Both the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo and the 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo engines for the new Toyota Supra are direct imports from BMW. The smaller engine, internally referred to as the B48B20, will be offered in two states of tune, producing 197 and 255 horsepower, respectively, which are exactly the same outputs the same engine has, for example, in a MINI Cooper S and a BMW 330i.
It’s unclear how much Toyota modified this engine for the Supra, but it’s undeniable that both this engine and the larger 3.0-liter, which typically powers BMWs with the 40i label, are products of the German automaker. It is adjusted to produce 335 hp and 494 Nm/365 pound-feet of torque in the Supra, which is actually 6 Nm less than it does in the Z4. The ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is the exact same one BMW uses in its Z4 to drive the rear wheels, is currently the only way for any engine configurations to transmit power to them.
The BMW Z4 is two tenths faster to sprint to 100 km/h or 62 mph than the six-cylinder Supra, which has the same engine with essentially the same output. It’s amusing that BMW lowered its claimed sprint time for the fastest current Z4 from 4.1 to 3.9 seconds after Toyota announced the Supra could sprint to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, undoubtedly just to outdo the Japanese automaker on paper – it will obviously be significantly faster in practice.
This could show whether one or both manufacturers are exaggerating engine and performance numbers, which could turn out to be very different in practice.
In This Article...
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 (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.
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.
In a drag race, the 2020 Supra would lose to its BMW M440i sibling.
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 (it was retuned to 382 hp for 2021). 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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Two designs, one engine
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.
Conclusion
Although the Toyota Supra and the BMW Z4 M40i share a base and powerplant, it is difficult to draw comparisons between them because of how dissimilar their interior and external designs are. Our test results demonstrate how similarly these two automobiles handle and drive.
But in light of that, we questioned if the BMW Z4 was worth the approximately $16,000 price difference. Although it comes in an appealing package, the Z4 M40i isn’t really that much superior over the Supra.
Do you believe Toyota was responsible for the gauge cluster on the Supra? Think again.
Design Works became a complete member of the BMW family and was forbidden from working on projects for other automakers after being acquired by BMW in 1995. The design company also works on non-automotive projects, such as John Deere tractors and personal computers, in addition to BMW. (In fact, after BMW, John Deere is the company’s second-largest client.) However, BMW Design Works is responsible for the Toyota Supra’s instrumentation, specifically the gauge cluster for the 2020 Supra.
You may say that an exception was made or that this is just another hokey instance of how the most recent Supra is really just a BMW in disguise. (After all, BMW Design Works doesn’t work on non-BMW projects.) The BMW Z4 roadster and the Supra share an engine, a platform, and a variety of switchgear. In addition, as we found out, BMW Design Works was in charge of developing the Supra’s on-screen menu icons in the infotainment display, the actual cluster itself, as well as all of its instrumentation and screen visuals, and they did it in accordance with Toyota’s style.
Even though this isn’t brand-new knowledge, Toyota hadn’t previously told us that the Supra’s instruments weren’t made by them. Design Works, on the other hand, prominently promotes its partnerships with businesses like The North Face and John Deere on the corporate website. There is no mention of the partnership with Toyota on this specific project. Given that the Supra and Z4 were developed mainly in tandem with one another, it is a wonder as to why Toyota (or BMW) chose to keep this small additional piece of knowledge a secret, but it is hardly scandalous.
There has been a great deal written about the well-known (or infamous, depending on how much you care) partnership between Toyota and BMW. The Supra is considerably less Japanese and even more Bavarian than we previously believed, as shown by this most recent piece of the puzzle. The new Supra’s compelling performance and outsized visual personality will continue to be appreciated by those of us who are less brand-snobby and protective of their sports car development niches, regardless of who was responsible for it or whose part numbers are stamped into its various components.
What would the Supra look like in a BMW?
Which one would enthusiasts prefer, despite the fact that both cars have excellent handling and amazing sound?
Some Toyota purists were aware that the fifth-generation Supra will effectively be a BMW with a Toyota badge when BMW and Toyota announced their agreement to develop the next-generation Supra a few years ago. Even though this is somewhat true, the automotive press and automobile fans continue to appreciate the fifth-generation Toyota Supra.
It is impossible to avoid comparing the Supra to the best of Bavaria because of the shared components with BMW. All of these comparisons—the Toyota Supra vs a BMW M4, a BMW Z4, or a BMW M2 Competition—are good illustrations of the parallels and discrepancies between the brands.
The BMW M240i is one of BMW’s top rivals to the Toyota GR Supra. After all, they are both 2022 sports cars with the exact same inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 382 horsepower in each. In a TheStraightPipes YouTube video, Jakub and Yuri compete against a 2022 Toyota GR Supra and a next generation BMW M240i.