Toyota GR Supra Sport Top concept revealed
Toyota has unveiled the GR Supra Sport Top concept.
Developed for the SEMA360 Showcase online presentation in November 2020 – the virtual 'substitute' for the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, typically a showcase of the best of the automotive aftermarket industry, but cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 – the GR Supra Sport Top pays tribute to targa-top, 1990s-era Toyota Supras of generations past.
The Sport Top's concept removable roof comprises two, 3D-printed composite panels – which can be stored in the car's boot when not in use – specifically shaped to match the coupe's profile and body lines.
Helping to maintain structural rigidity despite the lack of a fixed roof are "[reinforcements to] large sections of the vehicle's frame", consisting of additional bracing for the roof structure and underbody, the latter from the engine bay to the rear of the passenger cell.
Other upgrades over 'standard', showroom-specification GR Supra models include a large "basket handle" rear wing inspired by the fourth-generation 'A80' Supra, centrally-mounted dual exhaust tips, new tail-light signatures with A80-inspired circular elements, a sports body kit with a deeper front splitter, larger side skirts and a reshaped rear diffuser, and a two-tone, Absolute White and black exterior colour scheme.
No changes have been made to the standard GR Supra's powertrain for the open-air concept, meaning it's powered by a carry-over 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine sending 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
“It was way more complicated than we originally thought. Removing the top was extremely tough and required some innovative work to retain the GR Supra’s rigidity. I love how it came out, and I hope others love it, too, " said lead engineer of the Sport Top project, Marty Schwerter.
Don't expect to see the GR Supra Sport Top transform from concept to showroom reality anytime soon however, as introducing a production model would likely cut into sales of the born-again Toyota sports car's twin under the skin, the BMW Z4 convertible and its electrically-operated soft-top roof.