Have you ever heard of the Toyota Supra? Apparently, it was a popular model from the company that was discontinued in the US back in the late 1990s. We had to do some digging to find out exactly what it was and we discovered there have been many rumors about its return to the states basically ever since it left.
Those rumors are probably swirling like a tornado today. According to our friends at Motor Authority, “Toyota has trademarked the Supra name with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.” That sounds as if the company is getting ready to release a new version of it.
It looks like the next Supra will be built at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria (home of the production of some wimpy SUV called the Mercedes-Benz G-Class) and will share a platform with a BMW, possibly named the Z5. The Toyota will more than likely have a hybrid powertrain (a hybrid from Toyota? Next you’re going to tell us Nissan is fond of CVTs) to increase performance while decreasing emissions. Models outside of Europe may get pure internal combustion power plants. It’s not clear whether or not Toyota will offer a convertible version of the Supra in addition to the coupe version.
What’s also not clear is why the return of the Supra is such a big deal. Wake us up when they bring the Paseo back.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
