Toyota exec keen on Supra return: ‘I’d love for it to be ongoing’

The door remains wide open to a new generation of the Toyota GR Supra sports car, as production of today's model prepares to end weeks after a racing version makes its V8 Supercars debut in Australia.

More than 1500 Supras have been sold in Australia since the iconic nameplate returned in 2019, sharing its chassis and 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine with the new BMW Z4 roadster.

Toyota has previously all but confirmed a new generation is on the way, and the desire for a continuation of the coupe appears to remain strong.

"Personally, I'd love the Supra to be ongoing, right?" recently-appointed Toyota Australia vice president of sales and marketing, John Pappas, told Australian media today.

"But for now, we've got nothing to announce on that."

Reports out of Japan have claimed the next Supra will be developed in-house, and switch to a new-generation, Toyota-designed 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine aided by hybrid technology.

Japanese magazine Best Car claims it is due in 2027 with a power output exceeding 500 horsepower (368kW), though Toyota has not commented on the reports.

Pappas' predecessor, Sean Hanley, has been more conclusive in his hints at another generation of what was Toyota's first true Gazoo Racing performance model.

"People always say ‘when’s the new model?’ but the day we launch a new model we start to think about the next one – you’ll have to wait and see when the new one’s coming. But I’m telling you now – Supra keeps going."

Production of the current GR Supra is due to end in March 2026 – after orders closed for Australia in August 2025 – alongside the end of the road for its BMW Z4 twin for most markets.

The nameplate will live on in the interim as Toyota's first-ever entry into Australia's Supercars race series, with five cars across two teams to make their competition debut at the Sydney 500 this weekend.

Although it looks and is named like a road-going GR Supra, the Supercars version drapes unique bodywork over the series' control chassis, shared with Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro teams.

It swaps the production BMW inline-six for a race-tuned version of the naturally-aspirated '2UR-GSE' V8 in the Lexus LC500 sports car.

Its capacity has been expanded from 5.0 to 5.2 litres to compete with the Mustang's 5.4-litre and Camaro's 5.7-litre engines, and was developed by factory Supra 'homologation' team Walkinshaw TWG Racing, and the UK-based Swindon Powertrain.

Asked if there is any concern with discontinuing the road-going Supra as the race version debuts, Pappas said: "We thought it was a great time, actually, for that particular car, because in actual fact, that car was the first GR performance car in 2019 for the brand.

"... What a great opportunity, obviously with the V8 engine as well. It's the right thing."

The five Supercars entries join GR Yaris hatchbacks competing in the Australian Rally Championship, and GR86 coupes in Toyota's GR Cup series, in the brand's motorsport portfolio in Australia in 2026.

"This year will be the biggest year ever for Toyota motorsport in Australia and our GR brand as a whole, and we can't wait to get into it," Pappas told a media conference.

"We are so excited in our organisation. Motorsport and GR are undeniably linked, and while the connection through the products is clear, participating in motorsport demonstrates Toyota's passion and Toyota's excitement for what we do."

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner

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