Toyota Says a New Supra is Already in the Works
The Toyota Supra is on its way out - again. Production of the fifth-generation GR Supra, co-developed with BMW and built in Austria alongside the Z4, is set to end by spring 2026. Toyota has already announced a Final Edition for the 2026 model year, signaling the end of this chapter, but the Supra nameplate isn't being retired. Not yet.
In recent interviews with MotorTrend, Toyota executives confirmed that while the Supra will go on hiatus, it's expected to return. "It would be logical that we would have a next-gen Supra," said Cooper Ericksen, senior vice president of product planning and strategy for Toyota Motor North America. "But when and how is still TBD."
What is clear is that the gap between Supra generations won't be as long as last time. Fans will recall the two-decade stretch between the legendary fourth-generation Supra and its modern GR-branded reboot in 2019. Ericksen insists that Toyota's goal is to shorten that downtime significantly, though he didn't offer a concrete timeline.
Cost is a major factor. New global regulations, particularly around emissions and safety, are pushing automakers to either invest heavily in updates or start from scratch. For Toyota, refreshing the Supra isn't feasible without a full overhaul. "It needs to be a new house," Ericksen said. "When we can get the new house built is the question."
Toyota hasn't officially greenlit a successor, but the intention is there. Whether the next Supra will be built in partnership, as the current one was with BMW, or like the GR86 with Subaru BRZ, remains undecided. David Christ, general manager of Toyota's U.S. division, said he'd love to be involved in planning a new Supra, but admitted the decision lies with Toyota's global leadership in Japan.
There's also the issue of prioritization. Toyota is currently overhauling its core lineup, including the recently revealed 2026 RAV4, which debuts a new electric platform, multimedia suite, and safety tech. With more than 30 Toyota and Lexus models in the U.S. alone, the company's resources are stretched.
It's hard to argue that the Supra has carved out a loyal niche. Since its return, Toyota has leaned hard into enthusiast models under its Gazoo Racing (GR) sub-brand - from the GR Corolla to the GR86 - and a next-gen Supra would only bolster that identity.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Ericksen said. "My goal is to get a great next-gen product that our enthusiast crowd can fall in love with again." So yes, the Supra is leaving, but not for good. The wait might be frustrating, but at least this time, it won't take 20 years.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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