UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) officially introduced the All-New Toyota GR Supra, bringing back an iconic model to Toyota’s range as its flagship sportscar to the Malaysian market.
The All-New GR Supra was introduced by UMWT’s Chief Motorsports Officer (also Deputy Chairman of the company), Akio Takeyama, accompanied by Tengku Djan Ley, a well-known racer in the motorsports scene, especially in drifting. Witnessing the long-awaited occasion were members of various clubs, participants of the TGR Festival and Vios One-Make Challenge, and of course, many fans of the Supra.
“This time, as never before in the past, so much attention has been paid to its handling capabilities. Our President demanded nothing less than the highest performance and the considerable engineering resources and experience of the company were all drawn upon to develop the All-New GR Supra. This is a sportscar in its purest form, with no compromise,” Mr. Takeyama declared.
In line with the aim to make ever-better cars, the engineers have provided a truly emotional experience for the driver. Part of this comes from the exhaust sound which strengthens the car’s character but also enhances the whole driving experience.
The All-New GR Supra is the fifth generation which began in 1978. A popular choice of racing teams over the years, the Supra also appeared in videogames (Gran Turismo, Need for Speed) and movies such as ‘The Fast & Furious’ series.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is the umbrella organization for Toyota’s global motorsports programme. In the past year, it has achieved top level success in winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Manufacturers’ Championship in the FIA World Rally Championship and the 2019 Dakar rally.
Starting with the All-New GR Supra, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing transfers the technical learnings it gains from the racetrack and rally stages to the development of new generations of Toyota’s sports-focused GR models and also its wider range of vehicles. The All-New GR Supra is the first GR model to be developed and produced by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for the global market.
For the Malaysian market, UMWT offers the All-New GR Supra in a single variant - GTS spec. This comes with a 3-litre turbocharged in-line 6-cylinder engine producing 250 kW/340 PS of power and peak torque of 500 Nm. Drive to the rear wheels is through a new quick-shifting, sports-tuned 8-speed electronic automatic transmission with a launch control function that enables a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds. Lightweight 19-inch forged alloy rims are standard fitment.
Besides having a 50:50 weight distribution, the superior driving dynamics of the All-New GR Supra are enhanced with Adaptive Variable Suspension and Electronically Controlled Limited Slip Differential (LSD). Drivers can also further customize some of the settings to extend the performance envelope of the sportscar and reduce the intervention of electronic aids.
While the All-New GR Supra was developed for the sporty driver, the interior is no less comfortable for long-distance cruising. Befitting its flagship status, the GR Supra's interior is finished in fine materials with a long list of features including dual zone climate control; keyless smart entry and start; leather upholstery, Heads-Up Display, electrically-adjustable sports seats with power lumbar support; electrochromatic rearview mirror; and a 12-speaker JBL audio system.
Customers can choose from a selection of eight exterior colours – Prominence Red, Lightning Yellow, White Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Matte Storm Grey Metallic, Black Metallic and Ice Grey Metallic.
Besides introducing the All-New GR Supra, Mr. Takeyama also announced the GR Garage is making its appearance in Malaysia. Selected authorized Toyota dealers will set up a "Shop in Shop" concept to sell GR products – starting with the GR Supra, GR high performance products and GR merchandise. As a start, there will be five outlets – 3 in the Klang Valley, and 1 each in the North and South regions. The GR Garage concept was introduced in Japan some years ago and Malaysia is the first market outside Japan to also offer it to consumers.
“The TGR Festival, Vios Challenge and Toyota Velocity Esports Championship have shown how Toyota is injecting more passion into its motorsports activities,” said Mr. Takeyama. “However, we find that this is not enough to cater for car enthusiasts and motorsports fan’s needs in Malaysia. So we have come up with a new platform - the GR Garage, a place where they can gather and talk about their passion of cars… especially sportscars and motorsports.”
The On-the-Road selling price without insurance of the All-New Toyota GR Supra starts from RM 568,000 for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia.
For further information on the All-New Toyota GR Supra and the locations of dealerships with the GR Garage, customers can visit toyota.com.my/vehicles/gr-lineup/supra or call the Toyota freephone line 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).