The new Toyota GR Supra with a 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) will soon be introduced in Europe.
This sports car is designed to please drivers who like the control and driving pleasure offered by the manual model.
The new transmission along with the new clutch have been specially engineered to match the power and torque characteristics of the GR Supra 3,000 cc engine.
At the same time, the GR Supra's braking and suspension control systems have been re-tuned for better performance as an extension to all of these sports car models.
New Special Lighter Machine
This manual transmission model is also equipped with a special new engine. In addition to the lighter weight of the manual transmission, it benefits from the car's weight being reduced by almost 40 kg to increase handling agility.
The engineering team was able to modify the transmission housing, driveshaft and gear set, including removing unnecessary elements such as the acoustic package which further reduced overall weight.
New Smart and Accurate Manual Clutch
At the heart of the transmission is a new clutch with a larger diameter and reinforced diaphragm springs. With a larger friction area and stronger springs, these new components have high capability suitable for the high torque GR Supra engine.
The iMT transmission uses an intelligent control system programmed with new software that puts racing performance first. When upshifting, the parameters are adjusted to optimize engine torque at the time of clutch release.
On downshifts, the software has been tuned for consistent performance. iMT is set as default, but can be turned off in Sport mode if desired by the driver.
Bigger Transmission Final Gear
To avoid a slow start, the final gear ratio has been changed from 3.15 (GR Supra automatic) to 3.46. The result is fast response and gearshifts that match the typical performance of a sports car.
The GR Supra's traction and braking have also been optimized for agile and agile manual transmission operation.
It is possible to start from second gear, including when going uphill and when the opposite wheel is on a surface with a different level of grip – such as when the car is parked on the side of a partially icy road.
Improvements to Traction Control
In a manual transmission, first gear must be used and the clutch released which results in greater wheel rotation and a risk of slipping. To solve this problem, Toyota engineers have tuned the car's traction control to achieve the smooth operation of an automatic transmission.
The system is also optimized for the GR Supra's signature high engine torque, wide tires and reliable rear-wheel drive. The behavior of the car as it accelerates out of corners is a key element in the fun-to-drive quality that Toyota developed for the GR Supra.
Traction control was the focus of development to ensure the ideal balance between agility and stability when exiting corners. The TRC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – the car stays true to the racing line – while providing precise and entertaining power.
Application Features Hairpin+
The ambition to make the GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios has helped inspire the introduction of the new Hairpin+ feature.
This feature is designed to provide more freedom, especially when taking tight corners and uphill more than 5% with rough road surfaces, such as those found on European mountain routes. Freer wheel spins can make the route more fun to drive.
As a result, Toyota has optimized engine torque control to allow for a greater difference in wheel rotation on the left and right tires.
Features To Prevent Sudden Oversteer
Highly agile vehicles with plenty of grip on tires may be sensitive to sudden oversteer – something that is difficult to control with vehicle stability control (VSC) alone.
To address this behavior, an anti-roll program (ARP) has been adopted for the manual and automatic GR Supra.
The system intervenes at a point before the VSC operates to cover the sudden loss of grip when the suspension response setting is at its highest.
Additionally, Track mode has been tuned for easy drifting with freedom of accelerator pedal control. The GR Supra remains agile, but the risk of spin is reduced thanks to engine control and increased torque.
GR Supra Lightweight
Toyota has taken advantage of the weight savings achieved with the new manual transmission to add a lighter model to the GR Supra lineup.
The GR Supra Lightweight benefits from weight savings to achieve a total reduction of 38.3 kg, compared to the current model's weight. Installation of a manual gearbox and new 19-inch alloy wheels managed to save 21.8 kg in weight.
The lightweight model reduces the weight a further 16.5 kg by replacing the audio system, and rearranging the car seat design. This reduction increases the car's handling agility.
Added New Body Color Option
The new GR Supra benefits from new paint options with the addition of Moareki Gray and Dawn Blue colors. The Moonstone White Matte color has also been introduced exclusively for the Premium 3.0 M/T model.
Inside the cabin, the red leather upholstery has been replaced with a new brown seat option. Customers can add a sporty character to their manual transmission car with the new Alcantara Pack which uses sturdy materials for the gear knob and center console.
