The Manual Toyota GR Supra Is Out, And It’s What Enthusiasts Asked For

The cat’s finally out of the bag, as we now finally have an official look at the manual Toyota GR Supra. It’s the transmission that most car enthusiasts have been asking for. While the GR Supra is one of the finest sportscars you can buy right now, having the option to fit it with a manual will make it even more engaging to drive on the road.

As mentioned in our prior article, the BMW Z4 on which the GR Supra is based can only be equipped with a manual if you get the smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. That same engine is also in a lower spec of the GR Supra sold outside the Philippines, but no manual is being offered.

Thankfully, the manual Toyota GR Supra we’re getting (which is officially designated as the GR Supra RZ) is fitted with the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six that produces 335 hp in Europe and Asia or 382 hp for the North American market, and this meant that Toyota had to create a completely new transmission. The six-speed manual is a derivative of Toyota’s Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) which means it comes with automatic rev-matching, which can of course be turned off.

The engineering team also removed the transmission’s acoustic package for lighter weight, which on the downside will introduce more noise to the cabin. This became an opportunity for Toyota to tune the interior acoustics in a way that the noises from both the engine and transmission are harmonized to create an exhilarating mechanical sound.

The transmission also comes with a shortened final drive ratio for better launches and low-in gear acceleration. It also comes with a software that optimizes the clutch engagement during upshifts, but if you prefer a more straightforward mechanical feel, this can be turned off.

The upgrades don’t stop there, because the traction and stability control systems have been recalibrated for the manual transmission. Its Track mode has also been retuned for easier drifting, while a new Hairpin+ function is basically a more aggressive torque vectoring by braking feature that allows a greater difference in wheel rotation speed on the opposite sides of the wheel when cornering.

Toyota also used this opportunity to introduce a host of mechanical updates to the GR Supra lineup for the 2023 model year. These include modified stabilizer bushings for improved steering response, revised electric power steering, and an improved Adaptive Variable Suspension that provides a better ride and handling.

Apart from the mechanical upgrades, Toyota also gave the GR Supra RZ with new 19-inch forged alloy wheels in gunmetal gray, and this will also be applied to other GR Supra variants. The design mimics the look of other GR performance cars such as the GR Yaris and GR 86. The rest of the GR Supra lineup also gets upgrades for the 2023 model year in the form of new colors. Volcanic Ash Gray Metallic and Dawn Blue Metallic are available on all GR Supra variants, while the new matte Avalanche White Metallic is exclusive to the RZ in limited quantities.

Moving towards the interior, the manual Toyota GR Supra RZ can be fitted with a black and tan leather interior while upgrades for the rest of the GR Supra line include an improved JBL sound system. The rest of the interior remains unchanged, however.

The 2023 Toyota GR Supra RZ and the updated GR Supra lineup will go on sale in North America, Japan, and Europe later this year. It is still unknown if these updates, including the GR Supra RZ, will also be offered in the Philippines.