Interviews with Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada

[A70TTR]

High hopes I see lol

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[Modal170]

High hopes I see lol

Even though I was a teen, the 00s decade was...bleh.

This decade with design language and emphasis on performance have me feeling like I ripped open the package for nfs2 but it is all around me. Can't wait to see what's to come

 

[dshandy]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-ca...toyota-supra-tetsuya-tada-interview-goodwood/

Toyota Is Benchmarking the Supra Against the Porsche Cayman

The man behind the Supra gives us the lowdown on everything, even the Viper ACR-esque fender vents.

There were lots of cool cars and cool people in attendance at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, but few were more exciting than the new Toyota Supra and its chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada. We've already seen the Supra as a GTE race-car concept before, and we've spoken to Tada, but this was our first opportunity to pick his brain with the real street car in the metal. Here's what we learned.

In person, the Supra is tiny, but with a muscular stance—Tada actually notes that it has a shorter wheelbase than the 86, another car he masterminded. You also notice tons of cool aerodynamic components throughout the car, which here, are covered up with fake plastic vents.

There's a vent just under the headlight, which seems to direct air over the front wheels. Tada says this will be removable in the production car, "in case the user wants to make a racing version." Additionally, there's a vent just above the front wheel on the hood, that Tada says is there to increase downforce. To us, it looks like a smaller version of what you'd see on a Porsche 911 GT3 RS or a Dodge Viper ACR.

On the door, there's an upswept line that flows really smoothly into the rear fender. That's also a vent, one that Tada told us will help with brake cooling, and "maybe downforce too." There's a big diffuser, which is functional. And that double-bubble roof design isn't just a callback to Toyota's first inline-six sports car, the 2000GT; it helps get air to the integrated spoiler mounted on the hatchback trunk lid.

Tada noted that the Supra was designed with GTE racing in mind, as shown by the race-car concept we saw earlier this year, and all these aero devices will help make it competition-ready. You'll also notice that the Supra has a very small frontal area, and a wider rear, just like another car designed with GTE regulations in mind, the Ford GT. Tada wouldn't confirm where the Supra will race, but we wouldn't be surprised to see it in the World Endurance Championship. Possibly even the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as soon as next year.

While aero was our main focus, Tada also shared some other details on the Supra. The tires are being developed by Michelin for the Supra (and its BMW platform-mate, the Z4), and they're 275mm wide at the back and 255mm wide at the front. Wheels are 19 inches all around. Interestingly, the brakes don't use slotted or drilled discs, as so many sports cars do today. Tada says this improves durability, but eventually, Toyota will offer some sort of upgraded brake package with drilled discs.

Tada wouldn't pop the hood, but he assured me that the Supra's BMW-sourced straight-six sits well behind the front axle, giving the car 50-50 weight distribution. And speaking of BMW stuff, we weren't allowed to take pictures of the interior, but from what we could see, there was lots of hardware from the German brand.

Talking to other Toyota personnel at Goodwood, it becomes clear that the Supra won't be a twin of the Z4, though. The Supra will be much more hardcore and track-focused, and Tada added that it'd be "more serious" than the drift-happy 86. And even though it's front-engine, Tada is benchmarking it against the mid-engine Porsche Cayman—he thinks you'll be able to compare the two, in terms of feel.

And, of course, we asked if there'd be a manual transmission. Tada wouldn't say one way or the other, but it doesn't seem like it's happening. But, you can hold out some hope, as BMW will reportedly offer the Z4 with a manual, so it's mechanically possible for the Supra to get one at some point. That doesn't seem to be in the plans, though.

There's still a lot to learn about the Supra, and Toyota will tease out more details over the coming months. Regardless, a picture is emerging, and it's one of a very serious sports car. Tada said we need to drive it, and we couldn't agree more.

 

[SPMS]

Honestly, from that, him saying that he wouldnt answer about the manual transmission. I think there is a high possibility there will be one or at least it may be on the drawing boards. If there wasn't going to be a manual, I think he(Tada) could give a definitive no answer.

 

[mkivalex]

I fee like Tada is doing a great job at teasing us and holding back on some information....The way I look at it:

BMW Z is offering the B48, B58 and B58 high output as confirmed by many sources as well as now the ZF8 production info.

However, that ZF8 informations lists nothing of a high output supra engine....This leads me to believe that if indeed this talked about "Toyota designed" BMW engine really is true, it is possible we might not be seeing it with the ZF8? Perhaps a true DCT? Surprise everyone and toss a manual in (I know thats not gonna happen )

And now Tada is mentioning that these vents are used for downforce and perhaps cooling....

It sounds like there are certainly a few tricks left up their sleeve.

I am getting stoked, thats for sure

 

[MA617M]

Remember the very first quote from Tada/Akio:

Tada wanted to use the Supra name. Akio would not allow this unless the car was truly worthy.

 

[DevonK]

Interesting that R&T claims that there are "tons of cool aerodynamic components throughout the car, which here, are covered up with fake plastic vents." There is only one way they could know that these are fake.... very encouraging statement.

 

[mas921]

so both fender and rear quarter vents are functional!

 

[Supra93]

I know we already have an interview thread, but it can easily be merged once it becomes old news. We have tired it this way on other forums and people seem to like it better.

The first Supra model was produced in 1978, and 40 years later the hotly anticipated, all-new fifth-generation model has been revealed in prototype form. It’s been experienced dynamically at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed hill course and showcased statically at a special invite-only event for Supra enthusiasts.

