Back in 2020, the 2023 Toyota Supra’s chief engineer Tetsuya Tada hinted that a manual version of the car could come one day, if demand for it remained high. Ever since, the rumor mill has long speculated a stick-shift Supra was in the works. Earlier this month, Toyota’s European division finally confirmed that the 2023 Toyota Supra will be getting an “all-new, tailor-made” manual transmission model, and now Toyota has shared specifics for the manual in the U.S.

The Supra is currently on sale with either a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 with 295 lb-ft of torque, or a 382-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 with 367 lb-ft, and as the rumor mill suggested, the new transmission is only available on the latter, more powerful (and more expensive) Supra 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and a new limited A91-MT Edition models. Specific pricing will be announced at a later date.

Toyota says engineers took an existing transmission housing, driveshaft, and gears, and removed some elements for weight reduction. But it comes with a new high performance, large-diameter clutch. The new MT is smart, too, featuring performance-enhancing software that optimizes torque on upshifts, with tuned downshifts for shifting consistency, but the iMT system can also be turned off by the driver. Compared to the Supra’s available automatic transmission, the manual’s final drive ratio has been shortened from 3.15 to 3.46, to “avoid a sluggish take-off.”

The stick-shift cars get their own suspension tune and reprogrammed traction control system, to avoid slip in first gear in icy conditions, as a given example. There’s also a new Hairpin+ function specifically tuned for more “freewheel spin” when taking tight corners on an uphill gradient of more than 5 percent; so basically, this setting lets you slide a bit in the twisties. That handily comes with an Anti-Roll system to avoid snap oversteer. There’s also still the car’s Track mode, for easier drifting as well.

Inside the manual Supra, the lever ratio requires minimal effort to make shifts, Toyota says, even tweaking the drive mode selector and center console to allow clearance for the new 200-gram gear knob.

The limited 500-unit run of the A91-MTs get exclusive Cognac leather seats, an alcantara shift knob, and special red badging adorning the exterior. The A91-MT is available with red-painted strut braces and brake calipers, two exclusive colors, either Matte White (pictured here) or CU Later Gray, and new 19-inch Frozen Gunmetal wheels.

There’s also new 19-inch forged aluminum wheels for the regular 3.0 MT car now, with a new Stratosphere Blue paint job available with the other carry-over colors. The 3.0 Premium upgrade includes red and black leather, a driver HUD, and a 12-speaker JBL sound setup that carries over the A91-MT as well.

Toyota says the “Toyota GR Supra Manual Transmission has been engineered to offer enthusiasts something closer to the GAZOO Racing DNA that also enhances the driving experience.” More updates for the North American market, including pricing, will be available later this summer.