THE TOYOTA SUPRA IS BACK, WITH A GERMAN ACCENT!!

The legendary platform is back on the road.

But Bumper2Bumpertv says it may not be as much of a thoroughbred that some might prefer.

(Nat sot of music with car on stage) IT’S RETURN TO THE TOYOTA LINEUP HAS BEEN HOTLY AWAITED BY ENTHUSIASTS SINCE IT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED IN 2002.

I like it there so much, I almost didn’t get out BUT WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT?

THE CURRENT VERSION IS A TRUE TWO-SEATER SPORTS CAR, UNLIKE ITS PREDECESSOR A FOUR PASSENGER UNIT THAT HAD BEEN HEAVILY MODIFIED FROM THE CELICA COUPE.

WITH THE CHANGING TIMES THE EXTERIOR FITS WELL INTO CURRENT DEISGN TRENDS OFFERING A SERIES OF FLOWING LINES AND A BUILT IN SPOILER.

TO MAKE THE SUPRA WORK TOYOTA PARTNERED WITH BMW AND THE RELATIONSHIP IS CLEARLY EVIDENT ONCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

THE CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLLER AND AUDIO CONTROLS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE LIFTED STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BLACK FOREST AND INSTALLED IN THE SUPRA.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CONTROLS, WHICH HAVE A PROVEN RECORD.

HOWEVER, IT DOESN’T CONTINUE HERITAGE OF THE TOYOTA DESIGN LANGUAGE.

(NAT SOT) MECHANICALLY THE SUPRA LIVES UP TO IT’S HYPE.

WE TEST DROVE THE 3.0 TRIM LEVEL AND ENJOYED A SMOOTH TORQUE CURVE.

YET WHEN NEEDED IT COULD EASILY RAMP UP EXTRA PERFORMANCE TO MATCH MOST SPORTS OFFERINGS ON THE ROAD.

POWER COMES FROM A BMW 3.0 LITER INLINE SIX CYLINDER ENGINE WITH TWIN SCROLL TURBOCHARGING.

IT DELIVERS 335 HORSEPOWER AND 365 POUND FEET OF TORQUE THE TRANSMISSION IS AN 8 SPEED REAR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC.

WE WERE DISAPPOINTED SINCE THERE IS NOT A MANUAL OFFERED, SOMETHING THAT COULD TAKE THE EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

WITH THAT SETUP IT WAS A CHANCE TO REVIVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO HANDLE THAT MUCH POWER IN THE TURNS FOR THIS 3400 POUND COUPE.

IF ANYTHING, WE FOUND IT WAS A DELIGHT ON NARROW STRETCHES OF PAVEMENT WITH TURNS OR ON AN INTERSTATE.

THE RIDE WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED AND INTERIOR NOISE LEVEL WAS MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE.

OF COURSE, THE SUPRA COMES WITH MOST OF THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGY WE COME TO EXPECT.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS WAS CLEARY DISPLAYED ON THE 8 INCH CENTER SCREEN AND THE HEADS-UP DISPLAY.

THE 18 YEAR HIATUS FROM THE MARKET CREATED A DEMAND FROM TOYOTA LOYALIST FOR THE RETURN OF THE SUPRA FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, THEY GOT A GOOD VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD BE NICER IF IT USED A TOYOTA BUILT POWER PLANT.

I’M GREG MORRISON