The Supra could enter a new era with the A100.
Supra fans find it a little sacrilegious that the Japanese automaker would partner up with BMW in order to revive their iconic nameplate. It shares many similarities with the new BMW Z4 but the Supra is returning after a long hiatus. Although the new Toyota sportscar is getting a lot of attention, many are already excited about what’s next. Tetsuya Taka-san, Supra Chief Engineer, discusses what’s next after the A90. This includes the possibility of an autonomous or electric vehicle replacing the new Supra.
Tada-san stated that Toyota will likely make the next Supra electric, or autonomous, citing the changing industry’s attitude toward such vehicles. He is confident that there will be an A100. He isn’t sure what it will look like. He suggests that it could be an EV or autonomous vehicle. It could even be an EV or autonomous car like the Formula E, which would be quite radical. The A100, he said, could move the Supra name in a totally different direction and be far removed from the A70 or A80.
Tada-san is certain that he will retire if Toyota creates the A100 Supra. He isn’t sure what will happen when he hands the baton over to another engineer. “I don’t know what’ll evolve.”
Some people think that even the slightest hint of the A100 Supra becoming electric or autonomous is worse than partnering up with BMW to drive the A90. The new Supra does not have a manual gearbox , even though the eight-speed automatic is excellent. That’s because there are plenty of bonnets. Tada-san is correct. Tada-san will likely be retired long before Toyota approves production for a successor to the MkV Supra. Toyota will also have to build it in an age with drastically different consumer expectations.