What the car is and where it came from
A sports car and grand tourer launched by Toyota in 1978. It began as the Celica Supra—a longer, inline-six derivative of the Celica liftback—created to rival the Datsun 280Z.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
It is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive grand tourer with an inline-six engine. The driver sits behind a long bonnet, in a cabin stretched from the Celica liftback. It was built to cover distance comfortably while offering more performance than a standard Celica.
What it gets right
It gets right the balance of space, comfort, and straight-line capability for long-distance driving. Its longer wheelbase and inline-six layout deliver stability and smooth power delivery absent in the four-cylinder Celica.
What it does not
It does not break from Celica underpinnings. It does not offer a new chassis, suspension architecture, or drivetrain layout. It does not compete on handling agility or lightweight dynamics.
What it changed
It established Toyota’s commitment to inline-six-powered GTs in global markets. It shifted Toyota’s sports-car identity away from coupe-only packaging toward longer, more refined, higher-spec touring machines.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for buyers who wanted Toyota reliability with more presence, more engine, and more road presence than the Celica—but not the complexity or cost of a European GT. It is not for purists seeking mechanical novelty or track-focused dynamics.
Is it worth your time
Yes—if you care about the lineage of Japanese GTs and how Toyota used the Celica as a platform to enter the six-cylinder sports market. No—if you expect a pure driver’s car or engineering departure from its donor.
