Isao Tsuzuki, the chief engineer who had also worked on the original Celica and both generations of MR2, oversaw the four-year creation of the eagerly awaited fourth-generation (A80) Supra, which was ultimately debuted at the 1993 Chicago Motor Show.
The A80 was unlike anything Toyota had ever created before; its proportions and flowing appearance were more reminiscent of the 1960s 2000GT. It was clearly designed to achieve a far higher top speed thanks to its long, low bonnet line and high-rise optional rear spoiler.
Less is more was the guiding principle used in the development of the A80, which was reflected in external dimensions that were shorter, lower, and wider than the outgoing car. Additionally, the engineers were able to reduce mass by 100 kg when compared to its predecessor thanks to the extensive use of lightweight materials. To reduce weight, even the carpet fibers were hollow.
Top-spec turbo versions with Toyota’s first six-speed gearbox now offered supercar performance in addition to a streamlined engine lineup of either naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre JZ-series straight six engines with between 220bhp and 326bhp (the Japanese voluntary limit was 280bhp).
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Is Supra a BMW product?
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.
Why is Supra renowned?
The MkIV Supra is one of the most recognizable automobiles on the planet, even though it takes a different approach from other movie hero vehicles thanks to the franchise’s mysterious, supersonic stardom. A few years ago, the one shown above, which the late Paul Walker used in the first FF movie, sold for many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The subsequent generation of petrolheads will now look to the new Supra to lust over, given that the franchise shows no indications of slowing down (or even ceasing to make sense). Here is what they will receive:
Why is BMW called Supra?
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.
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.
What Supra is the most expensive?
Here are the top five most pricey Toyota Supra models available on Autotrader.
- $179,800 for a 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo.
- $174,995 for a 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo.
- $124,900 for a 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo.
- $124,888 for a 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo.
- $115,000 for a 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo.
When were Supras no longer produced?
Even though 1994 was a horrible model year for the Supra, it was able to continue to be a popular car for a while. It was commended for having a luxurious interior and cutting-edge equipment while yet being rated as a top performer. Despite this, Toyota made the decision to discontinue the Supra in the North American market in 1998 because of the vehicle’s weak sales results. Toyota stopped making the Supra in 2002 because the vehicle did not meet Japan’s most recent standards for fuel efficiency.
Why are Supras so hard to find?
A 1994 Toyota Supra manual twin-turbo that was in brand-new, factory-condition, recently for an astounding $121,000 at auction. Although that price is unlikely to become the standard, it does firmly establish the Supra as a six-figure car. Why then did this specific Supra command such a premium price?
For starters, it’s a vintage collectible that still contains all of its original parts. This Supra has all the original equipment, right down to the cassette tape/CD player, including the distinctive rear spoiler, its original aluminum alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, and the mint tan leather seats. Additionally, it has only 7,000 kilometers on it, which is unusual for a car this old. The car’s rarity is increased by the fact that it was also unmodified; Supras from this generation were frequently modified and customized, making the unaltered versions difficult to find.
The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque in this Supra, along with a six-speed manual transmission, make up its very desirable drivetrain configuration. This Supra also has nostalgically appealing styling. The majority of cars in this generation came with a less powerful base inline six-cylinder engine and either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.
The high price is just a result of supply and demand, to sum up. For an unique vehicle like this one, there is a long runway of development potential, even though $121,000 sounds like a lot to pay for a car. Younger collectors who admire these models will eventually have larger money for the ideal automobile they dreamed of as children, while Supras as spotless as this one will only become more rare. Prices can rise significantly when there is a large supply gap and a high demand.
Supra: Is it a decent car?
How Good Is the Toyota Supra? If you’re looking for a high-end sports car, the 2022 Toyota Supra is a fantastic choice. The Supra is a thrill to drive, whether you’re carving down switchback roads or simply driving down the freeway, thanks to its snappy turbocharged acceleration, dynamic handling, and balanced ride.
Which Toyota is powered by a BMW?
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.
Why does the Supra’s engine come from BMW?
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.
Amount of Supra MK4 production?
Despite being the quickest and arguably most beautiful Supra model of its time, the MK4 was strangely the least popular, which led to the end of era-specific Supra manufacture. Due to its high price and the rising popularity of trucks and SUVs, the MK4 saw its best sales results in the first year of production before embarking on a depressing downward sales trend.
Sales had plunged to 337 units in 2002 from a high of 15,901 units in 1993, ultimately ending the MK4’s manufacture.
What kind of automobile engine is best?
These are the top 12 automobile engines from 1999 and 2018*.
- Mazda Renesis Rotary, number 8.
- 7: 3.0 liter twin-turbo BMW.
- 6: A 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid from BMW.
- Toyota’s 1.5-liter hybrid Synergy Drive is number five.
- 1.4-liter TSI twin-charger Volkswagen.
- 3. A 3.2-liter straight-six BMW M.
- 2: Ford EcoBoost 1.0 liter.
- 1: 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 Ferrari.