The return of the venerable Toyota Supra in 2019 has done wonders to resuscitate the Japanese brand’s sporting image.

The current-generation GR Supra was co-developed with BMW. It shares the same two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform as the BMW Z4 roadster, along with the German car’s turbocharged inline-4 and inline-6 gasoline engines.

But news from Japan points to what may be a huge change in direction for the Supra nameplate.

Mid-engine Supra?

Japanese publication BestCarWeb reported that the next-generation Supra, which is rumored to launch in 2025, may become a battery-electric vehicle with an optional pseudo-manual transmission.

Although Toyota has made no official announcement about this, renderings of the new Supra showcase what appears to be a sleek, mid-engine supercar.

Up front, the familiar, upswept Supra headlights are mirrored by the downswept vents in the lower bumper.

The black roof is more apparent when you see the concept from the side, with the tiny mirrors suggesting a camera system instead of a reflective lens. Cooling vents on the car’s shoulders and side skirt emphasize the mid-engine profile.

Out back, the trademark Supra taillights from the current model, along with the integrated mini-ducktail spoiler, display continuity and the potential for savage performance.

EV with ‘clutch’ pedal

The next-generation Supra may use a variation of the e-Toyota New Global Architecture that underpins the Toyota bZ4x.

BestCarWeb projects a two-seater EV that pumps out 450 to 500 PS through the rear wheels.

Another notable aspect of the upcoming model is that it may also get a manual transmission. Well, sort of.

Lexus is currently developing a pseudo-manual system on the Lexus UX 300e prototype. It includes a tachometer, clutch pedal and gear lever to simulate the feel of a traditional manual gearbox.

Electric sports car war ahead?

The Supra is Toyota’s premium sports car, starting out as a special variant of the then-rear-wheel-drive Celica in 1978. 

It became a separate model in 1986 and had been produced until 2002 before its revival four years ago.

The rumored Supra EV points to what could be a return of the Japanese sports-car wars of the 1990s that included the likes of the Supra, the Mazda RX-7, the Honda NSX, and the Nissan GT-R.

Mazda unveiled a potential RX-7 successor, called the Vision Study Model concept, on November 2022. This two-seat sports car may also get a battery EV drivetrain and forms part of the company’s move to electrify all its vehicles by 2030.

Meanwhile, Nissan rolled out a real-world version of the Max-Out concept EV on February 2023. This sleek, two-seat roadster could be a potential successor to the Nissan Z-Car series.

Toyota is also reportedly reviving the mid-engine Toyota MR-S sports car in collaboration with Daihatsu and Suzuki. It is also rumored to launch in 2025.

What do you think of a Toyota Supra EV?

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