The headline? Well, by now you probably know that the 2022 Toyota GR Supra is a BMW underneath---the coupe version of a BMW Z4 two-seat roadster.
Maybe you don't. I work with a guy who's more than a little interested in cool cars, and this Supra was the first he'd ever seen. Which, given that it's been on the market for very close to two years (our first drive and review was in June of 2020), is a little disconcerting. Come to think of it, this was the third one I've driven and beyond those, I don't think I've seen more than five others in traffic.
The under-the-radar quality of the Supra is a little concerning because there's a battle coming. The 2023 Nissan Z is, reportedly, coming to a dealer near you this spring (so, on or before June 20), a much-anticipated revival of the old 240Z and its descendants with 400 horsepower under the hood this time around.
The Supra comes two ways. Our 3.0 is so named for the 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline six that makes 382 horsepower. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifter. Sixty from a standing start happens in 3.7 seconds.
There's also a Toyota GR Supra 2.0, with a 2-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four that puts out 255 horses. Before you think that's a "lesser" Supra, consider that it takes 219 pounds of engine off the front wheels, puts the weight distribution at a perfect 50/50 and makes the Supra a seriously great-handling car.
Not that the 3.0 is any slouch in the handling department (thank the active rear sport differential, double-joint McPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions and the stiffness from these chassis braces in the engine compartment), but you can feel that extra weight when it's gone. Despite the power, the 2022 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 delivers some solid EPA fuel economy numbers---22 city/30 highway.
Not much has changed in the two years since the Supra was introduced. This year, the 3.0 gets heated seats and an available red leather-trimmed interior. Both the 3.0 and the 2.0 get full-screen Apple CarPlay compatibility.
The starting price for the 2022 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium is $54,690. That brings a ton of standard equipment including LED headlights, daytime running lamps and taillights, a 12-speaker JBL audio system with amplifier, navigation and wireless charging.
Our tester had only one extra-cost option, the $1,195 Driver Assist Package (dynamic radar cruise control, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with emergency braking function, so, with $1,025 delivery, processing and handling fee, the as-tested price of the 2022 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium is $56,910.
On its own, in absolutes, I love driving the Supra---3.0 or 2.0. It deserves to be a star among cars at this moment. And it'll be fascinating to be able to compare it and the new Nissan Z in the real world.
