Toyota GR Supra 2022: brand confirms manual rumours are TRUE for Nissan Z-rivalling sports car

Not to be outdone by Nissan with its highly-anticipated Z coupe, Toyota has confirmed that it too will offer a manual on the Supra

As reported by Chasing Cars in March, the Toyota GR Supra coupe will receive the option of a manual transmission with the brand confirming rumours of a stick-shift Supra were true.

Arriving about four years after the Supra first hit the market, a new six-speed manual transmission will be offered to the Australian market and is said to be ‘tailor-made’ for the Supra and integrated feedback from fans during the development process.

Toyota Supra 2022 manual — Toyota has confirmed a manual transmission will soon be offered on the Supra in Australia

In making the announcement, Toyota shared a teaser image showing the beloved three-pedal layout and noted that more information would follow in the coming weeks.

The confirmation of the manual option for the Supra is hardly coincidental, after its closest rival the Nissan Z was confirmed to feature both a manual and automatic options when it made its debut in 2021 and is now set to go on sale towards the end of this year.

Late 2022 release date likely for manual Supra

Toyota did not provide an exact on-sale date for the three-pedal option, but recent reports citing a leaked dealer bulletin pointed to a six-speed manual transmission going on sale in 2022.

Toyota Supra interior layout — Until now the Supra has only been offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission

Until now, buyers have only had access to an eight-speed ZF-build torque converter automatic transmission, which has been praised for both its refinement and hustle during performance applications. But for many, there is no replacement for the engagement a manual transmission brings to a sportscar.

BMW’s ‘B58’ 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-petrol is expected to carry over to the manual option unchanged, producing the same 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque.

Transmission is likely the ZF six-speed from BMW M140i

Chasing Cars understands a manual option for the Supra has been in the works for quite some time, possibly since the model was first released back in 2019.

2018 BMW M140i LCI Grey Front End — The manual transmission will likely be a modified version of the ZF GS6 found in the BMW M140i

While Toyota has hinted at its manual transmission being all-new, its more likely that it will be a modified version of an existing unit – likely the six-speed ZF GS6 that was paired to the same engine in the BMW M140i rear-drive hot hatch.

Fans of the iconic nameplate have been calling for the Supra to feature a manual option since its release, with the closely-related BMW Z4 offering a manual option but only when paired to the entry-level 145kW/320kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.