The Toyota GR Supra is an excellent sports car, but the one thing it sorely needs has been missing since its launch. Not a 2JZ engine, although we wouldn't complain if it were offered again. No, what we really want is a manual transmission, but just like rumors of Mazda reviving the rotary engine, all we've heard is talk. The rumors have been going since 2017 and have resurfaced almost every year since, most recently in July 2020. But the latest is of particular note to us in the States, as it speaks of a manual Supra coming to our shores specifically. Cross your fingers, wish upon a star, and pray that this turns out to be true.

Last year, we heard that Toyota had tested a manual-equipped Supra, and now The Drive reports that "a source inside Toyota's dealer network" has said that such a car has now been confirmed and could even be revealed this year. Lending credibility to the rumor is that The Drive says this source is the same one that has provided reliable information on the upcoming Toyota GR Corolla, suggesting that whoever the source is knows the inner workings of Toyota's product plans. Toyota itself, predictably so, declined to comment on the speculation, but that's nothing new in this industry. So what can we expect, exactly?

Earlier reports had suggested that the option of a manual gearbox would only be offered on the base 2.0-liter Supra, but it now seems that the straight-six version will get three pedals too. This will probably be added to the 2023 model as an option, at which time we're also hoping to see the arrival of a high-horsepower GRMN version. This has been rumored to be coming with M3 power since the last generation of BMW's super saloon was around, and more recent rumors have claimed that the S58 engine of the latest M3 could now be fitted to the hottest Supra. There's a lot of speculation surrounding the Supra, and a lot of enthusiast-friendly rumors that we're desperate to believe, but maybe this will be the year that Toyota finally fulfills our fantasies.