After several speculations, Toyota Motor Corporation on Monday in Detroit unveiled the 2020 Supra.
According to agency reports, It’s the first time Toyota Motor Corporation has made and sold a new Supra in the U.S. in 21 years.
It’s also the first time the automaker has built a throwback sports car that includes BMW DNA—the modern Supra shares much of its engineering and mechanics (chassis, engine) with the Z4, BMW’s $50,000 coupe.
The timing on this tiny two-seater is telling. It comes as the American auto market is increasingly stretched between SUVs and sports cars, with sedan sales fading.
Along with the Ford Shelby GT500, the Supra is the only notable sports car debut of the show.
“Certainly, there are still vehicles that prioritize fun driving—I don’t think that’s going away,” says Stephanie Brinley, the lead automotive analyst for researcher IHS Markit. “But customers have shifted, and they prefer utility vehicles, and that’s what’s selling,” she says. “The auto show in Detroit reflects that.”
