Driving the New Supra Changed My Mind

When people ask “what is your dream car?” most respond with something like a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc.. but for me, it has always been a Mark IV Toyota Supra. Consequently, I was one of the eager fans awaiting the release of the 5th Generation Supra. And subsequently, I was one of the many disappointed “purist, fanboys” that wrote it off after hearing that it would be BMW Z4 based with, wait for it… only an automatic transmission available. Nevertheless, when I had the opportunity to test drive the Supra, I jumped at it, and despite my “old soul” preferences for cars, I’m here now, to tell Tetsuya Tada (Chief Engineer of the Supra) that I was wrong.

Design and Engineering

The aesthetics are something I’ve loved about the new Supra since it was a concept car. Its Ferrari-like lines give it a timeless look that will remain in style for many years to come. The lights have a unique contoured shape to them, and the back-up light is centered like a F1 car’s rain light. The rear-fenders are molded from one piece to give this vehicle the beautiful curves it has; but will cost a pretty penny to repair if you ever have a baseball hit them. Inside the car, everything is reminiscent of a BMW. The infotainment center, dashboard design, and switches are all BMW; however this gives the car a luxurious feel on the interior.

The engineering of the car though, is incredible. The Supra uses the infamous BMW B58 twin-turbo’d power plant putting out 335hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, combined with BMW front strut and rear multi link suspension. The Supra body is three inches wider and the doors are longer than the Toyota 86, making the Supra twice as stiff. This combination works perfectly inline to allow the Supra to lean into turns and explode out of them like a dog on fire.

Driving Experience

With 335hp, the Supra doesn’t look like anything outrageous on paper, I expected it to drive like my ‘07 335i coupe. However, the tuning of that motor, mated with the loathed 8-speed automatic is incredibly responsive and smooth. Touch the gas and you’re able to go 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, stay on that gas and in the blink of an eye you’ll be at 90 MPH+. The Supra never feels out of control though, the steel structure, low center of gravity, and 50/50 weight ratio gives the Supra a planted feel giving you a sense of security while traveling at high speeds.

All in all, as mentioned, I’m an “old soul” when it comes to car preferences; and have a tendency to prefer my cars with a key that you turn, a gearbox you shift, and few tech enhancements. The Supra however, has started to change my perspective. Do I think that this car would be enhanced by a manual option? Yes. But through the perfect harmony that is the driving experience you get while operating the new Supra, I’ve come to recognize and appreciate the different type of driving experience and joy that a vehicle packed with tech and delivered with the best of both German and Japanese engineering can bring.