What will the FT-1 be called? Supra trademark revived by Toyota!

[2JZ-No-Sh*t]

Toyota’s New Sports Car Might Not be Called the Supra

Even though the internet has already christened Toyota’s upcoming sports car the Supra, this name is not actually set in stone.

While sitting down for a one-on-one interview with AutoGuide.com during the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division said, “Yes, we have other ideas, and yes, the Supra name is in consideration.”

“I think that there is some discussion because the heritage of Supra is so strong,” explained Hollis. But it appears Toyota management is still deep in deliberation. “The name decision will not be made until next year as well. There are some other candidates for some other reasons that are really pretty strong.”

While Hollis didn’t touch on the other contenders, the company does have plenty of sports-car heritage to draw upon. Important nameplates from decades past and possible nominees could include the 2000GT, Sports 800, MR2 and maybe even Camry Solara (kidding).

Despite Toyota’s apparent indecision, this hasn’t stopped the internet from drawing its own conclusions. Supra appears to be the de facto name for the brand’s upcoming sports machine, something the company has no intent to put the kibosh on yet.

“In today’s world of social media,” explained Hollis, “[We] let it go where it goes because that may even help to direct the final answer.”

The name of this future model hasn’t been decided and, perhaps not surprisingly, neither has the release date. Hollis said it’s “fluctuating” and that Toyota doesn’t “even have necessarily a two-to-three-month window.” Despite this ambiguity, he did acknowledge that next year, more concrete information about this highly anticipated car will be released, so we don’t have to wait too much longer.

BMW and Toyota have partnered to develop this upcoming sports car, but being in charge of North American operations, Hollis isn’t privy to the nitty-gritty of this relationship, though he did note that it has been beneficial for each company. “Both seem to be pushing each other in a lot… more effective ways than we even expected.”

Toyota’s upcoming sports car is getting close to launch every day, though it remains to be seen what it will be called and when it arrives at dealerships. Reiterating, Hollis noted, “I will say Supra is definitely a… leading candidate.”

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2017/11/toyota-s-new-sports-car-might-not-be-called-supra.html

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[BrettS]

Isn’t it damn near confirmed to be called Supra?

 

[vb22]

Toyota Would Be Insane Not To Call Its New Sports Car The ‘Supra’

In the sea of crossovers and bad branding that is this year’s LA Auto Show, we had hope of something more—a new Toyota Supra, maybe, a car for people who like cars for their soul rather than for their convenience. But, since everything is bad, we learned instead that the new Supra may not be called the “Supra.”

That would be a massively wasted opportunity, and a very dumb move on Toyota’s part.

Jack Hollis, Toyota North America’s head of sales and marketing, told AutoGuide at the show that despite being called the new Supra by others, Toyota’s new sports car may not get the Supra name:

“I think that there is some discussion because the heritage of Supra is so strong,” explained Hollis. But it appears Toyota management is still deep in deliberation. “The name decision will not be made until next year as well. There are some other candidates for some other reasons that are really pretty strong.”

... Supra appears to be the de facto name for the brand’s upcoming sports machine, something the company has no intent to put the kibosh on yet.

“In today’s world of social media,” explained Hollis, “[We] let it go where it goes because that may even help to direct the final answer.”

Jalopnik has reached out to Toyota to confirm that and for additional comment, but we haven’t heard back yet. We’ll update if we do.

It’s true the “new Supra” has never been an official title, but the new car’s been dubbed that, because, well, the Supra name is important. If you’re the kind of car enthusiast who came of age in the ‘80s, ‘90s or 2000s, you’re likely steeped in the legend of the Supra and its seemingly limitless potential as a tuner car. Magazine covers, Fast & Furious movies and online videos told of Supras with 800, 900, 1,000 horsepower or more, shattering drag records and changing how people viewed Japanese performance cars.

Today, demand for the fourth-generation Supra—undoubtedly the best one, and a tuner car legend—remains high. A 1997 version sold on Bring a Trailerfor $58,000 earlier this year. Daniel Shepard, a 1994 Supra owner we talked to in September, said people hung out of car windows to take pictures of his when he drove it home for the first time.

If you know cars, it’s a car you want. It matters.

But the Supra’s run in North America ended in 1998, and it stopped altogether in 2002. Enthusiasts have wanted a new one ever since. For the better part of two decades now, speculation about a “new Supra” has filled magazine and blog pages with car fans continually asking when. By changing the name, Toyota’s potentially throwing away brand equity that many companies would kill for.

Hollis didn’t tell AutoGuide what the other name candidates for the new car were, or whether they’re new names or based off of other classic Toyota sports cars. (The latter would be surprising, since you’d think a company reviving a classic would tune the new car to be similar to that particular classic.)

The idea of Toyota not going with the “Supra” nameplate is perplexing, and the cause of some mixed feelings: If the new car doesn’t live up to expectations, it was probably best not to use the Supra name. But if Toyota makes an incredible, rear-wheel drive performance machine everyone wants, it will have been a huge mistake to have left the Supra name in the early 2000s.

