Toyota Motor Philippines brought in the fifth-generation GR Supra to the country in the middle of last year, effectively making it the first locally-retailed Supra in the country.
It is also is the first global Toyota Gazoo Racing model, with all units being manufactured at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.
To say that it’s a long-awaited model is an understatement, with the first production model nabbing USD2.1 million at auction.
The fifth generation GR Supra boasts a precise and agile rear-wheel-drive design that pays homage to Toyota's rich racing heritage, directly inspired not only by the vintage Supras of the past, but also the heavily popular 1967 2000 GT. Throwback design elements are married to some sleek contemporary aesthetic cues, imbued with cutting-edge powertrain, chassis and multimedia technology.
The all-new Supra houses a 3.0-liter, twin-scroll turbocharged inline-six that produces 335hp and 500Nm. The torque particularly comes on strong even at low speeds, due to the twin-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection and continuously variable timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. Standard active differential and adaptive suspension further elevate the GR Supra's ride and handling to stellar levels.
The 3.0-liter engine links to eight-speed automatic transmission controlled by paddle shifters that permit manual control when desired. Two driving modes--Normal and Sport--allow the driver to modify throttle response steering weight and transmission shifting to enhance performance. The car delivers a 0-100kmph acceleration of 4.2 seconds, effectively making it the quickest Toyota-branded production vehicle yet.
The Toyota GR Supra is available locally with seven colors, with a starting price of PHP4,990,000. Infotainment is housed in an 8.8-inch Widescreen TFT LCD with USB and Bluetooth 12-speaker JBL HiFi Surround Sound System.
Of course, the Toyota GR Supra is not the only performance coupe available in the Philippines. For those who want to navigate their options, here are some great alternatives.
Though technically an infant in its segment, the Kia Stinger has managed to kick up a buzzing storm since its introduction in 2017. Now practically three years old, the sporty fastback finally receives some smart revisions that further exude its gran turismo character while boosting comfort and convenience inside the cabin.
Under the hood of the locally available Stinger lies a 3.3-liter V6 direct-injection twin-turbo engine that delivers 365hp and 510Nm. The powerful engine links to an 8-speed auto transmission controlled by paddle shifters. A limited-slip differential keeps responses energetic and brisk. As a rear-wheel drive, the Stinger powers to a 0-100kmph acceleration time of 4.9 seconds.
The interior of the Stinger is immediately obvious as a huge improvement from the practical interiors that the lower Kias are known for. There’s plenty of leather upholstery to go around, with numerous refined design accents that scream upscale elegance. The low-slung driver's seat further lends credence to the car's sporty flair. The aircraft-inspired vents are quirky focal point at the center of the dash, but it does serve as a nice reminder of what the cockpits of classic sports sedans used to be like before LCD screens came along.
Though design cues are mired in sports car tradition, they very much belong to the digital age, starting with the instrument panel that consists of a seven-inch multi-function display, to the Integrated Memory System lets you store seat and side mirror settings, and on to the triple-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and ventilated front seats. There's also a 15-speaker Harman/Kardon premium sound system to ensure high quality music accompanies the engine’s monstrous revs.
Despite these impressive qualities, the Kia Stinger manages to be cheaper than the GT Supra by more than a million pesos, while managing to be more powerful as well.
BMW Z4 (PHP3.99 to 5.79 million)
If you’re wondering why the Toyota GR Supra is built in Austria, that’s because it’s actually a BMW Z4 underneath. Both cars share the same platform and powertrain built by BMW. However, that’s where the similarities begin and end.
The car is offered in two powertrain options—a 3.0-liter in-line six with M Performance TwinPower Turbo for the top spec M40i and a 2.0-liter four for the sDrive20i. Regarding power, the former delivers 340hp and 500Nm while the latter manages 197hp and 320Nm. Top speed is 250 kmph for the M40i and 240 kmph for the sDrive 20i.
The design of the latest Z4 is largely mirrors the Z4 Concept BMW unveiled in 2017. Among the cars prominent design features, there’s the vertically-aligned adaptive LED headlights with matrix function for the high beam, mesh-style BMW kidney grille, air extractors on the front wheel arches, and the rear deck-integrated spoiler. Inside, the all-new Z4 boasts driver-oriented cockpit with the center stack angled toward the driver. A BMW Head-Up Display (HUD) is featured for the first time in a roadster.
