supraninja

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Now don't get too excited... but an NSX was out testing at Nurburgring yesterday and it was kind of an odd sight. It was following a stock Mark IV Supra. Da heck?! (is what you should be thinking).

Was Toyota just running an old Supra for giggles at the Ring or was there more to it? Well the same car was spotted running with a prototype Toyota 86 approx 2 years back. Those are definitely Toyota's plates so it indicates it is a Toyota test vehicle.

Seems like a wolf in sheeps clothing...... testing a new vehicle/platform/powertrain in the body of an old mule vehicle.


2012-Toyota-FT-86-13.JPG
production-2015-acura-nsx-spied-during-nurburgring-testing-photo-gallery_8.jpg
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JohnnyTX

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Definitely has to be something to this. My guess is testing new engine. The design may not even be locked down yet so makes sense that engineering isn't going to wait for it.
 

divinesteer

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Finally some news!! Nice find OP.

I think this might mean the next Supra is going to be similar dimensions as the MKIV?
 

black-supra

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Finally some news!! Nice find OP.

I think this might mean the next Supra is going to be similar dimensions as the MKIV?
I never really expected it to be much diffrent but really I would not make too much of the exterior shell. Mules are so unreliable and they can easily be testing the motor and has little to do with the size/proportions.
 

Loyo911

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It seems a bit early to be testing at the Ring already? i thought it was in concept stage still....
 

TorqueRules

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Why else would they be testing an old supra at the ring. Anyway i wonder what the other cars have to do with it,, are they benchmarking? Does the powertrain testing have to do with the NSX or FT-86?
 
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supraninja

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They do this all the time. Remember the existing bodied IS-F testing at the Ring that turned out to be an early test mule for what is known today as the Lexus RC-F?

04-lexus-is-f-convertible.jpg
05-lexus-is-f-convertible.jpg
 
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supraninja

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It seems a bit early to be testing at the Ring already? i thought it was in concept stage still....
Nah, it takes years. I wouldn't make too much of it testing at the ring, plenty of early mules/prototypes do this.

Why else would they be testing an old supra at the ring. Anyway i wonder what the other cars have to do with it,, are they benchmarking? Does the powertrain testing have to do with the NSX or FT-86?
My guess is they happen to just be there. Possible the 86 shares a few components but I doubt too much else especially if they are testing the engine.
 

sunFire

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You know some mules have been testing for years and years. They keep some around for various testing purposes since the cars are built and no need to scrap them if they can find a use.

There are mules that have put some serious mileage down..upwards of 500K miles even.
 

Loyo911

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Nah, it takes years. I wouldn't make too much of it testing at the ring, plenty of early mules/prototypes do this.
Takes years but I have never known a car still very much in concept stage (as far as we know) that hasn't even finished with their feasibility study to be out testing at Nurburgring. Shrug
 

FRS-Man

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Sorry but no, testing on the engine and underlying platform not only can but has to take place before design is finalized. That's all body work. They likely have the dimensions locked down and know what engine(s) are going to be used. The designers can for the most part do all of that independent of the testing.
 

MATT

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Seems like a wolf in sheeps clothing...... testing a new vehicle/platform/powertrain in the body of an old mule vehicle.
you see companies do that sometimes but theres usually something off about how it looks like maybe it rides too high or body is too big for the platform, wheels tucked etc. this one looks like a standard MKIV? don't see anything 'off' bout it.
 
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supraninja

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Come on Toyota show us the first test mule please... it's been a few months since this teaser already :slap:
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