Performance meets precision in Toyota’s latest supercar
Neon lights, lasers, dance floor, influential people – a typical Saturday night in the 80’s at a favourite downtown Vancouver haunt. I can still visualize a then virtually unknown, Don Mattrick (who would later go on to be the President of EA Sports), exiting his new Toyota Supra with a big smile on his face, buttoning up his suit and greeting the valet. His personalized plates, were a version of Evolution, the name of his first video game sold to earn him those wheels at such a young age. Ironically, it has been an evolution of the Toyota Supra and five Supra iterations later, I get time in the driver’s seat of the 2023 Toyota GR Supra.
2023 Toyota GR Supra A91-MT Edition Outside Walk Around
If you think the 2023 Toyota GR Supra looks like a BMW Z4, you are not far off as the model was a joint effort between the two major manufacturers and both vehicles share parts. This is an international collaboration – Japanese name, German parts and Austrian built.
This colour scheme is cleverly titled ‘CU Later Grey’. Low center of gravity, 19” alloy ‘Frozen Gun Metal’ wheels, Brembo brakes, aerodynamic ‘double bubble’ roof, wide grills, large air intakes, 6-lens LED headlights with daytime running lamps, sporty dual rear exhaust, rear coupe but surprisingly, no rear fin.
Inside
The first time I slid inside the 2023 Toyota GR Supra was anything but graceful. The beautiful cognac tan leather racing seats are low to the ground (I am not). In addition, they have lipped edges designed to hug the body. My first attempt, I smacked my head on the ceiling and basically fell in. Classy. The ceiling edges come down quite low over the doors so you don’t always see the street lights, you and the drive-thru coffee server are anonymous to one another and any vehicle around you that is higher off the ground, you won’t see the driver and they won’t see you. It’s a stealthy operation.
With the low ceiling edges and the lipped racing seats, exiting the car requires careful manoeuvres. Those seats are designed to keep you in them, keep you in control of the vehicle, and they do their job. Getting out requires head tilts, fancy foot work and leveraging the door and seat to lift the rest of the body out and fixing your wardrobe for the exit finale. It may simply look better to slide out the window like a race car driver. The doors are long, heavy and in a parking lot, offer very little space but you will find your groove and grace eventually.
By the end of my time with 2023 Toyota GR Supra, I had the entrance and exit nailed which is important because wherever you go, people stop not only to look at the car but also to ogle who driving it. If the looks don’t initially catch their eye, the sound of that dual exhaust and automatic down-shifting rev matching will. This six-speed stunner is not only seen, but heard.
Basic operational functions are available at your fingertips with two hands on the wheel. The crystal-clear heads- up display shows speedometer and other features. Digital tach and computer functions are in the dash.
There is an 8.8” touch screen at the centre with easy rotary control by the shifter. A wireless phone charger and Apple CarPlay connected by Bluetooth so you can hear your playlist or Sirius XM through the 12 speaker JBL system. I moved the passenger seat forward and to look at the sub-woofer behind and was surprised to find a tether latch for a child seat. A child seat in a compact two-door coupe sports car with single seats and eight airbags? Made me chuckle and wonder at the same time.
The centre console has two beverage holders but if they are utilized, shifting gears becomes a bit awkward.
Power
This A91-MT Edition of the 2023 Toyota GR Supra, limited to 50 made, offers a turbo-charged, 3 litre, straight six-cylinder engine, generating 382 HP at 5,800 RPM and 367 lb-ft of torque and sport mode to tighten it all up inclulding launch control. Grab the leather wrapped steering wheel with both hands, push in the sport-style clutch, press start and just listen to the symphonic sound of a high-performance engine.
Adjust the wheel with tilt and telescopic steering, adjust your seat with 14 power options and get ready for pure exhilaration. Boasting 0 – 100km in 4.4 seconds, I had to see for myself and launched out of first gear passed 5,000 RPM and into second – the g-force sucked me back in the seat, and by third, I was doing 97km/hr yet it did not feel like I was at that speed.
The Drive
As I made my way out of the Lower Mainland, the 2023 Toyota GR Supra felt soft so I switched to Sport Mode and could feel the car lock in tight for the long haul. In my opinion, Sport Mode is the only mode necessary in the 2023 Toyota GR Supra. The car simply handles at a premium in Sport Mode so why would a driver want anything else? I understand maybe for the fuel economy but I don’t think anyone buying this car is thinking about fuel economy.
Conclusion
The GR Supra is most comfortable where it was designed to be. Driven at high speeds. Ascending the Coquihalla was effortless. There was no labourious climb. Just over the summit, I naturally kept pace with a Porsche Panamera. We were travelling along quite nicely together until he noticed the 2023 Toyota GR Supra in his rear-view, changed to the right lane, lowered his speed and took a closer look. As I gradually passed him and was able to see him, he briefly glanced up from looking at the car and I got the ‘nod’ of approval. The GR Supra had just been Porsche driver approved. I stepped on it so he could appreciate that beautiful growl coming out the exhaust.
Aside from the value of his Porsche, it was apparent that his wallet was deeper than mine as he put the pedal to the metal and blew by me, taking the lead once again. As I exited for the Connector, one last glance of approval between drivers who appreciate a great car.
Toyota has just released the 2024 GR Supra – the 45th Anniversary edition – so hurry down to your local dealer and order yours today.