Upholstered in Magma Red Vernasca leather, the BMW Z4's interior looks and feels more premium than its Japanese counterpart. That said, the German make is a lot more conservative in terms of overall design. If you think the GT Supra draws too much attention, then the BMW Z4 will be more to your liking.
Locally, the Ford Mustang comes in four different trims with two engine options—a 5.0-liter V8 for the GT variants (460hp, 569 Nm) and a 2.3-liter Ecoboost for the Fastback (310hp, 434Nm). Both engines are mated to a 10-speed SelectShift automatic, but the convertible variant comes with the option for a 6-speed manual transmission.
Inside the Ford Mustang, drivers a welcomed by a 12-inch LCD instrument cluster—the first all-digital display ever offered for the model. What’s nifty about it is that it allows users to customize colors, gauge layout, selectable drive modes, and more. A MyMode system lets drivers set their drive settings and remembers them for the next use. That even includes suspension and steering preferences.
The onboard SYNC 3 infotainment system is easy-to-use, allowing for voice activated responses along with the capacitive touchscreen with impressive responsiveness. The sleek user-friendly system lets users connect to and control their smartphone, while also providing real-time navigation. The audio system includes Shaker Pro Audio with HD Radio Technology providing AM/FM stereo, single-CD/MP3 player functionalities and 12 speakers – one of which is an eight-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer. Thanks to HD Radio Technology, reception is crystal clear, with no audio distortion, buzz, popping or static.
Cheaper and more powerful than the Toyota GR Supra, with high-tech gadgetry a plethora of customization options to boot, there’s very little doubt why the Mustang is the world’s bestselling sports car of the last 50 years, the world's bestselling sports car for five consecutive years, and its Facebook page reportedly has more likes than any other vehicle nameplate.
The Ford Mustang’s fellow iconic American muscle car was launched locally in last year’s MIAS, ushering the car’s return after a brief hiatus in the market. The latest Camaro offering from Chevrolet Philippines is powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC VVT direct injection turbo engine that delivers 275hp and 398Nm of torque. Linked to an 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, the Camaro is designed to inspire “a responsive and efficient everyday drive on the freeway,” according to its maker. Other high-performance accoutrements include Brembo brakes featuring four-piston calipers.
Inside, the sixth-generation muscle car features a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, black leather interior panel, and custom leather-trimmed dashboard and console. Driver comfort is enhanced by sport buckets memory seat with eight-way power adjust and ventilated with cooling and heating. Shotgun riders also get their share of the creature comforts via sport buckets seat features a six-way power adjust with cooling and heating ventilation.
Complementing the car’s performance-focused nature is the top-of-the line RS package that lends it a polished honeycomb grille, five-spoke 20-inch machined wheels, LED tail lamps, decklid spoiler, illuminated Camaro sill plates, black front and rear Chevrolet bowtie emblems, and RS badging.
The Chevrolet Camaro is available in three different trims, plus it’s another cheaper option than the GT Supra. It’s also comparatively less powerful, though.
The Nissan GT-R runs on a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that can dish out a jaw-dropping 565hp and 637Nm. Shifting is handled by a 6-speed dual clutch transmission with three driver-selectable modes, fully automatic
shifting or sequential manual control via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
For its interior, the Nissan GT-R exudes a driver-centric design with its four-way power adjustable seats, triple meter, push start and stop button, and sports pedals. Infotainment is as high-tech as can be, with an 8-inch touchscreen that permits Bluetooth connections and hands-free calling. In addition to touch functionality, the screen can be controlled using the Display Commander that allows users to toggle up and down, side-to-side, rotate, scroll through, and control the infotainment system, doing away with the need to look down or touch the display screen.
Other upmarket additions include active noise cancellation, active sound enhancement, and an exclusively designed 11-speaker Boss audio system with dual subwoofers. The car is also imbued with the Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite, making the GT-R Premium one of the most advanced performance units in terms of safety.
If luxury is a primary consideration, and you’re willing to compromise performance numbers for it, then you’ll certainly enjoy buying the Nissan GT-R Premium over its Toyota rival.
Photo/s from Carmudi, Toyota, Kia, BMW, Nissan
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