"The new Supra has the makings of a classic: it combines the exoticism of a real sports car with the comfort of a classic Gran Tourismo and the experience of a mass-production vehicle - and very well!"
With these words, Toyota has applied the Supra MKIV (A80) at that time and laid the foundation for the fourth generation, which continues to ring to the world today. One of the best engines built to date, a timeless design or the unmistakable cockpit aimed at the driver. Hardly any other vehicle has influenced the fan base, tuning scene or communities as much as the Supra MKIV.
Despite the strong 330 hp three-liter Reihensechser with twin-turbocharger, came in 1993, the sports car put on the market but not much love. To massive design, peculiar looking Designkniffe as the spoiler and the four-part taillights. The new car price of about 110,000 DM at the level of a new Porsche was reason enough for the press and the car buyers to meet the athlete with disdain. In total, only about 500 copies were sold in Germany.
Comeback of the Supra - release, features and price
The light without camouflage sees the new Supra at the Detroit auto show in January, followed by the Auto Motor Show in Geneva, which was then targeted as the first release site. Already last year, the new Supra in Copenhagen could be admired by some dealers, now on 30 November also at the Nürburgring of predominantly German dealers.
The launch in January will not only announce the final specifications, equipment and prices, but from this point on the buyer will be able to choose the color of his previously reserved Supra or withdraw from his reservation contract upon receipt of the full deposit.
The start for the presale of the new Toyota Supra has already started on 02.10.2018. Across Europe, initially only 900 Supras (the Club 900 ) are delivered, of which Germany receives a contingent of 300 vehicles. In Germany, all 300 vehicles have already been pre-ordered and this Toyota Germany is successful enough to ask at least another 100 models.
At the beginning, only one model with full equipment and a 6-row turbo engine will be delivered. In 2020, the 4-cylinder variant is to follow, which, however, is oriented primarily to the Asian region, in which penalty tax has to be paid for large-volume engines.
The features of the model sold in Germany include 19-inch rims, a Brembo 4-piston brake system, an active two-way differential, an adaptive suspension (ADV = Vehicle Dynamics Control), a HUD system or a parking assistant.
If the new Supra established itself on the market, could also be a Targa version possible.
From the past mistakes of the GT86 Toyota has learned and wants to offer every year slight model changes, which refers mainly to the offered color palette. In addition to the standard colors, there are also colors in matt execution.
The decisive factor in the end, of course, the price. A survey launched in Hamburg with several sports car owners a Ford Mustang or Audi TTS should answer the question Toyota, at what price the new Supra can position itself in Germany.
So far, Toyota has not named a final price officially or unofficially, but recently the price was just under € 62,000
Our test and test drive
Our community has been waiting for the rebirth of the new Supra for a long time, but the expectation is just as high due to the predecessor model.
As one of the oldest Supra Community (also Germany's first MKIV Community), we have already realized projects together with Toyota Global, Toyota Europe and Toyota Germany and participated in events and have now become the only Supra community in the world to have the opportunity to enjoy the new Supra on the Circuit de Jarama in Madrid to test drive and test.
To have a better and fresh comparison in terms of driving characteristics and handling, we drove days before three GT86 vehicles with different suspension setups. With more than 15 years in possession of a MK4 (although no longer original), we also had a direct comparison to the previous model.
Who is curious about the course of the event in Madrid, who can read the personal forum post with many pictures. ( To the article )
Our impression on the track
When accelerating, you get the happy feedback: "Hello Turbo". With a Twinscroll turbocharger and a characteristic as it is known from the MK4 in the standard state, pushes the Reihensechser with 340 hp and to the 500 NM on the crankshaft. It is not quite the " kick in the neck " as you know it from now many performance-enhanced predecessor models with large turbocharger - and also large turbo lag - but the comparison with a production vehicle would not be quite fair.
The power transmits a precisely tuned 8-speed automatic transmission, which is already known for its robustness. While many manufacturers program a certain artificial shift hardness to suggest sportiness, this transmission shifts buttery soft.
