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. In a drag race, even though both cars have the same engine, they are not very evenly matched.
To see which car would be faster, the Carwow Youtube channel recently decided to drag race the two vehicles on a closed runway. Given that it’s a 2020 model, the Supra only has 340 horsepower. On the other hand, the M440i is producing all 382 horsepower. It also has all-wheel drive, giving it tremendous starting grip.
Although the Supra may have less torque and traction, it does have one advantage: weight. It is significantly lighter than the 4-Series because it just has two seats and does not require an AWD system. Unfortunately, in a straight-up drag race, that wouldn’t be enough to win. The Supra falls short in each of the three races. The only time it can compete is in a roll race, where it finishes neck and neck with the M440i.
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Which BMW engine in the Toyota Supra is superior?
The brand-new Toyota Supra is propelled by a BMW engine, which is no secret. That has been widely publicized for at least a year. However, there are currently two BMW engines available for the Supra: a 255 horsepower version of the BMW B48 2.0 liter turbo-four and a 382 horsepower version of the BMW B58 3.0 liter turbocharged inline-six. What needs to be determined is which one is superior.
That question can appear absurd on its face. Of course, the engine with the most power is the best engine. Right? Well, perhaps not. Both have advantages and disadvantages, thus it’s possible to argue that the Toyota Supra is better off with the smaller engine. In this brand-new Everyday Driver video, we get to see which is superior.
Even while the 2.0 version has less power, it might be the one to purchase for one specific reason that has gone unnoticed: packing. The new Toyota Supra 2.0T is often praised by enthusiasts for being lighter (it weighs roughly 200 lbs less), and the smaller engine plays a significant role in that. The location of the engine itself, rather than the engine’s smaller weight, is what makes a difference.
The size of the 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder allows Toyota to position it so far back in the engine compartment that the entire engine is behind the center line of the front axle. In essence, it is a front-mid-engine vehicle. Ferrari asserts that its vehicles with the same package are front-mid engines even if it is still listed as a front-engine vehicle. We’re going to call it that because it’s cooler.
The Toyota Supra can turn in considerably more quickly thanks to the revised packaging since there is simply much less weight in front of the front wheels. The weight is higher inboard than in the six-cylinder variant, making it turn in better and spin slightly better around corners, similar to a mid-engine car. Even while it’s not technically in the middle, the effects of relocating the engine so far inboard are very close to doing so.
So, even though the Toyota Supra 3.0 is still a fantastic car and has a greater engine, the 2.0 model has a slightly better feel. The experience of testing these cars firsthand will be incredibly intriguing.
The Meeting
Finding parity between two comparison-test vehicles was unusually simple. We opted for that setup since it is the only one available for the 2020 Supra, a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (yep, from BMW) mated to an eight-speed automated transmission. The same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that powers the standard BMW Z4 will also be made available for the Supra in 2021. The Supra’s six will also gain 382 horsepower for the upcoming model year. However, it currently only has a 335-hp detuned version of that engine.
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. 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.
The BMW and Toyota both perform similarly on the 300-foot skidpad, with 1.02 g and 1.05 g, respectively. Perhaps you anticipated that. We did so since both vehicles use the same summer tires, sized 255/35R-19 up front and 275/35R-19 up back, and have the same fundamental suspension systems. Yes, both tires are “star spec,” which means they are made specifically for BMW cars. Scandalous! The Toyota stopped from 70 mph in 150 feet, whereas the BMW stopped in 148 feet using the same braking system and tires.
The cost is one of the few significant variations between the two. The entry-level six-cylinder BMW costs $64,695. A $500 driver-assistance package that includes lane-departure warning, blind-spot recognition, and park-distance control was installed in our test vehicle. A $1400 premium option with a head-up display, wireless phone charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote engine start was also included. A $2500 executive package added adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beam capabilities and an enhanced music system. The price amounted to a hefty $73,295 after adding $3600 for matte-finish gray paint.
Naturally, the Toyota was more affordable because BMW trademarks were more expensive. At $50,945, the 2020 Supra 3.0 is affordable. Our test vehicle was of the 3.0 Premium trim level, which includes heated seats, a premium audio system, and an 8.8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility for a total as-tested price of $57,400.
