By Steve & Tamami Laser; with Nahoko Osuka reporting from Japan
To help celebrate the long-awaited return of its iconic sports car to Japan, Toyota staged a three-day “Supra Is Back To Japan Fes” at Mega Web in Odaiba, Tokyo, this week.
The “Fes,” short for Festival, began with a 2020 GR Supra press conference on Friday, followed by a weekend of activities for “Suprafans,” including a ride-and-drive, car displays, parts and accessories exhibits and more.
The special GR Supra (above) is the Matte Storm Gray RZ edition for Japan slated for a limited run of just 24 units. Press conference speakers included (left-to-right) Yuki Imai, emcee and motorsports journalist; Juichi Wakisaka, TGR Ambassador; Shigeki Tomoyama, Gazoo Racing Company President; Yumi Otsuka, TGR Executive Vice President; and Tetsuya Tada, GR Supra Chief Engineer.
Tomoyama spoke about the long development process for the GR Supra, its premiere at the Detroit Auto Show, upcoming competition events including the Nürburgring 24 hour endurance race, and Super GT in Japan. He also mentioned a “GR Heritage Parts Project” in the works “starting with the 70/80 Supra parts revival activities.”
This video, from the Toyota Gazoo Racing YouTube channel, covers the full press conference (in Japanese) that kicked off the “Supra is Back to Japan Fes.” (video: Toyota Gazoo Racing)
The new Supra features high structural rigidity, said to be greater than the Lexus LFA supercar, a center of gravity lower than the Toyota 86, and ideal 50:50 weight distribution with the engine moved as far back in the chassis as possible. It also looks fantastic (and we like Tomoyama’s “Supra Is Back” T-shirt).
Powertrain choices for GR Supra models in Japan include a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine (above) with direct injection teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is also available.
At the conclusion of the press conference, attendees pose for a group photo with a trio of GR Supras and a lineup of Supra heritage models. This photo highlights just one corner of the expansive multi-floor indoor car display area at Mega Web Toyota City Showcase.
Imai, Tomoyama and Wakisaka moved outside to the Mega Web “Ride One” track where the new GR Supra lead this impressive lineup of classic Supra models.
“Suprafans” who brought their own restored and modified cars to the event pose for a group photo with the new GR Supra.
Once the event opened to the public, attendees signed up for a “lottery” chance to participate in the ride-and-drive activities including time behind the wheel of the exciting new GR Supra.
Another “lottery” was held for a rare opportunity to ride along in the “D1 GR Supra Drift Ride Experience.” (Notice the group of spectators watching the action from an overhead walkway at Palette Town mall, where Mega Web is located.)
This GR Supra is accessorized with a lineup of new GR Parts offered in Japan via TRD. The list includes a GR carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) front spoiler, side skirt, rear side spoiler, side door garnish, trunk spoiler, and GR 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels.
Another accessory on the list for new GR Supra owners is the Toyota Gazoo Racing Recorder, a vehicle information recording device based on Gazoo Racing technology.
A data logger records driver operating information such as acceleration, braking, steering, and shift positions, along with sensor values, including vehicle velocity, engine rotation and acceleration, and stores it on SD cards that can later be displayed with a Gazoo Racing Data Viewer. (Who is that guy behind the wheel?)
A Wild Speed Supra replica from “The Fast And The Furious” was on display inside Mega Web, along with a “limited number of exclusive Blu-ray disc boxes.”
And there was the chance for Suprafans to sign up for an e-Motorsports adventure with a live Gran Turismo race experience Supra.
The Toyota GR Supra is built by Magna Steyr at its vehicle assembly facility in Graz, Austria.
For more information on the GR Supra visit the Toyota Consumer Website in Japan
Or visit Toyota Global and select your country/region
For more information on the venue visit Mega Web
Features and specifications for Japanese market models, parts and accessories are subject to change without notice.
News sources, photos and video courtesy Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota Gazoo Racing Co., and Toyota Customizing & Development Co., Ltd.
Story (text and commentary) © 2019 CarNichiWa.com