This Forbidden Toyota Supra’s Best Feature Isn’t Even Its (Supercar) Looks

Between the 2JZ of the A80 generation and the B58 of the A90 generation, the Toyota Supra has featured some truly remarkable engines during its time on the market.

Now, as impressive as these six-cylinders are because of their bulletproof reliability and virtually limitless tuning potential, they can’t match the thunderous roar of a V8 when it comes to outright sound. There’s just something about the configuration’s irregular firing order that gets car enthusiasts’ hearts racing.

In any case, if you’ve ever been curious about what a Supra might sound like with an extra two pistons under the hood, wonder no more. Toyota Australia’s GR division teased an audio clip from its upcoming Supercar competitor, and it sounds even better than the car is set to look.

Supercars

Eight-cylinder Supra

Although Toyota announced its entry into Australia’s Repco Supercars Championship last year, this is the first time that the brand has shared what its GR Supra race car will sound like.

According to Toyota Australia VP of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, there was talk of incorporating an inline-six, though it wasn’t really in earnest. Per Hanley, the discussion lasted “about three minutes… actually, it was probably about one.”

It’s a good thing, too. Rather than the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six typically found in the street-going GR Supra, the Supercars Championship entrant will instead compete with Toyota’s 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V8.

In addition to featuring in the Lexus IS F and RC F, the naturally aspirated V8 has also powered the Lexus LC500. Of course, Toyota won’t be running a mere road car engine — it has tapped Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) and Craig Hasted to further develop the 2UR-GSE for its Australian debut.

Supercars

Nearly race-ready

As part of its entry into the Repco Supercar Championship, Toyota will be fielding six GR Supras across two different teams. WAU will run two cars for homologation, while Brad Jones Racing will bring a further four. 

It’s worth noting that Toyota isn’t alone in its eight-cylinder efforts. While current Supercars series rules permit other configurations, no manufacturer has raced with anything other than a V8 since the 1990s. Ford currently runs a 5.4-liter Coyote V8 while Chevrolet teams use a 5.7-liter LTR V8.

All three Supercars Championship competitors are headed stateside for aerodynamic testing at the Windshear wind tunnel facility this December. In the meantime, the GR Supra is set to make its debut in Sydney on September 1, after which it will take part in a series of demo drives during the Bathurst 1000 weekend.

Supercars

Australian exclusive

If you’re looking to get your hands on an eight-cylinder Supra, unfortunately, you’re out of luck — especially if you’re located in the United States. As these machines will be built strictly for Australian Supercars Championship competition purposes, they won’t be offered for public sale.

Instead, you’ll have to take matters into your own hands through a V8 engine swap. Better yet, you could always make a trip Down Under to experience the sound of these Supercars Supras firsthand.

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