Is the 4 Cylinder Mk 5 Supra a Mistake?

Supra's Reincarnation

The Toyota Supra nameplate made a triumphant return to production in 2019 after a few years of circulating rumors. The reveal of the FT-1 concept provided a strong hint as to the future of the Supra. When the production model was finally unveiled, it impressed, showing a close resemblance of the concept. Sadly, it feels as though with every batch of new information and updates, the Supra brands gets more and more diluted. 

Uphill Battle

The first, and probably most devastating obstacle in the Supra's path to regaining its glory was the fact that much of the excitement around it was derailed by the C8 Corvette. We vividly remember the amazing amount of fanfare that the Supra had garnered upon its return. And the pricing announcement for the C8 stole a lot of that momentum at the time.

>>Join the conversation about the 4 cylinder MKV Supra right here in Club Lexus.

4-cylinder

For the 2021 model year, the manufacturer announced the introduction of a smaller engine for the Supra. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder motor is capable of 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The announcement raised a few eyebrows, to say the least. 

>>Join the conversation about the 4 cylinder MKV Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Competing With Itself

We're used to being introduced to the base version of sports cars, with more potent trim levels slowly revealed in the following years of the production cycle. But Toyota chose to give the GR Supra a lower trim level for the sports car's third model year. Company executives in many markets even resisted the idea of offering the 4-cylinder Supra, fearing it would cut into the shares of the 3.0-liter version, as well as the Toyota 86. 

>>Join the conversation about the 4 cylinder MKV Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Questionable Decision?

Regardless, the 2.0-liter version of the Supra has been in production since late last year, with the starting MSRP of $43,945. Critics of this decision often argue that the new lower-trim level essentially lowers the vehicle's value. Others would counter by saying that Toyota had no other choice. Adding a higher trim level would take the pricing into Corvette territory, where the Supra would likely not be able to compete.

>>Join the conversation about the 4 cylinder MKV Supra right here in Club Lexus.

The Legacy of Supra

And realistically, being bound by the engineering limitations that the BMW partnership poses puts Toyota in a tough position with the Supra. Ultimately, though, the fact is that this is the first time in all five generations of the sports car that a 4-cylinder has been on offer. And the fact that there appears to be a very definite ceiling for the MKV platform can prove to be detrimental to the Supra's legacy. 

>>Join the conversation about the 4 cylinder MKV Supra right here in Club Lexus.

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