At all times, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada has proudly accompanied his ‘new baby’ and been eager to reveal tantalising glimpses into its development and specifications. The following is a transcript of our discussion together.

How long have you been working on the Supra project?
Tada: “Since 2012, so nearly seven years… a long time. The normal cycle for car development is around three years but with this project we wanted to make absolutely sure it was right.”

How does it feel to finally reveal the prototype after such an extended development programme?
Tada: “All I can say is that I’m just so happy that we’ve made it to this point. I’ve finally been able to reveal the car to the UK; it’s the happiest day of my life. And to drive it up the hill at Goodwood was a really exciting experience.”

You introduced the GT86 as your ‘passion project.’ Did the Supra project arouse similar feelings?
Tada: “Of course. It was imbued with a lot passion. Before the GT86 arrived, Toyota had not produced a sports car for a while, so there was a lot of ground to catch up. But for the Supra project we already had the experience from developing the GT86 and were able to start from a much higher level. This meant we were aiming for a much higher level in the finished car.”

Were you trying to create a big brother for the GT86?
Tada: “Akio [Toyoda] has always said that as a company he would like to have Three Brothers, with the GT86 in the middle and Supra as the big brother. So we’ve tried to aim for the Supra to offer an overwhelming superiority in all attributes. For example, people were happy that the GT86 had a very low centre of gravity… but the Supra has an even lower centre of gravity, and its body rigidity is twice that of the GT86.

“It’s actually the same level of rigidity as the Lexus LFA supercar, and it has been achieved without using carbon fibre so we could keep the price point at an affordable level. That was the most difficult thing to achieve. But I’m pleased we were successful because when I was sitting in the queue to go up the hill at Goodwood, I was surrounded by all these amazing supercars and thinking: ‘This is the cheapest car in the line by a long way – probably about a tenth of the price – but we got the biggest cheer!’

“The track width is also wider, of course. But it may surprise people to know that the new Supra has a shorter wheelbase than the GT86. The car was developed with a specific ratio of wheelbase and track in mind, and I think we’ve been able to achieve the balance that we were looking for.”

How do you think the new A90 will be received by hardcore Supra fans?
Tada: “I’m really looking forward to hearing from them, actually. Thinking back to the introduction of the GT86, some owners of classic AE86 models were quite hard to please and were very critical of the new car. So it may be similar with this car. I know there are hardcore owners of the previous generations out there and it may be hard to convince them just by introducing a new car.

“But I have an open stance and want to offer my respect for the older Supra models. In turn, I hope the owners will be open enough to see what the new model is all about, even if it takes them some time to fully accept it.”

As this is the fifth-generation Supra, can you give us five things that you would like Supra fans to know about the car?
Tada: “First of all, the Supra has always had an inline six-cylinder engine, and of course we have that with the new car, too. Secondly, all generations had a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive; that is also the same here.

“I think for number three I would like to point out its design. We’ve taken cues from the A80 [fourth-generation Supra] and, although the design is not the same, we carried elements over so that when people look at the new car they can tell immediately that it is a Supra.

“Number four is that if you look across the previous generations, each of them have been exciting in their own right and in their own era. We wanted to achieve the same thing with this new-generation car, and I believe that when it goes on sale next year it will be the most fun-to-drive car in its class.

“Looking at the current automotive industry, the talk is all about autonomous driving, electrification and artificial intelligence. What that’s doing is giving rise to a lot of strict regulations, and that limits our capacity to make emotional sports cars; it’s getting much more difficult to do that. So for the fifth point, I think the new Supra will be the last present from Toyota to those who enjoy hearing the pleasing sound of a pure petrol engine at high revs.

“Those are my five highlights, and I hope that people will be able to enjoy the new Supra for a long time to come. Perhaps in another 30 years we will be able to meet again and talk about how good it was.”

http://blog.toyota.co.uk/new-toyota-supra-interview-with-chief-engineer-tetsuya-tada

 

[twntrbo03']

“Looking at the current automotive industry, the talk is all about autonomous driving, electrification and artificial intelligence. What that’s doing is giving rise to a lot of strict regulations, and that limits our capacity to make emotional sports cars; it’s getting much more difficult to do that. So for the fifth point, I think the new Supra will be the last present from Toyota to those who enjoy hearing the pleasing sound of a pure petrol engine at high revs.


I don't know how I feel about this statement

 

[Jdmuscle]

“Looking at the current automotive industry, the talk is all about autonomous driving, electrification and artificial intelligence. What that’s doing is giving rise to a lot of strict regulations, and that limits our capacity to make emotional sports cars; it’s getting much more difficult to do that. So for the fifth point, I think the new Supra will be the last present from Toyota to those who enjoy hearing the pleasing sound of a pure petrol engine at high revs.


I don't know how I feel about this statement

Yeah.. a bit depressing especially given that the last present is not even a Toyota powerplant.

 

[jm6k]

That makes it sound like the 3rd brother isn't coming, which I've kind of assumed was the case anyway.

 

[Jdmuscle]

That makes it sound like the 3rd brother isn't coming, which I've kind of assumed was the case anyway.

Even if the third one came.. it’ll be fathered by someone else. Remember the brothers that exist today have different fathers.

 

[vb22]

Even if the third one came.. it’ll be fathered by someone else. Remember the brothers that exist today have different fathers.

The Toyota rep said it would have been done in house.

 

[Jdmuscle]

The Toyota rep said it would have been done in house.

Toyota doesn’t have money to make cars that have an emotion..they are emotionally broke.

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