Revealed:
The first task was to get a straight-six engine when Toyota decided to give a new sports car the illustrious “Supra” label. Why? because customer surveys revealed it was a necessity given that the inline-six engine was present in all four of the car’s prior incarnations. The simplest method to get one was to sign a contract with BMW and purchase their 3.0-liter engine, which is found in the Z4 M40i and the new M340i. Toyota chose against creating its own straight-six, which disappointed purists but was a smart business decision given that the Supra won’t be a high-volume vehicle.
Similar to other crucial components from BMW, including the eight-speed transmission and the chassis, the engine with Bavarian roots has been modified specifically for the Supra by Toyota’s specialists. The two businesses have vowed that their sports vehicles will have individual identities that go beyond the various body styles, while sharing quite a few elements. Since we’ve seen the new Z4 and a clear picture of the Supra, we can be certain that their exterior designs won’t be similar in any way.
Returning to the test drive event interview, Tada made a suggestion that future Gazoo Racing cars might feature engines created by Toyota’s go-faster division. These will be brand-new engines as opposed to more powerful versions of current engines, and they’ll probably work with electrification for an added boost and lower emissions.
It is capable of 1,000 horsepower, according to an expert engine builder.
The majority of criticisms of Toyota’s fifth-generation Supra, which debuted in 2013, focused on its BMW engine. Purists believe that a Toyota powered by a BMW cannot be a true Supra, and this belief is unrelated to the amount of power it produces. With 335 horsepower, the turbo six-cylinder engine from BMW has ample power for the Supra. The problem, in the opinion of the enthusiast community, is that it falls short of the legendary 2JZ engine found in the preceding Supra. At least one engine specialist says the BMW-sourced engine might be more capable of aftermarket tune than the 2JZ.
How good is the BMW engine in the 2020 Toyota Supra? Find out now
Many Toyota fans were anxiously awaiting the new Supra’s BMW-sourced engine, wondering if it would match the performance of the 2JZ.
Few automobiles received as much online excitement as the revived Toyota Supra, which demonstrates the increasing power of internet hype. Despite the enthusiasm for the new vehicle, the group of Toyota purists had several reservations about BMW’s involvement. Will the B58 straight-six from BMW be able to compete with the renowned (for good reason) Toyota 2JZ-GTE?
We must admit, we were a little curious about that as well, so when we learned that none other than the evil racing genius Stephan Papadakis was going to disassemble the BMW B58 engine to determine how good — or bad — it is and whether it will be strong enough to produce insane horsepower, we were overjoyed.
Steph rips the engine out of a brand-new Toyota Supra with just over 500 miles on the odometer and destroys it in his film, which was posted on Monday. He discovers something unexpected and encouraging.
BMW didn’t cut corners when it comes to its B58 straight-six’s innovative innovations. There are just two exhaust ports in total—one for each scroll of the twin-scroll turbocharger—because the exhaust manifold is directly cast into the cylinder head. Additionally, the effective water-to-air intercooler for the engine was built right into the intake manifold made of plastic.
What did Mr. Papadakis learn after dismantling the motor? According to him, it will be able to produce more than 1,000 horsepower without putting undue strain on components like the crankshaft and the oiling system.
Needless to say, we’re eager to watch him reassemble the engine and attach it to a dyno to verify his theory.
Supra (J29/DB) Toyota
A J29/DB The Toyota Supra is a sports automobile that Toyota has been manufacturing since 2019. It is primarily sold as the Toyota GR Supra. It succeeded the preceding model, the A80, whose production ceased in 2002, and is marketed under the Gazoo Racing (GR) name. The G29 BMW Z4 and the GR Supra were built on the same platform and were jointly developed by GR and BMW. The Magna Steyr facility in Graz, Austria, makes both automobiles.
The fifth-generation Supra is identified as a J29 series with DB model codes and adheres to BMW model code norms. To retain continuity with other Supra models, Toyota used the “A90” and “A91” codes in promotional and marketing materials for the fifth generation Supra.