The Best Toyota Sports Cars of All Time

What Makes It Special

Before Toyota sports cars became an iconic staple of car culture worldwide with models like Supras and GT86s, there was the pioneering two-door Sports 800 model—the forefather that started it all. Although rival brand Honda's S800 gave fierce competition to Toyota at launch thanks partly to its diminutive proportions, the Sports 800 held its own due to sleek design choices like affordability and minimal build weight.

It wasn't until 1965 that Toyota unveiled something innovative with the release of the Sports 800, their first-ever sports car pick and considered the Supra's grandpa. This diminutive vehicle had an undeniable charm with its English-influenced styling, characterized by a lengthy bonnet and stubby rear trunk area, while running on a modest that pushed boundaries at the time.

While commonly underrated as an entry-level sports car produced concurrently between 1965 and 1969, The S800 model from Toyota featured an air-cooled boxer 0.8-liter two-cylinder engine capable of producing just shy of 44 horsepower and tipping well under 880 pounds overall.

What Makes It Special

The remarkable Toyota MR2 MK2 Turbo edition produces an impressive 200 bhp power output at 6,000 rpm and identical torque numbers close to 3,200 rpm, a testament to these engineering feats. Such was Toyota's commitment to enthusiastic drivers that they offered this sports machine loaded with a 5-speed manual.

Despite these early obstacles, adding a turbocharger made the MR2 even more appealing for those looking for more performance without breaking the bank. Whether you're after an edgy look or unbeatable reliability from your ride, the MR2 delivers both.

While there was scope for better weight distribution (-42/58), its innovation spoke volumes about pushing boundaries regarding performance and handling.

The attention the first MR2 MKII received from journalists upon entering America's market remains one factor behind its popular demand among enthusiasts today due to headlines concerning less than satisfactory handling at first glance.

What Makes It Special

The first-gen addition, designated strictly as Toyota's sports car, featured an entry-level engine at 2 liters, producing 123 horsepower, and later models with a 2.8-liter inline-six and 148 horsepower. The Celica Supra also has a four-speed torque converter auto or five-speed manual.

Although Toyota reduced costs by fitting it with a live rear axle, the Celica Supra had impressive performance features to enhance its handling on curvy roads, such as all-around disk brakes and an optional LSD.

This Supra model proved agile on curves compared to cars of similar vintage in the United States. But even though it had better build quality and handling than powerful rivals like Mustangs and Camaros of its era, the Toyota Celica Supra generation failed to capture potential customers' interest and eventually stopped production after three years.

What Makes It Special

Few cars in recent automotive history have had a legion of fans, but the Toyota Supra is one of them. And that is something remarkable when talking about a car that started as just another version of another vehicle: in this case, the Toyota Celica.

The Supra began at the bottom of the sports car ladder and worked up to its model. It became a cult model for many reasons until it reached the current generation, the Toyota GR Supra.

For Toyota, the Supra is Nissan's equivalent of the GT-R. The car achieved a special status in the West for reasons sometimes far removed from the competition. However, that should not obscure the merits and qualities of the vehicle.

The Supra MkIV debuted a design made up of curves during the Biodesign era, characterized by an imposing rear wing. The car was smaller, lower, and wider than the MkIII. Its inline 6-cylinder engine developed 220 hp, while the biturbo variant delivered 330 hp. In its day, it was the most powerful Toyota ever made. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 5 seconds, even today, it's still considered a fast car.

What Makes It Special

The Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205, one of the last Group A street cars and the last one from Toyota, is a perfect candidate if we want a car from the world of competition with a story to tell that is perfect for daily use.

The Toyota Celica GT-Four ST-205, or GT-Four, was manufactured between 1994 and 1999 to face Group A of the WRC. It started with the 3S-GE with a CT20B turbo, a water-cooled intercooler, intake valves with a higher lift, and a new MAP sensor. The compression ratio was reduced from 8.8:1 to 8.8:1 to avoid problems due to overpressure from the turbo. The total output was 242 hp at 6,000 rpm (255 hp in the JDM model) and 224 ft-lbs of torque.

