Toyota supra 2005
Plans for Toyota to introduce a replacement for its Supra sports car are gathering pace, according to sources. The rendering above is an indication of what such a twenty-first-century Supra might look like, but we'll all just have to wait until this October's Tokyo motor show for the real thing (or a show concept at the very least).
Due on sale in 2004 and based on the upcoming second-generation Lexus IS platform, the new coupe (which might get a new name) is said to be a modern interpretation of Toyota's classic 2000GT of the 1960s. Engines are set to be 3.0- and 3.5-liter normally aspirated V6s matched to a six-speed close-ration transmission.
The curvy, compact, all-new sports coupe is expected to be a direct competitor to the Nissan 350Z. The previous Supra was last sold here in the 1998 model year, by which time it, like the last-generation Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, had suffered dwindling sales as a result of high sticker prices and spiraling insurance costs. As Nissan has done with the 350Z, Toyota wisely will avoid expensive and complex twin-turbo engines for the new Supra, which should allow for asking prices in the $30,000 range.