Except for the 1994 Toyota Supra, Americans can buy almost any car they want because their country has one of the most developed car industries in the world. When it first debuted in Japan in 1994, the Toyota Supra was considered a supercar. America. It was quickly placed on the country’s blacklist, however. Why is the Toyota Supra banned in US?
Many outstanding automobiles are produced in the United States and were developed here. Nevertheless, a lot of cars will never be offered to American consumers due to the country’s extremely stringent automotive safety regulations.
Manufacturers all across the world create vehicles to meet the necessities of their nation or to promote culture. But the laws governing automobiles in the US don’t always agree with the same concepts.
In the following article, we will explain the question: why is the 1994 Toyota Supra banned? In addition, provide relevant and useful information. To find the answer, read carefully.
Also read: Why Are Cold Air Intakes Illegal In California?
Why is the Supra Special?
Toyota Supra is a two-door sports car that was popular in the 1990s and was manufactured from 1978 to 2002. Supra even appeared in a series of famous racing movies in Hollywood until it was discontinued. In 2002, production ceased.
The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque is mated with a six-speed manual transmission in this Supra, which, in addition to its nostalgic looks, boasts a highly coveted drivetrain setup.
The majority of cars in this generation came with a less powerful base inline six-cylinder engine and either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.
One of the all-time top automobiles for performance is the Toyota Supra. The 1994 model year, and just this model year, is legally off-limits, therefore Supra enthusiasts in the USA may never experience the delight of driving one. After witnessing it in the Fast and Furious series, people started to like it.
Why Is Toyota Supra Banned In US?
Because of major long-term reliability difficulties, the 1994 Toyota Supra model was outlawed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This model would be incredibly difficult to locate a place in the US.
Because it is still on the NHTSA’s blacklist, you cannot import it. You can still look for older models if you’d want to because the 1994 Supra is the only model year with this major restriction.
The Toyota Supra is arguably one of the most well-liked sports car models this year. Nevertheless, a lot of individuals continue to query the legitimacy of this sports automobile in America.
Fair enough, the Supra has had a bit of a rocky past, so we can see why there would be some uncertainty. You’re in luck if you want to purchase a new Supra because it is still illegal to do so in the United States, despite the fact that the model is still in production today.
Generations of Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra, which debuted in 1978 as a six-cylinder variant of the Celica, has gained notoriety. Today we examine all five iterations of the Supra, including the most recent model that was co-developed with BMW.
First generation
The Mark I model of the Toyota Supra, the first generation, was introduced in 1978. At this time, the Supra was wider and longer than the Celica sports car of the second generation.
Toyota needed a sports car at the time that was stronger than the Celica, which was just attractive but underpowered. In order to build the Mark I, the firm fitted a 6-cylinder engine into the second-generation Celica.
The Supra didn’t have a unique design that wasn’t based on the Celica until the third generation became available in 1986. The Supra, not Mark III, was the official nomenclature starting at that point.
At this point, the A40 code and Supra’s A50 update only made an appearance for three years until production of the second generation began.
Second generation
For its second generation, which debuted in 1981, the Supra continued to be based on the Celica and was still marketed in its home country as the Celica XX.
Additionally, it continued to produce 2.0-liter and 2.8-liter inline sixes, with the 2.0 gradually increasing in power to 119kW by the year of its completion. The second Supra would accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds as a result.
However, only the most potent 2.8-liter variant with 133kW was offered in New Zealand between 1984 and 1985.
Due to third-generation model production delays, the second-generation vehicle was marketed as a 1986 model even though manufacture had actually ended in 1985.
Third generation
At the time, the Supra was regarded as a very high-tech vehicle, but in its third generation, it completely broke away from the Celica, with the Celica switching to the FWD Corona platform while the Supra stayed RWD and shared its platform and powertrain with the Toyota Soarer for the Japanese market.
While only naturally aspirated inline sixes (2.0 and 2.9 liters this time) were initially offered, turbocharged versions of both were released in 1987, marking the first time the Supra went turbo as well.
A 2.5-liter turbo six was eventually added to the lineup, bringing the third-generation Supra’s output to 206kW.
Fourth generation
The fourth-generation Toyota Supra was born, and it is expected to be the segment king in terms of price and performance. The car is more compact than the previous generation, and it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
With the fourth generation of the Supra, Toyota decided to take performance seriously. Instead of using the 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine at all, they only used the 3.0-liter 2JZ engine, either in its 164kW naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged form, which produced 203kW in the domestic market, 239kW in Canada and the USA, and 243kW in the European market.
Supra became the darling, and even the legend, of car tuners during this time period. Because the third generation Supra has a turbocharged engine with an easy-to-upgrade output design, it can reach four digits (possibly into 1,000 horsepower). This is something that only a few models are capable of.
Fifth Generation
At the Detroit auto show in January 2019, the fifth-generation Toyota Supra made its debut. Even though the fifth version of this sports car is only a little over a year old, the manufacturer intends to change the moniker beginning with the 2021 model year.
The 2014 FT-1 concept served as the inspiration for the fifth generation of the Supra. In addition, the Supra is the lightest vehicle and the one that comes closest to the FT-1 idea.
A high-end partnership between BMW and Toyota with the BMW Z4 brother is the Toyota Supra 2020. The 3.0L turbocharged engine of the fifth-generation Toyota Supra produces 340 horsepower and is mated to an 8-speed transmission.
Supra Production Suspended
The Supra maintained its popularity for a time despite the disastrous 1994 model year and was nevertheless praised for its superb performance, premium interior, and cutting-edge electronics.
However, because of poor sales, Toyota ultimately decided to stop producing the Supra in North America in 1998. Toyota ceased making the Supra in 2002 because it didn’t comply with Japan’s revised fuel-efficiency standards.
Read also: Why Did Toyota Stop Making The FJ Cruiser? All Causes Are Here!
Revival Supra
Toyota decided to bring back the Supra for 2020 after a more than a 20-year sabbatical. Because of its exhilarating performance, attractive interior, and user-friendly electronics, enthusiasts continue to adore this coupe.
A refined BMW turbocharged six-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automated transmission and 335 horsepower powers each 2020 Supra variant. The 2020 Supra comes standard with rear-wheel drive and does not have access to all-wheel drive. You might, however, convert your Supra.
The Supra can compete with cars like the Chevy Corvette and even the Porsche Cayman GTS because of its excellent handling abilities on both the road and the racetrack. It takes just four seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph.
The Supra gets a combined 26 mpg, which is above average for vehicles.
Typical Supra Toyota Mistakes
Once, defective welds caused the Toyota Supra to be recalled. The seat belt guide ring cannot be fitted by the welds. Faulty solder junctions can harm seat belts and impair safe driving in the event of an accident.
Additionally, Supra experienced a screen issue when in reverse and a seat belt issue. In general, mistakes will be made when a car is utilized, regardless of how good or costly it is.
As a result, the owner must frequently bring the vehicle to the authorized facility for maintenance and inspection.
Final Thoughts
You now understand why the Toyota Supra was banned in the United States in 1994. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has placed them on a no-fly list. If you buy it, keep this model in mind. Currently, a new model car with outstanding features has been released. Please consult with us to find a suitable vehicle. I hope you found this article useful. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section below and we will respond as soon as possible.