The Toyota GR Supra is one of the most anticipated sports coupes in recent years. With the option of a manual transmission, the GR Supra adds another layer of driver engagement to the already potent sport coupe. Rowing the Supra’s gears yourself comes with a sacrifice in straight-line performance compared to its automatic-equipped counterpart, but the manual transmission offers a more involving and exciting driving experience.

Performance Comparison: Manual vs Automatic

In our first crack with the manual transmission at the test track, the GR Supra recorded a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds, 0.4 seconds slower than the quickest automatic transmission model. The six-speed manual is simple to launch, requiring just a little finesse. With a healthy output of 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, it’s quite easy to overwhelm the car’s relatively narrow 275-millimeter-wide Michelin Pilot Super Sport rear tires. The best launch was achieved by holding the engine between 3,000 and 3,500 RPM and releasing the clutch quickly. The GR Supra completed the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds with a trap speed of 114.0 mph.

In comparison, we’ve tested five examples of the GR Supra with the eight-speed automatic and 3.0-liter engine, three of which featured the car’s original output of 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft. All three were consistent, recording 0-60 mph times of 3.9 seconds and completing the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds with the best recorded trap speed of 111.2 mph. The two examples of the GR Supra automatic with the output increase to 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft were slower to 60 mph by a tenth of a second, but were 0.2 seconds quicker through the quarter-mile with faster trap speeds of 114.7 and 115.8 mph.

Supra vs Nissan Z

The GR Supra manual transmission outruns its chief competition, the Nissan Z. With a six-speed manual transmission, the Z reaches 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and clears the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 105.3 mph. The Nissan packs more horsepower with its 400-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, but it weighs 177 pounds more, giving the Toyota a slight weight-to-power advantage. The Supra also launches harder, opening up a 0.3-second lead by 30 mph.

Note: Our test car was a pre-production unit, so we’re eager to get our hands on a polished, production-ready GR Supra manual to see if we’re able to improve on our current test numbers.

Conclusion

The manual transmission option in the Toyota GR Supra is a welcome addition to the already impressive sports coupe. While the manual transmission may sacrifice straight-line performance compared to the automatic, it offers a more engaging and exciting driving experience. The GR Supra outperforms its main competition, the Nissan Z, and the fact that Toyota is building this car with a manual transmission is good news for fans of the Supra and manual transmissions in general.

Does the Toyota GR Supra come with a manual transmission option?

Yes, the GR Supra can now be optioned with a manual transmission.

What is the 0-60 mph time of the Toyota GR Supra with a manual transmission?

The GR Supra recorded a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds with the manual transmission.

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