A90 Supra life cycle: Incremental updates? New variants coming? What's next?

halfmonkey

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I've gone through most of the reviews and articles about the new Supra and am very excited to hear that practically all reviews are coming back positives with some negative feedback on some things such as light steering/lack of better steering feel or interior feeling small and cramped and being a little difficult to see out of. I guess it could have been worse.

I also recall though that someone from Toyota mentioned that they want to also adopt the strategy of something similar to Porsche and BMW as well where they release incremental updates through the model years to keep interest going and sales going. It seems that if they follow the Porsche model, which has a base model, the S model, the Touring model, and the GTS model, it seems that we're in for a treat with the Supra. I guess the 4 banger is the base model even though the US isn't confirmed to be getting it so far as I've read.

If the current configuration of the Supra is the S model, it seems that we may be getting an available tune for the Supra to bump power up and I thought that I read somewhere that could be a possibility. It seems that we don't have to look to far for these answers as I'm guessing they're just going to follow what BMW has done in the past. As BMW has done in the past with their 3.0 litter in-line 6, they usually release a tune to bump the hp up a bit but still not close enough to the M version. I'd guess they're going to do the same with the Supra and then the GRMN version will use a detuned version of the next gen m3/m4 engine. It's also possible that when this does happen, we'll see the manual and dual-clutch in the car with the m engine int he GRMN version.
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gymratter

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just saw this new article talking about the exact topic.

https://www.goauto.com.au/future-mo...iants-coming-every-year/2019-09-03/79834.html

TOYOTA Motor Corporation’s chief product specialist for the all-new A90-series Supra, Tetsuya Tada, has confirmed that fans of the reborn sportscar only have to wait less than 12 months until its first revision is revealed, with many more to follow in subsequent years.

Speaking to GoAuto this week at the A90 Supra national media launch at Phillip Island, Victoria, Mr Tada said that all aspects of the sportscar are eligible to be tweaked as part of annual upgrades that will take place across its lifecycle, the first of which will be unveiled around mid-2020.

“Not just the power. Suspension, body, (too),” he said. “Every year we will update. Otherwise, sportscar people just get bored.

“We’ve started already on development for the upgrade next year.”

Mr Tada was quick to add that he did not believe the new Supra had any shortcomings in its current form, which need to be addressed. Instead, the yearly updates will focus on creating different versions of the sportscar for particular purposes.

“The current Supra is a base model, but sportscars should have a different direction, like a track side people maybe want,” he said.

“There’s so many different directions. To respond to every single direction, I would actually like to introduce (something). But, of course, (it costs) more money (to develop).”

Mr Tada clarified that these upgrades will not necessarily need to be developed in conjunction with BMW, which typically gives its models similar updates once during a lifecycle.

“(There are) many ways to do it,” he said. “Maybe we might ask for some support from BMW.”

Asked if that support might come in the form of a different inline six-cylinder engine, such as BMW’s twin-turbocharged S58 unit that motivates the recently launched 375kW/600Nm M Competition versions of the X3 and X4 mid-size SUVs, Mr Tada said that is a possibility, adding that it could fit in the Supra’s engine bay.

His view is at odds with that of BMW M GmbH chairman of the board of management Markus Flasch, who told Australian journalists, including GoAuto, in May that a higher-performing version of the Supra’s Z4 cousin with the S58 unit was not being pursued due to the significant re-engineering that would be required to fit it.

Either way, Mr Tada said the potential introduction of the S58 engine or a manual transmission “will maybe be delayed” until later in the Supra’s lifecycle.

“You can’t do everything at the same time. You have to prioritise,” he said.

When asked why a manual version of the A90 Supra is not available yet, given the mechanically related BMW Z4 is available with a six-speed unit, Mr Tada said it is a case of maintaining demand after three-pedal enthusiasts sample the sportscar’s automatic transmission (AT).

“The biggest reason why we didn’t actually produce a manual is that I would like the customer to firstly feel the new-generation automatic transmission,” he said.

