Working together between various automakers is not uncommon. Cost and production time savings, as well as the utilization of shared technologies and resources, are frequent advantages of collaboration. Ford has already partnered with Mazda, Toyota has done it with Subaru, and BMW is currently collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover on electrification technology. Toyota and BMW have a long-standing cooperation that recently gave rise to the most recent version of the revered Supra, Toyota’s illustrious mid-sized sports car.
The new Supra, which is now in its fifth generation, doesn’t resemble the BMW Z4 with which it shares parts at all. It has fascinating shapes and pointed-looking headlights, whilst the Z4 has a curvier, more rounder style. The Supra’s bold dimensions can look a little off-putting from certain perspectives. It also sports a distinctive front fascia, as opposed to the safer, more traditional BMW look of the Z4’s.
Even though both vehicles are two-door sports cars, the Supra has a hardtop while the Z4 is only available as a convertible.
However, the new Supra contains a sizable amount of components with BMW stamps underneath. For instance, the inline-six engine, which Toyota engineers specifically modified for the Supra, is derived from BMW. The chassis is identical to the Z4’s, and BMW likewise provides the eight-speed automatic transmission. The Magna Steyr facility in Graz, Austria, produces both vehicles.
The cooperation makes sense both economically and culturally. Toyota understood it had to offer the new Supra a straight-six engine in order to maintain the tradition set by earlier iterations of the Supra.
So instead of spending the time and money necessary to design and construct its own new straight-six, Toyota opted to use BMW’s.
According to Motor Trend, BMW decided against building a new version of a low-volume convertible because the costs associated with doing so would have been too high. BMW was able to release the new Z4 and the new Supra last year thanks in part to financial support from Toyota.
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The Supra’s engine is it a BMW?
In case you somehow didn’t know, the new Supra is essentially a BMW Z4 on the inside. It has a BMW drivetrain, interior, and parts. It is propelled by a B58 twin-turbo straight-six engine from BMW.
Does Toyota utilize BMW motors?
The two titans of the automotive industry, BMW and Toyota, have declared a “medium-to-long-term cooperation” in which they would cooperate to create and exchange green technologies.
Toyota will receive 1.6L to 2.0L diesel engines from BMW. In order to expand its market share on a continent where the vast majority of sold vehicles are powered by diesel engines, they will start incorporating them into some European models in 2014.
The two manufacturers will also work together to develop a brand-new line of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric cars.
At a time when the race to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions has peaked, this partnership will enable the two corporations to cut research and development expenses.
This is Toyota’s second announcement of this kind; earlier this summer, Toyota teamed up with Ford to create a hybrid system for SUVs and vans.
The Toyota Supra is a mere BMW Z4 replica.
You’ve likely heard by this point all the jokes about how the new Toyota Supra is really simply a nice BMW Z4. While it may have disappointed the big following of the Toyota Supra and its renowned 2JZ motor to learn that it shares a powertrain with the new BMW Z4, Toyota still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve to differentiate the eagerly anticipated revival.
Same motor, different output?
While it’s true that both vehicles share a 3.0L inline 6-cylinder powerplant created by BMW, you might be shocked by how different each vehicle’s manufacturer advertised its specifications to be. BMW claims that the Z4 M40i offers 382 horsepower, whereas Toyota claims that the same engine in the Supra only produces 335 horsepower. This discrepancy is reportedly caused by different tune. It isn’t one of the JZ motors that the Supra is famous for, but it isn’t entirely different either. According to Toyota, the BMW motor can handle substantially more horsepower with aftermarket tuning.
One engine, Two Designs
The chassis for both cars was developed by the teams at Toyota and BMW in addition to a common powerplant. The Supra and the Z4 are distinguished from one another by their radically dissimilar designs, while having the same powertrain and chassis and being two-seater compact sports cars. According to both manufacturers, codesigning ended with the chassis, therefore each body design is distinct.
BMW offers a slick look in this generation’s Z4 M40i thanks to the car’s distinctive kidney bean grille and angular M-style front bumper. Like earlier BMW Z4 models, the M40i is exclusively available as a convertible.
On the other hand, the Toyota Supra, which hasn’t had a redesign in a number of years, introduced a fresh look for Toyota that will be exclusive to the Supra and perhaps future generations. The Supra is noticeably different from the M40i in design, maintaining clean lines and an aggressive look. The Supra is only available as a hardtop, unlike its sister vehicle, and it is unclear if a convertible version will be released in the future.
Despite the fact that both cars are exclusively available as automatics, much to the dismay of stick-shift lovers, there is a very noticeable pricing difference. While a brand-new Toyota Supra might cost you around $49,900, the BMW Z4 M40i blows the competition away with a far higher MSRP of $63,700.
