2020 Toyota Supra spied camo-free

Years in the making, the Supra is ready for its debut.

We understand if you feel like you've been reading about the born-again Toyota Supra for years. We've been writing about it for over a decade; we first reported news of a Supra successor in 2006. The wait is nearly over, and a spy shot taken in a trailer has prematurely revealed the model ahead of its debut at the 2019 Detroit auto show.

The photo was posted on an enthusiast forum called SupraMKV. It clearly shows the front end of the car without any camouflage. We can tell it stays true to the design seen on the 2014 FT-1 concept by adopting styling cues like a pronounced nose cone, air vents chiseled into the bumper, and headlights that stretch towards the middle of the car. The production car's hood is less chiseled than the concept's. The photographer wasn't able to capture other angles, so we'll have to wait until the Detroit auto show opens its doors to see the rest of the Supra.

As we've previously reported, the Supra shares its basic platform with the BMW Z4 introduced earlier in 2018. Engineers stress that both cars were developed to deliver a different driving experience, but spy shots suggest the Supra uses a large number of BMW-labeled parts inside and out.

Rumors claim the Supra will launch with a straight-six engine under the hood. It's likely a turbocharged, 3.0-liter unit borrowed from BMW. It could receive a Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain a little bit later in the production run. Rear-wheel drive will come standard, and some sources claim a six-speed manual transmission will be offered as a no-cost alternative to the eight-speed automatic.

Made by Magna-Steyr in Graz, Austria, the 2020 Toyota Supra will make its global debut in a little over a month at the 2019 Detroit auto show. Sales will begin before the end of 2019.