This AWD Celica had a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.1 seconds and a 153 mph top speed. Its consumption was respectable for a car with these specifications, and its comfort was unaffected by its prominent competition-oriented architecture. On the contrary, it behaves very well in daily driving.

What Makes It Special

Accused of being just a rebadged BMW Z4 since it's primarily based on the same platform, the new iteration of the legendary Supra nameplate, the Toyota GR Supra (MKV), is a great sports car in its own right. The car offers an excellent blend of power, balance, and agility for ultimate sports driving pleasure.

The GR Supra was conceived as a sports car in all its purity, as it combines a short wheelbase with a wide track, low weight, a low center of gravity, and a very rigid body that gives the car a genuine sporty feeling. Additionally, Toyota has incorporated an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) in the new GR Supra. With MacPherson struts with double-joint springs up front and a five-link axle, you'll enjoy high levels of comfort and exquisite control.

The entry-level GR Supra is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for churning out up to 255 horsepower. However, another option is a ferocious 3.0-liter BMW inline-six-cylinder engine that delivers without compromise. Clocking in at 382 horsepower, the performance of this engine option elevates the GR Supra to new heights while still maintaining an impressive level of control on twisty roads and race courses.

What Makes It Special

The 1967 Toyota 2000GT is a two-seater coupé with a 2.0-liter DOHC (1988 cm3) six-cylinder engine with a cast iron block. Its impressive powertrain delivered 150 horsepower at 6,600 rpm. Although it doesn't seem much by today's standards, you must remember that we are talking about a model from the 1960s designed in Japan.

Despite its contained power, the 2000GT could reach a top speed of 135 mph thanks to a contained weight of only 2,459 pounds, and other features allowed this car to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds.

Although the exterior is art, we can only say that the interior doesn't disappoint. The Japanese automaker provided the 2000GT with luxurious accessories, including a dashboard covered in rosewood veneer, a radio, and many other exclusive details.

An X-shaped spine, a 4-wheel independent suspension with a double-spring design, coil springs, and a 49/51 weight split all worked together to support the ultra-low coupe body. In addition, the 2000GT has 4-disc brakes and magnesium wheels.

What Makes It Special

The Toyota GR86 features a compact, lightweight engine with a low center of gravity and a 2.4-liter displacement that delivers superior driving performance, allowing it to go from 0-60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. Engine responsiveness has also been improved, providing a smooth, stress-free feel from low to high RPM.

The GR86 equips a D-4S, a dedicated dual injector that optimally controls two types of injection depending on driving conditions: direct injection, which injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber, and port injection, which injects fuel directly into the inlet port.

The D-4S is paired with a horizontally opposed engine incorporating variable valve timing for better intake and exhaust efficiency. Inheriting an extremely low center of gravity, a front-engine package, and rear-wheel drive, the new GR86 provides exceptional agility.

Gazoo Racing positioned the GR86's overall height and hip point and positioned the seats more toward its center to achieve a lower center of gravity and improve cornering performance. GR86 drivers can experience a real sensation of speed when accelerating and feel as if the car is an extension of their bodies.

What Makes It Special

New in '86, Toyota's A70 Supra boasted one of the most powerful grand tourer machines you could get your hands on back then. The wide range of features made it a reliable car to drive: electronic ignition technology powering a sturdy inline-six engine while double overhead cams boosted performance even further. And with four-wheel disc brakes providing excellent maneuverability, exceptional handling was guaranteed wherever you went.

The interior was no less impressive either; Toyota spared no expense when elevating cabin comfort levels. Optional "glove-soft" leather chairs gave riders an elegant yet relaxing experience due to their adaptability alongside power-lumbar supports and manual customizability features that allowed for frame-specific fittings.

The reclining feature had infinitely adjustable headrests and additional space, giving drivers more comfort than similarly-priced vehicles.

The cherry on top: an 3.0 inline-six engine producing a decent (back then) 235 horsepower at roughly 6000 rpm and almost bulletproof for wear-and-tear. Even so-called 'slow' acceleration numbers (getting from zero to sixty in approximately seven seconds) were acceptable for a normally-aspirated car.