Why was the Supra banned in the US?
The Toyota Supra, a legendary sports car known for its powerful performance and iconic design, was once banned from sale in the United States. This surprising move was the result of a complex set of regulations and market factors that ultimately led to the Supra's temporary disappearance from American shores.
The Rise and Fall of the Toyota Supra in the US
The Toyota Supra first gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a beloved choice among sports car enthusiasts for its impressive handling, turbocharged engine, and sleek, aerodynamic styling. However, in the late 1990s, the Supra's fate in the US took an unexpected turn.
Emissions and Safety Regulations
The primary reason for the Supra's ban in the US was its inability to meet the country's increasingly stringent emissions and safety regulations. The Supra's powerful, turbocharged engine made it difficult to comply with tightening emissions standards, while its high-performance design also presented challenges in meeting evolving safety requirements.
Market Factors and Declining Sales
In addition to regulatory hurdles, the Supra also faced declining sales in the US market. As consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more practical vehicles, the Supra's niche appeal as a high-performance sports car became less appealing to the broader American car-buying public.
The combination of regulatory challenges and waning market demand ultimately led Toyota to discontinue the Supra in the US in 1998, marking the end of an era for this iconic sports car.
The Supra's Comeback
After a long hiatus, the Toyota Supra made a triumphant return to the US market in 2019, with a completely redesigned model that incorporated modern technology and design elements. The new Supra was engineered to meet the latest emissions and safety standards, allowing it to once again be sold in the United States.
The Supra's comeback has been met with enthusiasm from sports car enthusiasts, who have eagerly embraced the return of this legendary nameplate. The Supra's reintroduction to the US market is a testament to the enduring appeal of this iconic sports car and the resilience of the Toyota brand.
Can a Supra be a daily driver?
Back on the daily grind, I was quickly falling in step with the Supra as an everyday driver. It was easy business overtaking other drivers on the freeway and despite the lack of adaptive cruise control (only automatics get that feature), it's easy to skip up and down as speed limits change.
Which is faster, Bugatti or Supra?
The Toyota Supra, while a high-performance sports car, is not in the same category as hypercars like the Bugatti Chiron and Koenigsegg Jesko Absolute in terms of top speed.
Is the Toyota Supra street legal?
The Toyota Supra Special Edition Is a Street-Legal Track Beast.
Which is the fastest car in the world?
Top 10 Fastest Cars in the World
- Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – over 500 km/hr (claimed)
- Bugatti Chiron Supersport 300+ – 489 km/hr.
- SSC Tuatara – 474 km/hr.
- Hennessey Venom F5 – 482 km/hr.
- Rimac Nevera – 412 km/hr.
- McLaren Speedtail – 403 km/hr.
- Koenigsegg Regera – 403 km/hr.
- Aston Martin Valkyrie – 402 km/hr.
Why Supra is so rare?
Dealers had a difficult time selling the Supra with an MSRP of $55,828 for turbocharged models, which is more than $100,000 when adjusted for inflation. While the vehicle was available until 2002 in Japan, US emissions standards halted production in 1998.
Why were Supras illegal?
The illegal Supra
Because of significant shortcomings in its ability to maintain its reliability over time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to outlaw the Toyota Supra model year 1994.
Why Supra is discontinued?
The notion that Supra is stopping is purely speculative." It's an interesting statement considering the Z4 and Supra are built by Magna Steyr at the same factory in Graz, Austria.
Why were supras illegal?
The illegal Supra
Because of significant shortcomings in its ability to maintain its reliability over time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to outlaw the Toyota Supra model year 1994.
Is the 1998 Supra illegal?
The Supra was never illegal. There was chronic vehicle issues that caused the NHTSA to ban the vehicle. It was not illegal ever. The chronic reliability issues caused bad sales that resulted in the vehicle being discontinued in the United States in 1998.
Was the Supra sold in the US?
In the North American market, the Celica Supra was available in two distinct models. There was the "Performance Type" (P-type) and the "Luxury Type" (L-type).
