The hotter 2024 Toyota GRMN Supra has been rumoured for several years and yet only now have we got our first look at the upcoming Nissan Z NISMO-slayer.
Our German spy photographers have managed to snap a partially disguised Supra GRMN pumping out laps at the Nurburgring fitted with an unmissable aero pack comprising a fixed rear wing, canards and front splitter, all of which will undoubtedly pair with a higher-output engine under the bonnet.
Look closer and you might also notice the lightweight alloy wheels and uprated braking system, confirming the GRMN will be a step up from the established GR Supra variants in every way that matters.
So how much extra power are we talking? Rumour has long had it the GRMN will feature the same powertrain as the current BMW M4/M4 – given the Toyota Supra is based on the BMW Z4 – but there’s been some conjecture around which version, with the early front-runner being a watered-down version of the ‘base’ 353kW/550Nm tune.
These figures would mark a significant increase over the 285kW/500Nm outputs of the GR Supra’s 3.0-litre turbo-six, but the latest word is it could actually pack close to 400kW/700Nm courtesy of a retuned version of the M3 CS mill.
That would be a huge increase over the standard model – possibly even too big – and we can’t imagine BMW would be happy letting Toyota walk all over the top-spec Z4 so convincingly, nor challenge the supremacy of its flagship sports sedan.
Still, a 125kW/200Nm output increase would leave plenty of room for a penultimate Supra to slot into the coupe range further down the track, though the Japanese-German sports car may not have enough time left in its life-cycle for that.
Rumour also has it the GRMN’s circa-400kW engine – if it happens – will be paired with a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for sharper performance than the current GR Supra’s eight-speed torque converter auto.
However, it should be noted BMW uses the eight-speed unit in pretty much all its current M products, including the M3 CS and M4 CSL.
The more likely eventuality is for the GRMN to pair the standard M3 engine or perhaps the M3 Competition’s 375kW/650Nm version with a retuned torque converter auto, more aggressive chassis set-up and angrier braking package to create a track-ready weapon capable of sticking it to the new Nissan Z NISMO, while not quite bothering BMW’s flagship M cars.
Sources out of Europe have speculated the GRMN Supra could be revealed by the end of this year, so we might not have to speculate for too much longer.