When the fifth-generation Toyota GR Supra arrived in 2019, one thing was noticeably missing for some driving enthusiasts: a manual gearbox.
Rumours soon began circulating that Toyota could add a three-pedal version to the range. Those rumours eventually proved correct. Toyota confirmed a manual GR Supra in April 2022, with UK sales beginning that June.
Rather than simply fitting an existing gearbox, Toyota developed a six-speed intelligent manual transmission specifically for the 3.0-litre straight-six Supra, together with changes to the clutch, gearing and centre console.
The result gave buyers something many had been asking for since the modern Supra returned: the choice of changing gears themselves.
If you’re interested in how performance cars like the Supra can hold their value over time, our Car Valuation Guidance hub explains the factors that can influence a vehicle’s real-world market value.
The reborn Toyota Supra
Toyota revived the Supra name in 2019 with the fifth-generation GR Supra, developed alongside the BMW Z4 and built around a rear-wheel-drive sports-car layout.
In the UK, the range initially centred on the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder version later joining the line-up.
Despite the Supra’s performance credentials, both versions were initially offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For enthusiasts who associated earlier generations of the Supra with manual gearboxes, that quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding the new car.
Toyota listened. In 2022 it announced a six-speed manual transmission for the 3.0-litre GR Supra, giving drivers the choice that had been missing since the model returned.
Importantly, the manual wasn’t simply an off-the-shelf gearbox added to the existing car. Toyota engineered the transmission and its associated components specifically to work with the Supra’s 3.0-litre engine and also revised elements of the cabin to accommodate the manual gear lever properly.
If you’d like to go further back through the model’s story, take a look at the legend of the Toyota Supra: now vs then, where we compare the modern car with one of the most famous generations of the Supra.
The return of the stick shift
By the time Toyota introduced the manual GR Supra, manual gearboxes were already becoming less common across the new-car market. For performance-car enthusiasts, however, the appeal of changing gear for yourself had certainly not disappeared.
Toyota’s six-speed manual was developed specifically for the 3.0-litre GR Supra. The engineering work included a newly designed clutch with a larger friction area and stronger diaphragm spring to cope with the engine’s torque.
Toyota also paid attention to how the gearbox felt from the driver’s seat. The gear lever was positioned and weighted to provide a more direct shift feel, while the centre console was redesigned to give the driver enough room to operate it comfortably.
The manual transmission also incorporated Toyota’s intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) system, which could help optimise engine torque during upshifts and downshifts. Drivers wanting a more traditional experience could switch the system off.
The result wasn’t simply an automatic Supra with another gearbox fitted. Toyota used the introduction of the manual transmission as an opportunity to make the GR Supra more focused on driver involvement.
The appeal of a manual Supra is about more than outright performance. If driver involvement matters to you, our guide to what makes a true driver’s car explores the characteristics that can make a car feel genuinely rewarding behind the wheel.
Supra performance credentials
The manual transmission didn’t change the basic recipe that made the GR Supra 3.0 such a potent sports car.
Its turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine produced 335bhp and 500Nm of torque in UK specification, sending power to the rear wheels. Buyers could choose between the established eight-speed automatic and the new six-speed manual transmission.
Toyota also gave the manual version a different final-drive ratio to help provide stronger acceleration through the gears. In standard GR Supra trim, the manual model was around 38.5kg lighter than its 3.0-litre automatic counterpart.
The manual wasn’t necessarily about making the Supra faster. Its purpose was to give drivers more involvement and greater control over how the car delivered its performance — exactly what many Supra enthusiasts had been asking Toyota to provide.
The manual Supra became a reality
What began as speculation ultimately became reality. Toyota officially confirmed the manual GR Supra in April 2022, and UK sales opened in June that year.
For Toyota, the decision was about responding to enthusiasts who wanted greater involvement from the fifth-generation Supra. The automatic remained available, but the six-speed manual gave buyers another way to experience the 3.0-litre straight-six sports car.
It also added another interesting chapter to the Supra story. Earlier generations had helped establish the model’s reputation among performance-car enthusiasts, and the arrival of a manual gearbox gave the modern GR Supra a stronger connection with that heritage.
Whether that makes manual examples more desirable to enthusiasts over the long term remains a matter for the used-car market, but specification, condition, mileage and service history can all influence the value of an individual performance car.
If you own a Supra — or you’re simply curious what your current vehicle could be worth — you can value your car with jamjar and compare offers from our network of car-buying partners.