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Toyota GR Supra 2023: manual transmission option revealed for rear-drive sports coupe

 

Three years after hinting that a manual box was likely, a Supra manual will launch in the fourth quarter of 2022


Although we already saw it coming, the Toyota GR Supra will be made available in Australia with a manual transmission option, some three years after the initial launch of the automatic ‘J29’ GR Supra. 

Toyota Australia has confirmed that the new manual GR Supra will arrive in Australia during the final quarter of 2022. 

Toyota believes that the manual addition for the GR Supra will “further build on the car’s reputation as a pure sports car with GR brand racing DNA at its heart”. 

Toyota GR Supra 2023 manual stick
Enthusiasts rejoice! The manual is coming!

The six-speed manual transmission will be available in both GR Supra GT and GTS variants.

Where does the GR Sport get its manual from?

While Toyota Australia hasn’t gone to depths with the new six-speed manual transmission, US publication Road and Track provides a better insight into the transmission.

The publication states that the new six-speed manual is specifically tuned for the twin-scroll B58 turbocharged straight-six engine that has been used in several BMW products since its inception in 2015, replacing the ageing N55 turbocharged engine. 

The six-speed manual transmission will feature Toyota’s ‘intelligent’ system which acts as an automatic rev-matching feature. 

Toyota GR Supra 2023 manual interior
Along with the six-speed box, the Supra will also get a new tan interior

The transmission itself is sourced from gearbox manufacturer ZF and features a combination of parts from a multitude of different transmissions. The combination for the GR Supra manual is unique to this car, however. 

The unique part number of the six-speed manual transmission is GS6L50TZ, which Road and Track says is very similar to the part number of the transmission used in the four-cylinder BMW Z4

Despite circulating rumours, the six-speed unit from ZF is not the same as the one used in the manual versions of the BMW M140i or M135i rear-wheel drive hatchbacks. 

Updated specification of GTS model

Toyota GR Supra 2023 rear static
Power comes from the B58 turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 285kW/500Nm

As well as refining the sports manual transmission, Toyota has made improvements to the steering and suspension with modified stabiliser bushings and retuned adaptive dampers to “improve handling performance and ride comfort”. 

The MY23 GTS model gains newly designed 19-inch forged alloy wheels with a titanium Dark Silver finish that are as lightweight as possible, reducing 1.2kg of mass per wheel. 

Three new exterior colours are available with this model update including Volcanic Ash Grey, Dawn Blue and Avalanche White. A new tan trim interior colour is also available. 

Toyota GR Supra drifting
The Toyota GR Supra is also used in competitive Formula Drift events

Toyota Australia has said that it has sold approximately 721 GR Supras since the car’s launch in September 2019. 

Toyota GR Supra 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

  • Supra GT: $87,303
  • Supra GTS: $97,303
  • Supra GTS + matte paint: $99,803
  • Supra GTS + Alcantara seats: $99,083
  • Supra GTS + Alcantara seats + matte paint: $102,303