The current generation Toyota Supra has been a confusing and mixed bag of excitement, irritation, and ever frustration. The overly BMW-ness of it has chapped many a Toyota Fans’ asses while only offering an automatic transmission has annoyed all sports car enthusiasts. Well, may this news be a balm to all rubbed raw by the Toyota Supra; a new report claims the Toyota Supra might get a manual transmission. And it would happen this year.  

Does the 2022 Toyota Supra have a manual transmission? 

Not yet. But, if the rumors and the unnamed Toyota source who spoke to The Drive are right, then it will. 

According to The Drive, this information about a six-speed Supra came from the same source who confirmed the rumors of the manual GR Corolla hot hatch. Supposedly, the hot Corolla was shown at a dealer’s product event in Vegas a few months back. Sitting next to the Corolla was said to be a prototype six-speed Toyota Supra. 

The source didn’t give any other details about the Supra except that they thought it might come out later this year. Maybe. However, another report bolsters the first, saying that the manual transmission was originally planned for the base 2.0-liter model but is now going to be exclusive to the flagship 3.0-liter Supra. 

Is there going to be a 2023 Toyota Supra? 

Most people expect this welcomed new change to be applied to the 2023 year model. The Drive thinks this may signal a new, hotter GRMN trim ​​, the 3.0-liter S58 inline-six from the BMW M3. If that assumption is correct, that would likely put the hottest 2023 Toyota Supra at an astounding 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. 

How many manual sports cars are made today? 

Very few carmakers still offer a manual transmission. The number gets even smaller if you only look at sports cars. Although a few still remain, like the Mazda Miata, Subaru BRZ, and the Honda Civic Type R. There are a few others, but there aren’t many. 

The Toyota Supra getting a proper manual transmission once more could spark other automakers to do the same. If more sports cars start to offer a manual, and people actually buy them, then maybe we have a chance at not losing the manual transmission forever. 

The news of the GR Corolla also goes to strengthen the chances of this actually happening and hopefully sticking. The GR Corolla will bring the manual transmission back to the sleeper sports cars, which could have major implications on the enthusiast’s car scene, which has had to take a big step back into the ’90s to find the third pedal. 

As we know, the car market is changing faster and crazier than it has since Henry Ford got involved. The market will change. The products will reflect that market. Because of this, we shouldn’t worry too much about features like the manual transmission going away completely. As long as there is money to be made, the products will exist. 

For now, let the potential for a new manual Toyota Supra sustain us.