My GT7 Log: The Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM Sports Cars

The Reiwa era. When you talk about this current era in the Japanese calendar, what can you think about the Reiwa era? Yes, the early years of the Reiwa era are a messy one because of COVID and the war in Ukraine, among many others, but when you talk about Japanese sports cars, which company kickstarted the new breed of JDM sports cars? Toyota, of course.

The GR Supra, the GR Yaris, and the GR86 will forever go down in history as the Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM sports cars because a Japanese motoring giant like Toyota was the first to introduce the new breed of JDM sports cars of this current era. So, what do you know about the Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM sports cars?

Launched in May 2019, the beginning of the Reiwa era, the GR Supra marked the return of "The Sports of Toyota", which was greeted by many cheers and jeers from speedo boys worldwide. It is the first JDM sports car of the Reiwa era and despite being a Supra, it was basically a BMW Z4 G23 underneath because of the connection between BMW and Toyota. With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

In the spring of 2020, in the early months of the COVID pandemic, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant has been boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS of power output. In addition, the updated GR Supra features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

Known as the second JDM sports car of the Reiwa era, the GR Yaris served as the template for Toyota's next rally car. Take the fourth-generation Yaris, strip the two extra doors off, make it wider, jam it with the G16E-GTS 1.6L 3-cylinder intercooler turbo engine, lodge it with the GR-FOUR four-wheel-drive system, and this is the result; a road-legal rally car akin to the legendary Toyota Celica GT-FOUR.

In addition to the 1.6L turbocharged variant, there is a cheaper and much slower RS variant with the 1.5L M15A-FKS engine mated to a CVT. This basic variant is available only in Japan but who cares?

Launched in the autumn of 2021, the GR86 proudly carries over where its predecessor left off while still delivering the same accessible dynamics coveted by speedo boys worldwide. Like the second-generation Subaru BRZ, the GR 86 runs on the improved version of its signature platform used by its predecessor, and with numerous improvements underneath, it handles better than before. Under the hood, the flat-four boxer engine got its size increased from the previous model's 2.0L to 2.4L, resulting in a slightly improved power output of 235PS of power and 250Nm of torque.

These three are undeniable proof that Toyota spearheaded the line of Reiwa-era Japanese sports cars, sports cars that truly reflect the Reiwa era of Japan. Although they're not as exciting to drive as the JDM sports cars of the Heisei era they're as hip and trendy as the trends of today's Japan in every way. As Toyotas, they have the blessings of past sportscars so when you give them a spin, you can experience the heritage they've inherited from their ancestors. The GR86 carried on the tradition of the legendary AE86 while the GR Yaris embodies the spirit of its spiritual ancestor, the Celica GT-FOUR, and the GR Supra, despite the BMW connection, follows the skidmarks of its predecessors. These three are history books in wheels and you can give credit to Toyota and friends for making them possible.

Anyway, no time to be sentimental because it's time to give these Reiwa-era Toyota sports cars a quick lap around Autopolis.

As the trio of Reiwa-era Toyota sports cars flexing its Japanese muscles in a place, only Gran Turismo fanatics can call their playpen, it's time to give them a one-lap time attack just to find out which one is best. Roll the tape.

After a quick lap in Autopolis, here are the results;

GR86 - 2m21.309s

GR Yaris - 2m16.356s

GR Supra (2020MY) - 2m14.083s

As expected, the GR Supra is plus alpha but the results don't matter to them anyway because what these three showcased is progress.

As Toyota spearheaded the breed of Reiwa-era sportscars, will other Japanese carmakers follow suit? In the midst of the new normal, there is a glimmer of hope this breed will expand slowly but surely but in the meantime, let's take a moment to appreciate Toyota's efforts to create sports cars speedo boys will love in the midst of the new normal. 

The Reiwa era showcased the world the signs of the times and in the case of sports cars, will the times erase them or join them? It's going to be an uphill battle for companies who still make sports cars, including Toyota, but rather an exciting one if you know what I mean.

So thank you, Toyota, and you're welcome.