In 1986, the Supra officially broke away from the Celica line to become its own model: the . This generation introduced several firsts that would define the Supra's future, including:
The "Supra" name debuted in 1978 as the (A40/A50), essentially a longer-wheelbase version of the standard Celica liftback designed to house a smooth inline-six engine. It was a luxury-oriented competitor to Datsun's Z-cars, featuring the world’s first built-in navigation system in the Japanese market. In 1986, the Supra officially broke away from
: It debuted the Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS) , allowing drivers to adjust ride quality on the fly. The Legend: A80 and the 2JZ : It debuted the Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension
The second generation (A60, 1982–1986) brought the iconic pop-up headlights and more aggressive, angular styling. It was in this era that the car truly began to find its performance footing, winning Motor Trend’s Import Car of the Year award. The A70: A New Identity The A70: A New Identity