Sports cars at their heart are an emotional purchase. People buy them with their hearts, not their heads. They buy into heritage and history. And nostalgia’s a powerful drug. Even if the earlier generations of Supra weren’t the best sports cars around—go back and read magazine tests of the MKII and MKIII, and you’ll understand—all of them were elevated by the legendary MKIV. All of them are cool now in their own way. Taken together, Supra is a name we haven’t stopped talking about in two decades.

Using that name brings a lot of pressure, and, sure, Toyota could blow it. We already have hints that the new car may not get a manual version or have wildly high horsepower figures, and that would be a real shame. But not going with “Supra” is more of a marketing risk than the potential to deliver a hot pile of garbage under such a highly respected name.

After all, Toyota would have to give people a reason to care about the New Toyota Sports Car With A New Toyota Name. Toyota wouldn’t have to give anyone a reason to care about the Supra.

So, really, the solution here is simple. As long as Toyota makes a good car, for car people, it shouldn’t have a problem calling it the Supra. If the company has a heaping bowl of dirt in the works, maybe “Supra” isn’t the best idea. We won’t know specifics on the car until next year anyway, according to Hollis’ interview with AutoGuide—something that to us implies we won’t be seeing it for some months, instead of January at the Detroit Auto Show.

But if there’s one thing we do know, it’s that Toyota can make good cars when it wants to. For all the beige it’s put into the world, there’s also the LFA, the LC, tons of Land Cruisers, Le Mans prototypes, the 86, the MR2, and yes, the Supra.

If this new Supra is good, let it be just that: a Supra.

https://jalopnik.com/toyota-would-be-insane-not-to-call-its-new-sports-car-t-1820892928

 

[Captain_Kirk]

But Nikispeed already told us its going to be called Supra.

 

[DevonK]

People are already getting plates.

Damn! Gone already....I thought of a nice riff on this I might go for if I get the car, but I am not putting it up here to have it stolen!

 

[A70TTR]

it's a pretty sure thing just based on the fact that a bunch of high ranking people want it to be called Supra, but there's still a chance it will be called something else if marketing makes a good case for it not being called that.

 

[Guff]

VB22 already posted this, but I'll go ahead and post it here too since this thread seems like a more relevant place:

http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?746321-Toyota-debuts-FT1-sports-car./page147

Soooooo, I'm breaking the news to Supra Forums only. This news will spread, but it starts here first, not Supra MkV, You Tube, no where else. Here. I'm only telling yall because of what Akio said in the meetings, so I think it's time now. This car (340hp talked about up above) will be called a Celica, while the Gazoo Racing tuned Celica will then be called the Supra. As Akio said, this is the Supra, but not quite what you think. Think ala Mk. II Celica, and then Celica Supra. However, it will just be a GR Supra, and not a GR Celica-Supra. Again, this "is" the Supra, but not the stand alone Supra everyone was thinking.

That is the reason there will not be a M version of the Z4, and it's because of the GR tuned Supra, as this is what will differentiate the GR Supra and the Z4.

Personally, I like the name of Celica Supra, as it means to be surpass the heavens, but again I stress it will be a GR Supra.

 

[MA617M]

yeah.... doesn't feel accurate. Celica was meant to be affordable, stylish fun.... if anything, the GT86 is a true celica successor.... Celica Supra would be ok though, not that I am biased or anything.

 

[Guff]

yeah.... doesn't feel accurate. Celica was meant to be affordable, stylish fun.... if anything, the GT86 is a true celica successor.... Celica Supra would be ok though, not that I am biased or anything.

Celica was also a GT tho, GT86 is far from a GT. And perhaps if the Celica-spec is more luxury oriented, it could be an apt name? Idk, I'm just guessing here lol. Not even sure if this is true, I'm waiting on confirmation.

 

[MA617M]

I guess I'm referring to the original TA22/RA28 Celicas - I forget about the mushy 184 and 202. I know the older ones were meant to be fun and sporty?

 

[Captain_Kirk]

So to not further derail Guff's thread, so what say you?

Edit: To further clarify, when I say any form that means either Celica-Supra or just Supra for the top spec model.

 

[tfoxyr]

I can't see why not , if the car is a performer it deserves it as toyota flagship , if the car underperforms and just is a marketing thing it will probably do more harm than good. So even if i voted yes , my true answer is depends . The supra name will be a total disaster if the car is not hellish fast and reliable .

 

[vb22]

I wouldn't be opposed to "Celica Supra". I believe the Latin translation means heavenly above. It would also be nice to see it go back to its roots.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I can't see why not , if the car is a performer it deserves it as toyota flagship , if the car underperforms and just is a marketing thing it will probably do more harm than good. So even if i voted yes , my true answer is depends . The supra name will be a total disaster if the car is not hellish fast and reliable .

I fixed the poll just for you.

 

[tfoxyr]

thanks dude!

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