Does it really matter that they are mechanically similar in the end? A luxury roadster, the BMW Z4. A more narrowly oriented sports car is the Toyota Supra. And neither one resembles the other in the slightest. We’re content to have a choice between the Z4 and the Supra in a time when we have less and fewer options for new automobiles (RIP Ford sedans and hatchbacks).
Furthermore, wouldn’t it be preferable to have a new Supra based on the Z4 than none at all? We concur.
What BMW is comparable to the Supra?
The Z4 M40i was an obvious option for the BMW used in this comparison. It is powered by a nearly identical turbo 3.0-liter six with 382 horsepower. You might wonder why the Supra was introduced to consumers with a lower-powered version of this engine and then had it updated after a year on the market. That is a valid question. The test results we got at our test facility are directly on top of one another, therefore it doesn’t really matter. In the sprint from 0 to 60 mph, the two automobiles are separated by two tenths of a second (3.7 seconds for the Z4 and 3.9 for the Supra). Through the quarter-mile, the BMW slightly widens its lead, clocking 12.3 seconds at 116 mph versus the Toyota’s 12.4 seconds at 112 mph. The Supra is 160 pounds lighter than the Z4 at 3375 pounds, helping to mitigate the Toyota’s lack of horsepower.
Who manufactures Supra engines?
The turbocharged B48 2.0-liter inline-four or the turbocharged B58 3.0-liter inline-six are the two BMW-sourced engine options for the Supra. Initial markets for the 2.0-liter engine included Japan, a few Asian nations, and Europe[35]; the engine arrived in the US in 2020 for the 2021 model year. [36] The power output of the 2.0-liter engine is 145190 kW (194255 horsepower; 197258 PS) from 4,500 to 6,500 rpm or 5,000 to 6,500 rpm, and the torque output is 320400 Nm (236295 lbfft) from 1,450 to 4,200 rpm or 1,550 to 4,400 rpm. The power output of the 3.0-litre engine is 250285 kW (335382 horsepower; 340387 PS) from 5,000 to The 3.0 L model accelerates from 097 km/h (060 mph) in 3.94.1 seconds, 0.70.5 seconds faster than the turbocharged version of the A80 Supra, and has an electronically limited top speed of 249 km/h. The 2.0 L model can accelerate from 097 km/h (060 mph) in 5.26.5 seconds (155 mph). [37] The final product’s engine is a jointly developed version that was thoroughly reworked by Toyota, including adding clips on valves to prevent valve float, enhancing its cylinder heads, and moving the timing chain. The B58 engine, despite being a BMW-sourced engine, was developed during this collaboration in response to the N55 not meeting Toyota’s standards for reliability. To make sure it complies with Toyota’s execution and standards, it was completely stress-tested by Toyota to a closed-deck design, adding a mechanical water pump and disassembling full motors with many parts shipped back to their headquarters in Japan. [38]
The ZF8HP 8-speed automatic transmission, which Toyota completely re-calibrated and also incorporated their software to for the Supra, transmits power to the rear wheels.
[39] Toyota initially contemplated installing a dual-clutch automatic transmission in the new Supra, but ultimately decided against it in favor of the ZF 8HP due to its smoothness, dependability, and lighter weight.
[40] Due to the torque-converter automatic’s rapid shifts, capacity to manage a lot of torque, awareness of its aftermarket potential, and desire to set it apart from the 86, a manual transmission was initially not offered. Only the six-cylinder engine will have a 6-speed manual transmission option starting in 2022 for the 2023 model year. [41] The manual transmission has a shorter final drive ratio than the automatic transmission and a rev-matching feature. It was constructed using ZF and special Toyota parts. [42]
The 3.0 L variant reached 60 mph from 097 km/h (93 mph) in 3.8 seconds (with a 1-foot rollout) in a test conducted by Car and Driver in November 2019, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the factory said. Additionally, a timing of 12.3 seconds at 182 km/h was recorded for the 402 m (14 miles) (113 mph). [43] In a test conducted in August 2020, the 2.0 L model reached a top speed of 167 km/h (097 mph) in 13.3 seconds and reached a 402 m (14 mile) distance in 4.7 seconds (104 mph). [44]
Toyota drastically underestimated the power output of both versions of the 3.0 L engine by at least 5-8 percent, according to power output tests performed by Car & Driver magazine in May 2019 and May 2020. In dynamometer testing by Car and Driver magazine, the 2020 model year Supra had a power output of 257 kW (345 horsepower) and 555 Nm (409 lbft) at the wheels, despite the 2020 US model year B58 3.0 L engine having ratings of 250 kW (335 hp) and 495 Nm (365 lbft). Similar to the 2021 model year engine, which was tested and found to have 289 kW (388 horsepower) and 571 Nm (421 lbft) at the wheels despite being rated at 285 kW (382 hp) and 499 Nm (368 lbft). Since a dynamometer measures power outputs at the wheels and the power at the crankshaft is the usual calculation manufacturers use to estimate engine power, these numbers are normally 5-8 percent greater at the crankshaft on a modern performance car when driveline loss is taken into consideration. The Supra was therefore found to be producing at least 22 kW (30 hp) more power and 54 Nm (40 lbft) more torque at the crankshaft than the factory reported for both versions of the engine, according to Car and Driver’s tests. [45][46]
BMW wanted to build a roadster, which led to the idea of co-developing an entirely new platform that would handle both coupe and convertible variants with great rigidity and handling of torque. Toyota wanted to build a rear-wheel drive pure sports car that would compete against the Porsche Cayman and be a track and street weapon while avoiding supercar prices. The platform borrows a few features from the BMW M automobiles, which Toyota and BMW both commended for their qualities, including the suspension layout, the forging control arms, and the electronic differential, all while being able to lower production and final product costs. [38] After jointly designing the platform, Toyota and BMW went on to independently develop the remaining components of the two automobiles, including the chassis, external and interior designs, drivetrain and suspension tuning, and other components.