“At the moment, the customer’s saying manual before even trying, but if they drive the AT, then I’d like to talk to them after. The technology, the performance is greater ... and with software updates, it will improve more.

“The higher priority goes to the customer’s demands. If we are still receiving a lot of requests after they try new-generation AT, we’ll think about it.”

Mr Tada used Chevrolet’s Corvette as an example, pointing out that manual variants of its C7 series only accounted for 10 to 15 per cent of sales, with the US brand also deciding to move to an automatic-only line-up for the recently revealed C8 model.

However, an ode to the aero-top A80 Supra is unlikely with the A90, with Mr Tada telling journalists it is “technically” possible – given its twin under the skin, BMW’s Z4, is a soft-top convertible – but not currently planned.

Australian deliveries of the A90 Supra start this month, priced from $84,900 plus on-road costs and motivated by BMW’s B58 single-turbo engine tuned to produce 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque in this application.
 

imoj1

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i hope there will be no more powerful version coming
this will split aftermarket focus and will only create goos sales for the company but will confuse the aftermarket focus
i just hope that b58 Toyota setup is capable of doing easy 700hp with the more research and focus of the aftermarket
this is why we are all subscribed to this forums, this is the joy we live
i want these variants to be found and created by the consumers/aftermarket not the OEMs
only then the Supra will be fun
 

Turbro

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Interesting they talk about an S58 Manual. That variant will probably never happen until someone makes it themselves but god damn I would pay anything for that variant from toyota, In RSP Color.
 

KahnBB6

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He really wants us to evaluate the Supra's ZF8 transmission before continuing to demand a 3.0 manual version.

The other day I got behind the wheel of a 2014 Corvette ZR1 which had the automatic option with paddle shifters. It's an amazing and effortlessly powerful version of the C7, however as much as I tried to let the automatic grow on me... while performing very decently in fully automatic and manual modes it was just... there. Manual paddle shift mode did give more control and it was a fairly quick 'box but it just didn't demand the same level of interactivity or offer the immersive fun of a traditional stick shift.

I do wonder if many new MKV owners here have a similar impression of the ZF8 automatic... or not.

Now the rest of this article is very exciting. The MKV is a much more upmarket car with a factory turbo and intended for upgrading by customer and the factory alike. I do think Toyota will make good on keeping it fresh much as Nissan has done for the R35 GTR year after year.

And Tada not having every update 100% tied to BMW's go-ahead is also good to hear as it will give him more flexibility and ease to keep changes to the Supra a little more unique to Toyota's vision for their variant of the platform.

Manual 3.0L, S58 engine and GRMN... yes please to all three.
 

solidsamir

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Supra life cycle and mid-cycle refresh information

Does anyone know what the projected life cycle for this Supra is and when the mid-cycle refresh is expected? I read somewhere that production ends in 2026, but I cannot find the source.
 

Bryster

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I'd say the current circumstances have prolonged its life cycle
 

Captain_Kirk

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based on this thread they are saying 2025 (model year 2026) will be the last year of production so I’m expecting a mid cycle refresh in 2022 for model year 2023.
I think the BMW insider said this car will follow the typical cycle for BMW Z cars. Past Zs usually have a face lift after 4 years. So yes, 2023 sounds right if the trend continues.

SOP = Start of production
LCI = Life Cycle Impulse

E36, SOP 1995 LCI 1999 = 4 yrs
E85, SOP 2002 LCI 2006 = 4 yrs
E89, SOP 2009 LCI 2013 = 4 yrs
 

2JZ-No-Sh*t

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I hope they don't drop the ball on the facelift like with the 86. :p
 

Twisted Tuning

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i hope there will be no more powerful version coming
this will split aftermarket focus and will only create goos sales for the company but will confuse the aftermarket focus
i just hope that b58 Toyota setup is capable of doing easy 700hp with the more research and focus of the aftermarket
this is why we are all subscribed to this forums, this is the joy we live
i want these variants to be found and created by the consumers/aftermarket not the OEMs
only then the Supra will be fun

what do you mean by this?
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