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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Does the Toyota Supra have a BMW motor?
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. The 2.0-liter engine was first made available in Japan, a few Asian nations, and Europe. It was introduced in the United States in 2020 for the 2021 model year.
Did BMW contribute to the 2JZ’s development?
All BMW vehicles, from its small cars to its large SUVs, will henceforth be powered by the famed Japanese engine. In response to widespread demand, BMW has declared that the legendary Toyota 2JZ inline six-cylinder will replace every engine in its lineup.
Why is a BMW engine being used by Toyota?
BMW’s involvement, according to Toyota’s performance chief, was compelled by necessity in part because BMW possessed the tools required by Toyota for the Supra, particularly Bimmer’s roaring 3.0-liter inline-six engine.
The Supra is a mere BMW Z4?
Under their epidermis, they are identical twins with distinguished names. But should you choose the German roadster or the Japanese coupe if you only have roughly $90,000 to spend?
Nowadays, making an economic case for a sports vehicle is more difficult than ever, so it’s not hard to imagine that neither the third-generation BMW Z4 nor the fifth-generation Toyota Supra would have been possible without cooperation between the two automakers.
Thankfully, two illustrious automotive traditionsincluding one that dates back to the 1930s with BMW’s roadstersremain intact. And in conventional shape, without any attempt to undergo a horrifying crossover mutation to entice SUV enthusiasts (hello Ford Mustang Mach-E).
Since the last Supra was delivered in 2002, BMW’s open-top sports vehicle has gone by the name Z3, even though both models’ production came to an end in the same year. The Supra is back for a number of very excellent reasons, including Toyota’s success with the 86 compact sports coupe, another collaborative venture with Subaru, and the fervent cries of Supra fans.
According to the legend, Toyota flew its head engineer to Munich to suggest a joint venture that would help the business cut expenses when it decided to finally produce a new generation Supra.
Therefore, despite the fact that the Supra is a coupe and the Z4 is a convertible, both vehicles share the same BMW base as well as other essential BMW parts. Additionally, the same company, Magna Steyr in Austria, constructs both vehicles.
BMW’s six-cylinder engine is one of those shared components, but it can only be had in a Z4 with the $124,900 M40, which is significantly more expensive than the base price of the Supra with its 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
Is the Supra a Z4 from BMW?
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?
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. The M440i xDrive also has the same straight-six engine.
What makes the 2JZ engine so effective?
The 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine, which was used in the Toyota Supra’s fourth generation Turbo variant, is largely responsible for the iconic status of the car. For 1993, this 3.0-liter six engine’s 320 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque were impressive results from its two sequential turbochargers. But the Supra’s legacy was not only cemented by what Toyota did with its powerplant.
The aftermarket quickly realized that this engine could be tweaked to produce much more than 320 horsepower without seeming to compromise reliability. Modified Supras frequently produce well over 1000 horsepower without any issues. A Supra may easily be transformed into a supercar contender with even a conservative tune. Because of this, the Supra gained notoriety as a tuner icon, gaining a spot in the first Fast & Furious film and the affection of a generation of auto aficionados.
But why did it work so well? Stephan Papadakis, an engine builder, discusses in this 2JZ-GTE dismantling video. The primary cause? This engine is really powerful.
To begin with, a cast iron block was used in all 2JZ iterations. That’s not fantastic for weight, but it’s perfect for maximum strength. In addition, Papadakis notes that the 2JZ has a closed-deck engine, meaning the cylinders are fairly powerful on their own. Because of this, the 2JZ-GTE can withstand high turbo boost pressure. Without having to worry about the engine’s fundamental design, you can push a lot of air through those cylinders.
A cleverly constructed three-layer steel head gasket that can endure high boost pressure without blowing is another advantage of the 2JZ-GTE. The crankshaft is made of very sturdy forged steel. Finally, Papadakis draws attention to the engine’s girdle, which aids the block’s stiffness.
Essentially, when designing this engine, Toyota went crazy. It is an engine for a gas-powered sports vehicle, but it has a lot in common with a high-compression turbo-diesel truck engine in terms of design. It almost seems as though Toyota built the 2JZ with boost-obsessed tuners in mind from the beginning.
Make sure to view the entire Papadakis video. If you ever decide to dissect a legend yourself, it’s a fascinating look inside and is packed with useful information.
This material was downloaded from YouTube. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
Is the 2.0 Supra’s engine also from BMW?
The 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 gets its moniker from its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which is sourced from BMW and produces a snappy 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Before you dismiss it as underpowered, consider that it took us just 4.8 seconds to accelerate from a complete stop to 60 mph. It is faster than any Toyota Supra we tested before to the introduction of the current model, including the highly wanted 1997 Supra Turbo, which accomplished the same feat in 4.9 seconds. Modern technology includes a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, launch control, and sticky summer tires benefit the new 2021 GR Supra 2.0. In comparison to the more potent 2021 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 we evaluated earlier in 2021, it accelerates 0.8 seconds more slowly.
A few features that distinguish this Supra from the GR Supra 3.0, such as the adaptive sport suspension, an active rear sport differential, four-piston front brakes, 19-inch wheels, and larger exhaust outlets, are absent from this model. The Supra 2.0 gets by with 18-inch wheels, single-piston front brakes, and a compact exhaust system. The two models are otherwise identical, which is a significant benefit for people looking to purchase a stylish but more cheap car.
Upon what vehicle is the Supra based?
The Toyota Celica liftback served as the foundation for the first version of the Supra, which was 129.5 mm longer (5.10 in). The front panels were lengthened to provide room for the Inline-6 engine rather than the 4-cylinder engine found in the Celica, although the doors and back part were shared with the Celica. The Supra was initially intended by Toyota to be a rival to the wildly popular Datsun (now Nissan) Z-car.