Does the BMW engine in the 2021 Supra exist?
Given that, an automaker could legitimately be able to excuse letting things alone for a while, but Toyota has set forth an aggressive development schedule for the Supra that leaves little time on the table. So, only a year after its debut, the GR Supra 3.0 has already undergone surgery, gaining a noticeable increase in horsepower and a few chassis changes in an effort to maintain that momentum. While some early adopters might find it annoying, it’s a pattern we see repeating as this two-seat coupe develops.
Although the Supra and Z4 both debuted with BMW’s turbocharged B58 inline six-cylinder power plant, some performance enthusiasts previously objected to the fact that the Supra had to “make do with 335 hp and 365 ft lbs of torque, while the most formidable version of the engine was saved for the Z4 M40i.
This has been fixed for 2021, and the Supra now produces 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, matching the Z4’s performance. Additionally, a new cylinder head, exhaust manifold, and set of pistons have been added to the 3.0-liter Supra engine.
Peak horsepower is now reached at 5,800 rpman increase of 800 revs over the previous engineand continues to 6,500 rpm as the Supra reaches its 7,000 rpm redline. While the peak speed remains electronically limited at 155 mph, the sprint to 60 mph from rest now takes just 3.9 seconds, an improvement of.2 seconds over the model from last year.
Inline six-cylinder turbocharged BMW B58 engine powering the Supra in 2021 generates 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.
A sports car’s performance is all about balance, so while more power is undoubtedly a positive thing, Toyota worked to make sure the chassis could keep up with the additional oomph. This year’s remix includes updated software for the electronically assisted power steering, stability control, and active rear differential in addition to new front and rear bump stops, revised damper tuning, and more structural rigidity (the latter provided by aluminum braces that connect the strut towers to the radiator support).
The modifications to the engine are what are instantly noticeable while driving. Toyota claims that the changes were made in order to give the Supra’s engine additional vigor in the higher rev ranges, where turbocharged engines sometimes falter. It appears that the idea was successful. The upgraded engine plant never seemed out of breath when we shifted through the eight-speed automatic’s gears using the paddle shifters placed on the steering wheel in the curving roads of the Angeles National Forest, just a few miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Power delivery is remarkably linear, even when required at lower rpm.
The vehicle receives redesigned front and rear bump stops, updated damper tuning, and more structural rigidity for the 2021 model year.
Additionally, the car has a pleasant sound, which made us desire for an exhaust-mode toggle switch. It is currently connected to the Sport button, which modifies the transmission behavior, throttle sensitivity, damper stiffness, and other parameters. However, there are times when you just want to hear the engine sing without any fuss or the requirement to completely alter Sport mode’s various settings in order to get louder exhaust.
While the top speed is still restricted to 155 mph, it now takes 3.9 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph.
While the GR Supra 3.0 is more stable than ever, the front end still provides only sporadic information, and the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires can struggle to control the rear end if you don’t take your time using the throttle coming out of a slow corner. There are definitely certain thrills to be gained here for those daring enough to seek them out, but neither attribute really conveys the kind of confidence-inspiring feedback that naturally coaxes a driver closer to the dynamic limit in the manner that, say, a Porsche Cayman or Chevrolet Corvette does. Most importantly, Toyota has improved the car’s handling stability without significantly degrading the ride quality on a daily basis.
The less-than-seamless Apple CarPlay connection and an adaptive screen-brightness function that cannot be turned off are areas that may use better.
The car’s second year of production also has some kinks that need to be ironed out, such as the buggy Apple CarPlay integration and a feature that automatically adjusts screen brightness but can’t be turned off. But overall, it’s obvious that Toyota is headed in the right path given the Supra’s quick development. With each new version of the GR Supra, the carmaker hasn’t held back on its desire to ramp up the excitement, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.