Despite the fact the 4-cylinder 2020 Supra just got certified in California, Toyota says it’s still not coming to America.
Earlier this year, Toyota debuted the 2020 Supra to much fanfare after nearly a year of near-constant teasing. Revealed were two engines for the Supra--a 3.0-L 6-cylinder and a 2.0-L 4-cylinder--and the promise that the 6-cylinder engine would be coming to America.
The 2.0-L engine? That would stay just for Japan since America already has a 2.0-L engine in the Toyota 86.
Were we disappointed? Sure, but we couldn’t fault Toyota’s logic. Why bother with an underpowered Supra when there’s a perfectly good (and more importantly, cheaper) 86 just sitting there for any sport compact enthusiast to enjoy?
So we nodded and sighed and moved on with our lives, patiently awaiting the day when the Supra would arrive on our shores. And now we’re being told that there might have been a chance for the 4-cylinder engine to come with the new Supra after all.
Uncovered by Automobile Magazine was a recently published report on approved engines for the Supra from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Imagine our surprise to see that the 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine had been approved for sale in California on April 26th.
Suddenly the whole “no to the 4-cylinder” message from Toyota was tossed out the window. But no, apparently there has been some miscommunication with the Supra’s real owner/maker, BMW.
Jalopnik reached out to Toyota to get the straight dope, and was provided the following response: “At this point, Toyota’s plans for the Supra in the U.S. include only the 3.0-liter inline six that will be in the 2020 Supra when it goes on sale this summer.”
When asked why bother getting the 2.0-L 4-cylinder approved for sale in California, Toyota said that they didn’t actually submit the papers--that was BMW. Apparently, since BMW makes the engine and plans to use it in their upcoming Z4 roadster, the German company “has taken steps to certify an engine for a variety of uses.”
Phooie. But all is not lost: if it’s certified, then it’s at least one step closer to being sold in America whether Toyota meant for it to happen or not.