I just can't. It's bad enough that the new GT-R is getting a V engine but whatever...I'm not here to convince anyone so I'll hold my opinions.

I know some people who work for Toyota and TRD so I'll ask around this summer to see if I can dig up anything.

- Marius -

 

[Z32]

I think those concepts are actually pretty old, and very unofficial. The second one especially just looks like a photoshoped MkIV Supra.

indeed a photoshop. id say its nothing more than an artist's interpretation based on rumors. theres something called design language, and toyota is too conservative to do retro (you can argue the new 'cruiser, altho prob pushed by north american execs). usually, those japanese car magazines like to imagine a lot. we know the lexus lf-a is coming soon but 2 sports cars? im willing to bet on a toyota marque sports car to compete with the Z and the lexus halo car to take on the next gtr. doesnt make any sense to compete with itself (gm's 90s downfall)

edit: oh yeah, i think its been confirmed for audi to bring the le mans but under a diff name. based on the lamborghini gallardo chassis but with a smaller engine and quattro and lower price tag so it wont take away sales too.

 

[Cosmic]

Don't mess it up Toyota.

They have already done that. It's awful.

 

[donbenni]

I think it looks pretty darn sweet. Got a Jaguar/TVR look to the front amoung others and a fairly modest rear. I like the swoops and lines. V8 though Sold out. V6 twin turbo anyday.

 

[inferno]

It's bad enough that the new GT-R is getting a V engine but whatever...I'm not here to convince anyone so I'll hold my opinions.

Well, If I may forward just one tidbit. In reality, a V type or any twin bank engine is better for performance reasons because overall, it's a tighter package which means they can position the weight better. In my opinion, non-piston engines aside, the Horizontaly opposed engine is the best of them all.

V8 though Sold out. V6 twin turbo anyday.

Well, that depends. If they do it right, then yeah. But the supra's former twin turbo I6, is not an example of doing it right. if they can make the whole package (engine, both turbos, intercooler) lighter than an NA V8 with the same power, then thats great. If it ends up weighing about the same with the same power, then the NA V8 would be a better choice for better weight distibution and throttle response. But, if they take advantage of the fact that a TT 6 cylider can make a bit more power than an NA V8 (depending on it's displacement) then its twin turbo 6 all the way.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

V8 though Sold out. V6 twin turbo anyday.

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

I was just thinking today about putting in a V8 for that Lexus and I think it might get some V8 fans interested. I mean I think its possible that putting in a V8 would actually get that Lexus more sales in the US.

As dumb as it might also sound, I have been informed that most Americans don't dig the Turbo stuff in their cars and rather go Naturally Aspirated. This could be included in the downfall of Supras and RX-7s(timebomb) downfall in sales figures of the US?

 

[unsanctified]

I sort of like the concept design I've seen so far. You can still tell it's based on the older Supra's style.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, there is a V8 Supra, but you'll have to look to the Autobacs Super GT series (formerly the JGTC). That racing variant made about maybe 493hp. But then too, the "gentleman's agreement" seems to be gone, so the sky's the limit as to what Japan has planned if they want to make turbocharged V6s and turbo'ed V8s.

One of the best examples of classic cars modernized in the 21st Century while being every bit as cool, is the most recent Ford Mustang. The Shelby GT350 and 2005 Ford Mustang GT would look sweet together, a convergence of old and new. If done right, modernizing the Toyota 2000GT to become the Supra wouldn't be too hard. I think the 2000GT's Achilles' Heel was that it was too expensive and so few were made. But the way it was designed, you wouldn't believe it was Japanese. When I first seen it, I thought it was some kind of Jaguar from around the time the 2000GT was out. If Toyota wanted to hark back to the 2000GT in order to revive the Supra, it would have to be done as wonderfully as this Japanese classic. And if you ask me, change up the lines a bit from the 1960s machine, then modernize it, and it would be sweet. I think the car can be done very nicely to hark back to this machine.

In case you want to know where the 2000GT ties into the Supra, here's a website I Yahoo'ed up for you to look at. But let me warn you. It's about as old as 1998:
http://www.geocities.com/~yoshi83/story.html
For a little extra respect, name the James Bond movie which features the 2000GT.

 

[TheCracker]

"You Only Live Twice"

 

[Sting]

I dunno about those pics. To me the last Supra model defined it, easily modified and just pure aggro. I'm apprehensive about what Toyota do to the new one.

 

[humbo]

But nowadays without the "Gentlemen's Agreement" it's different. Back then their cars couldn't come out with huge horsepower numbers, so they left a lot of potential for power in the engine (Supra and the GTR are best examples of that). Without the agreement, they can be sold with amazing performance that they can advertise right off the bat so it can appeal to performance car enthusiasts that aren't necessarily into tuning.

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

A V8 in a Supra?

Finally the day has arrived where Toyota eats a Skyline for lunch, ahahahahaha!!!


Errr, ignore that.

 

[Driftster]

The V8's in the supra's (SC430) are the only good thing from toyota in a while...A WHIILLEE....

But oh well, maybe this supra won't be completely crap.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

McLaren's Angel, you're right in stating that Americans don't like turbos on their cars. As a mechanic, I can tell you right now that Americans don't like expensive repairs and expect their new cars to run without big money repairs for at least 5-10 years.

The engine I hear our customers rave about is GM's 3800 series V6. It's an engine that the automotive press snubs because of its pushrod design and small block sans two cylinders origins, but customers love them because they're quiet, durable, cheap to repair, torquey, and fuel efficient.

Simple engines that're cheap to repair and provide good torque are the American dream. Turbo engines generally don't hit both nails on both heads.

 

[McLaren'sAngel]

Simple engines that're cheap to repair and provide good torque are the American dream. Turbo engines generally don't hit both nails on both heads.

Hiya! Meow! (='.'=)

Those kinds of engine will always be with the American people! Isn't that one of the reason why those old muscle car are still so popular? All you see when you lift up the hood is a engine, some wires, and a trunk space wannabe. It is very simple and easy that you don't have to be a certified mechanic just to take things out and put things back.

On the other hand, these turbo engines look like a mess once you open up the hood. Everything looks complex and squeezed up. This kind of setup will usually scare people compared to the simple engine of that 3800 Series V6.

Even looking at a 600+ HP Supra's engine look so complex. I get lost sometimes and can't seem to find certain parts.

 

[The359]

I should point out that for the past few years, the Supras in JGTC (and now Super GT) have used 4.5L 3UZ-FE V8s. Before that they used Inline-4s.

 

[Omnis]

it'll be a V8 to better utilize their F1 engine technology with the new regulations.