When Toyota first took the wraps off of the 2021 Toyota Supra during the days leading up to the Daytona 500, Our attention first gravitated towards the all new Supra four cylinder which aimed to bring lighter weight and a lower asking price to buyers looking for an alternative way to get into the Supra. But for those that only crave the sound of the six cylinder working its magic, the Japanese auto giant also revealed the updated six xylinder model which brings more power and a whole suite of extras to the sleek two door for 2021.
Before we dive deep into what changes are coming for this model there is a bit of bad news for our friends across the pond. If you live in Europe, you are out of luck, with tightening emissions laws preventing the 2021 iteration of the six cylinder Supra from making the trek to dealerships in that side of the world. But if you live in a country that is not bound by tightening emissions standards, you will be in for quite a treat when you slip behind the wheel. The exterior styling of the Supra thankfully does not change much for the new model year, with the bulk of the revisions being centered around the all new A91 Special Edition model. Limited to only 1,000 copies, the A91 variant features model exclusive paint, with buyers being able to choose from either Nocturnal Black, or the stylish Refraction Blue that Toyota chose to spotlight in the bulk of its press photography. The latter color is exclusive to the A91, and the body even benefits from carbon fiber accents for the mirror caps and the rear spoiler. A black stripe snakes its way down the sides of the car with the treatment extending from the C-pillar to the rear fender. Stylish black wheels also come with the package, and also serve as the last major change for this model, with the interior taking a more restrained approach to things with Alcantara inserts and blue stitching being the two key identifiers in the cabin.
But ultimately, the potent hardware that lurks underneath the hood will get the most attention, and it will certainly make believers out of observers that have the privilege to take a peek under the hood. the 3.0 liter turbocharged inline sic is still present, but power has been increased to 382 horsepower and a solid 368 lb-ft of torque. This is a noticeable improvement over the 335 horsepower of the 2020 model, and allows the Supra to walk the same line as its BMW badged cousin, the Z4 M40i which uses the same engine. Toyota claims that the beefier engine is capable of getting the six cylinder model to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds (versus the old 4.1 second figure) but no manual transmission will be offered, with the engine still being paired with the existing eight speed automatic transmission. Handling hardware has also seen its fair share of revisions, with Toyota engineers tweaking the damper tuning as well as installing tuning for the power steering, the adaptive suspension system, stability control, and even the active differential. New aluminum braces also web their way from the radiator support to the front shock towers to help improve structural rigidity.
All 2021 Supra models will also see a noticeable upgrade in the infotainment system side of the coin with an 8.8 inch infotainment screen being standard across the board. Like on the four cylinder, buyers will be able to equip an all new Safety and Technology package that brings dynamic cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, navigation, and even a 12-speaker premium audio system among other goodies. Wireless Apple CarPlay is also part of the package, but Toyota is keeping pricing details for this package under wraps until the model formally makes its way into showrooms.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.