Toyota GR Supra Gets a Stick Shift - Better Late Than Never

Toyota says that it has listened to its fans, and will now begin offering its GR Supra with a manual transmission. While this is great news, why didn't Toyota listen to its fans back when the current generation GR Supra was in development, for what seemed like a decade?

Related Story: 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 Review– What Do You Call a 4-Cylinder Supra?

Fans of rear-wheel-drive sports cars love manual transmissions. While they often make the car a bit slower on paper, they sure are fun. Everyone loves to shift a true sports car, and matching revs on downshifts is a skill so few have anymore it is really an exclusive club in which to belong. The Supra was available with a stick from its inception in the late 1970s, when it was birthed from the Celica, which of course, also came with a stick.

Toyota said in a statement, “Developed to meet the demands of driving purists, the upcoming Toyota GR Supra Manual Transmission has been engineered to offer enthusiasts something closer to the GAZOO Racing DNA that also enhances the driving experience.”

The owners of a rare Supra manual will be able to signal to their brethren that they are an upstanding member of the super-secret Supra stick shift society by sporting a special red badge on the back of the car.

Toyota hasn’t said much more about the new Stick Shift GR Supra except that we should watch for more updates in the coming weeks. So check back to Torque News or the 2020+ Toyota Supra GR Owners and Enthusiasts group on Facebook for details as they are provided.

Is a stick shift GR Supra of interest to you? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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Images of GR Supra by Toyota