With the focus on the fast-coming corner, the warm Brembo brakes pack very well to steer safely into the corner. Compared to the predecessor model, 300 kg less must be decelerated and this weight difference is noticeable in the curves.
If you stay with the production set-up of the new Supras, then with the first corner and also in Sport mode, the suspension is more tuned for the long distances and feels soft, which is not worse, even if a harder chassis gives the driver more direct feedback Cost of comfort there.
Immediately, however, we notice in contrast to the old Supra or even as a drift vehicle popular GT86: The new Supra you get so quickly from the rest, because he loves the curves, can be racy lead through tight hairpins and forgive a rough driving error.
The entire vehicle concept, with all its components, is well thought-out and perfectly attuned to one another, leaving the track in its base as more than positive for us. It is an agile and nimble fun car that can do much more than just drive straight out. It combines the features of a GT86 and the power of a MK4 with potential upwards.
For a total of 6 hours, the four test vehicles made available to us were driven continuously on the race track and on several drift rides without technical failures. This suggests a solid vehicle that goes beyond the features of a cozy Gran Tourismo.
Something more technique please
Advance notice: Obtaining technical facts about an as yet unpublished vehicle has always been extremely difficult, let alone write about it. Many of the information provided to us has always been first-hand, while others have been developed through research and a combination of both. Despite the review and release of this article by Toyota directly, we were asked above all the technical details for the time being as a provisional mark, as could still change to release details or internal are still in the conversation, such as the question of the final price ,
The following graphics and charts are part of a Toyota presentation, which we can show exclusively in detail.
The Supra was tested regularly on the Miramas test track and the roads of France and the maximum speed limit on the German motorways. Test weeks were also on and around the Nürburgring, as well as in Sweden with snow and ice.
" 90% of the tests were done on public roads," says Toyota.
Engine, transmission, differential
The BMW 6-cylinder aluminum engine from the B58 series with the B30C extension, which was newly introduced this year, will be fitted with a water-cooled BorgWarner twin-scroll turbocharger with a total output of 340 hp at 5,500 revolutions and an adjacent 500 NM. Find out more about the new BMW B58 engine here in our article
The main innovations of this engine can be found in the individually optimized components, the weight savings and the consumption optimization. The use of only one timing chain between the camshafts and the crankshaft contributes to further weight reduction and also minimizes the engine's susceptibility to failure. The previous engine had two chains installed in combination.
A second variant of the same engine series will be available with modifications to the manifold and turbocharger in the power region of 388 hp, which probably in the Gazoo Racing model variant is used, so our guess.
Incidentally, Ward's AutoWorld named the B58 engine Best Motor in 2017.
The highlight is the two-way differential, which can be adjusted continuously from 0 to 100%. The larger gearbox not only makes it more accurate, it also actively speeds up the process. This achieves above all a better adjustable steering behavior on the pull side, and of course a better hatched traction potential under all circumstances.
landing gear
The premium equipment of the new Supras has an active chassis, which has a normal and a sports mode. Above all, less understeer should take place with an optimized stabilizer.
Although there are various stabilizers in the GR range in various versions, we assume that the characteristics provided to us will make it possible to use an adaptive stabilizer, the so-called Dynamic Drive.
While a simple chassis has a passive / fixed characteristic, these vary with an active chassis.
The optimal damping force is calculated by the individual wheels, the steering wheel and the dampers themselves. The length of the entangled length (probably in the center of the stabilizer) gives you a variety of options. At a high gear ratio, the stabilizer softens, but harder at a 1: 1 ratio.
Whether the Dynamic Drive will be in use remains to be expected.
Aerodynamics & bodywork
The development of good aerodynamics was a high priority for the Toyota engineers. Challenging here was the small wheelbase, which can be restless at high speed in vehicles of this type. The significantly more pronounced nose on the FT-1 contributes to the vehicle's stability, as does the double-bubble style roof and pronounced rump at the rear of the vehicle.
