Is the manual Supra faster?
Right now, there isn’t a factory-manual Supra, and the current GR Supra uses an eight-speed automatic that is typically faster in straight-line acceleration and most track scenarios. If you’re thinking of the older Mk4 Supra, that generation did offer a manual, but in stock form it isn’t universally faster than the automatic variants, and modern automatics have since closed or surpassed those gaps. Here’s a detailed look at how the manual Supra stacks up, across generations and in today’s market.
Current reality: No factory manual Supra
The modern GR Supra, launched in 2019, is sold exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota/Aisin paired this setup with a turbocharged inline-six (2.0L or 3.0L, depending on trim) and advanced launch/traction control, delivering strong performance with quick, smooth shifts. Enthusiasts who crave a manual option won’t find one from the factory, and that absence shapes how the Supra is measured on speed tests today.
Before we dive into the comparative details, it helps to understand the key reasons why the automatic configuration tends to be faster in stock form. The automatic’s rapid-fire, consistently timed shifts, superior launch control, and optimized torque delivery over a wide rpm range give it a measurable edge in official tests and on track days. For buyers prioritizing maximum straight-line speed and repeatable performance, the eight-speed automatic is the default choice.
In summary, for new-car buyers in the current market, the automatic Supra is the faster option by design and engineering, and there is no factory manual version to purchase.
Historical context: The Mk4 Supra (A80) and the manual
The iconic Mk4 Supra (A80), produced from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, offered both a six-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The manual is a beloved option among enthusiasts for its engagement and precise clutch control, while the automatic version appealed to buyers seeking smoother launches and more consistent performance under varied conditions. Because the two transmissions use different gearing and torque delivery characteristics, the perceived speed of each can depend on driver skill, track conditions, and how launches are executed.
Before listing the key points, here is a quick comparison framework for this generation:
Notes on how the Mk4’s transmissions typically influenced performance:
- The manual’s six-speed gearbox provided direct control and a sportier feel, but required clutch timing and can experience slower launch consistency than an optimized automatic.
- The automatic offered smoother, repeatable shifts and could leverage launch techniques that yielded strong 0-60 results with less wheel-hop or driver input.
- Both transmissions deliver the same basic power from the 2JZ-GTE engine, but gear ratios and shift logic affected where the car felt most responsive.
- Driver skill, tire quality, and suspension setup played a larger role in outright speed with a manual than with the automatic, where electronic aids helped normalize performance.
In practice, the Mk4 manual is seen as highly engaging and capable, but it isn’t universally faster than the Mk4 automatic in stock configuration. The difference often comes down to technique and conditions, with the automatic typically offering more consistent, sometimes quicker acceleration in controlled testing.
What affects speed: transmission choice and driving factors
Several factors determine whether a manual or automatic Supra—historical or modern—will feel faster in real-world driving or on a racetrack. Understanding these helps explain why the answer isn’t simply “manual equals faster.”
- Transmission architecture: The modern eight-speed automatic provides rapid, repeatable shifts and may incorporate advanced launch control, which benefits straight-line acceleration and consistency.
Bottom line: for speed in today’s market, the automatic Supra is typically the faster, more consistent choice. The manual variant of the Mk4 remains a celebrated collector’s option for enthusiasts who prioritize engagement over every measured tenth of a second.
What to consider if speed is the goal
If you’re chasing the fastest stock straight-line times in the current Supra lineup, the automatic model is your best bet. For purists seeking an engaging driving experience or for those collecting or restoring a classic, the Mk4 manual represents a different appeal—though it may not outpace the automatic in official performance metrics.
- New-car speed goal: Choose the GR Supra with the eight-speed automatic for quickest, most repeatable acceleration and performance credentials.
- Classic appeal: If you value driver involvement and the tactile feel of a manual, seek a Mk4 Supra with the factory manual, understanding that acceleration may not outpace the auto version in every test.
- Modifications: Both generations can be enhanced, but aftermarket manuals for the Mk4 are complex and costly; automatic-focused upgrades (turbo, exhaust, suspension, and electronics) are more common and often more effective for speed gains on today’s models.
Summary
Today’s Supra lineup does not include a factory manual option; the eight-speed automatic is designed for speed, precision, and repeatable performance. In the Mk4 era, a factory manual existed and offered a different driving experience, but it did not universally outrun the automatic in stock form. For contemporary speed, the automatic Supra is the faster, more consistently performing choice, while the manual remains a storied option for enthusiasts who prize engagement and historical significance.
What's faster, an automatic or manual?
Modern automatic transmissions are generally faster than manual transmissions, especially in straight-line acceleration, because they can shift gears faster than a human and can be programmed with features like launch control. While a skilled driver can achieve impressive performance with a manual, modern automatics, particularly dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs), eliminate the power interruption that occurs during a manual gear change.
Why modern automatics are faster
- Faster shifts: Automated and dual-clutch transmissions can shift gears in fractions of a second, faster than a human can operate a clutch and shifter.
- Consistent launches: Automatic transmissions with launch control can manage power delivery to the tires more precisely than a human can, resulting in faster and more consistent starts from a standstill.
- No power interruption: Unlike a manual, which briefly cuts engine power during a shift, a modern automatic, especially a DCT, can shift without any interruption of power, leading to smoother and quicker acceleration.
- More gears: Many modern automatics offer more gears than manual transmissions (e.g., 10-speed automatics), allowing the engine to stay in its optimal power band more often.
Why manuals can still be competitive
- Driver skill: A highly skilled driver can sometimes match or beat an automatic, especially in situations where a manual allows for more control, such as shifting at a specific corner exit.
- Different types of performance: For performance driving on a winding road, a driver's ability to select the right gear for a corner entry can make a manual faster than a less responsive automatic.
- Older transmissions: Older automatic transmissions were significantly slower than their manual counterparts due to less efficient torque converters and fewer gears.
How much horsepower does a manual Supra have?
382 horsepower
With 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque paired with a tight six-speed manual, the Supra is quick.
Is the Supra manual good?
The performance is simply staggering and if anything, having only six gears with a manual makes the acceleration feel even more rampant verse the auto. For what it's worth, with a good launch, you can get the manual Supra to nail 60 MPH from naught in four seconds flat, only a couple tenth behind the automatic.
Which model of Supra is the fastest?
The fastest Toyota Supra model depends on whether you're asking about stock production models or heavily modified ones. The current production model, the 2024 Toyota GR Supra, is the fastest factory-built version with a 0-60 mph time of approximately 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. However, modified versions of both older and newer generations are significantly faster.
You can watch this video to see a modified Supra racing at high speeds: 57sThat Racing ChannelYouTube · Oct 17, 2022
Stock production models
- 2024 Toyota GR Supra: This is the fastest stock model, with a 0-60 mph time of around 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
- 2020 Toyota Supra: This model can reach 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
- 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo: This older model was very quick for its time, with a 0-60 mph time of about 4.9 to 6.9 seconds.
Modified models
- EKanoo Racing Supra: This heavily modified Supra holds the world import speed record, reaching 240 mph in the quarter-mile in 6.05 seconds.
- Ryan Sammut Racing Supra: This Canada-based Supra is one of the fastest on the planet, with a 6.13 @ 230 mph quarter-mile time.
- Modified A90 Supra: A highly modified A90 (the current generation) achieved a 7.75-second quarter-mile time at 183 mph.
