Toyota Undecided on Name for Supra Replacement

Toyota Motor Corp. hasn’t decided if it will use its historic Supra name for its version of the new sports car the company is co-developing with BMW AG.

In addition to Supra, the carmaker is evaluating several other names that “could be better,” Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager of Toyota’s North American operations, tells Motor Trend. The enthusiast magazine speculates that other past Toyota nameplates, such as Celica and Cressida, could be in the running. The new model also could be marketed under a Gazoo sub-brand that has been rumored in recent months.

Previous media reports had suggested that Toyota would unveil the all-new sports car at next month’s Detroit auto show. But Hollis says that won’t happen because the car’s specifications haven’t been finalized.

BMW revealed its version of the rear-wheel-drive car in August with the Concept Z4 roadster, which is expected to closely reflect the production model it aims to launch next summer. Toyota’s variant likely won’t bow until 2019. Both cars will be produced by Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz, Austria.