This aerodynamic combination in conjunction with the diffuser and an optimized underbody made it possible to dispense with an active rear spoiler, as it is known from the prototype. Of course, this contributes to weight reduction.
The louvers used on the fenders or on the doors are dummy, however, so will be able to be used in your position. Quite possibly, that the Gazoo Racing version fully exploits these elements, which are still visually used. Already at the VLN race at the Nürburgring ( our article about the VLN race with the new Supra ) they were used to cool the brakes.
With the short wheelbase of 2.47 meters, the Supra achieves a golden ratio of less than 1.6 at the division ratio, which is significantly lower than that of many sports cars.
The ratio between wheelbase and width, of course, depends on the purpose for which a vehicle is to be used. While a kart enjoys very much the turns with a golden average of nearly 1, a drag vehicle usually has a cut of over 2, making it more suitable for stable straight rides.
Two points really surprised us.
With the new Supra you can achieve a better body stiffness, as it has the built-full-carbon and expensive Lexus LFA.
Likewise, with the Supra a center of gravity has been reached, which is below that of the thus optimized GT86 and its flat-lying boxer engine.
Combined with a total weight of less than 1.5 tonnes (the modified VLN VLR Supra had 1.4 tonnes) and a perfect weight distribution of 50:50 on the front and rear axles, this is an extremely interesting overall concept for driving pleasure on the track.
The thing with the cooperation
The cooperation with BMW has been known for a long time, but did not get too positive feedback from the social media, especially as details became known in visual form.
If you ask an owner why he drives his Toyota, the same arguments usually apply: reliability and robustness , and hardly any other Toyota model embodies these values as well as the fourth generation of the Toyota Supra.
Not infrequently Toyota customers drive their vehicle out of conviction and loyalty to the brand itself. It is understandable and comprehensible that BMW is seen here as an invader of these values.
Another not to be underestimated point is the Germany strong JDM community. Owners of Japanese vehicles are proud of their vehicles, they do not too often live out Japanese culture and values and feel strongly connected to like-minded people in the scene.
In times of globalization, cooperation and the use of common synergies are indispensable in order to remain competitive in the vehicle market. Even in an Aston Martin today is Mercedes, in a Rolls-Royce BMW or in a Toyota Aygo Peugeot and Citroen technology, just to name a few examples. Although many basic components are shared with BMW, the development of the new Supra was completely self-sufficient.
More than ever before must be designed economically, but with the new Supra Toyota has managed in cooperation with BMW to achieve a price that is below the price of a showroom ornamental vehicle. Without the collaboration with BMW, neither the Z4 nor the new Supra would have been feasible.
But why did you not cooperate with the subsidiary Lexus?
One of the reasons is its own sports car range. With the cooperation, the classic cannibalism effect can quickly come to a head with competing marketing of similar products and at different prices, but at least it would make cooperation in many conflicts of interest difficult, so we were told.
The best conditions for a large fan base
Copyright by Emorycc
He is very agile and powerful and only the thoughts about the potential individualize the Supras, inspires the anticipation of this vehicle.
What once made the Supra MK4 by the car and tuning scene, has been created with the new Toyota Supra the best basis to be just as popular lover vehicle.
Another exhaust system, other rims, possibly a turbo upgrade or a few body parts. The cooperation with Toyota and BMW allows synergies beyond these two brands. More products and companies that can specialize in the tuning, motor and programming of the ECU. This offers the owner not only a much greater variety, but also a much greater know-how for the vehicle.
As a market-ready production vehicle, the new Supra is a well thought-out all-rounder in its current capabilities. The customization on the car will not only appeal to the scene, but will also help it gain popularity, which once (honestly, you have to be) helped the Fast & Furious hype to make its predecessor its celebrity.
And just the latter is the best expression of a passionate vehicle owner. The expression of individuality, driving pleasure and enjoyment of one's own vehicle.
