Why I'm NOT Hyped About The New Toyota Supra

vb22

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https://www.carthrottle.com/post/nzq4y7e/

Now if you’ve ever been familiar with the highly successful and iconic franchise, The Fast And Furious series. Then I’m 99.9% sure that you’re aware of one of the star cars, an icon that wouldn’t be so famous, if it weren’t for Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. I’m talking about the madly respected, and insanely loved, Toyota Supra!

If it weren’t for the high grossing franchise, then this and the Nissan Skyline GT-R wouldn’t be so hyped up. If you have an internet, and are a fan of the world of cars, then you won’t have to browse for long to see that the Supra is one of the world’s most loved cars. In all honesty, I’ve never seen such an adored car that’s not brand new!

My friends on Facebook even have a love affair for the Supra, and they don’t even know much about cars. Now that’s a kind of love, that you won’t find in much other old cars.

Glossing over the 2JZ hype, as I’m sure you’re aware, something astonishing is to happen by 2018. There’s going to be the return of a film legend, a resurrection of a Facebook share post. Oh yes, I’m talking about an ALL NEW Supra! It seems that the internet has gone bonkers after seeing the new spy-shots of the upcoming car. In fairness, we are not even certain if Toyota will even use the Supra name for definite, but the chances are high, so let’s stick with it.

However, as the rest of the internet has gone mental over this new car. Me on the other hand, isn’t quite so excited after seeing the supposed details. Allow me to explain why I’m not so hyped over this new Supra.

So What Made The Old One Great?
eac28dff3bf8cc26d2e76f1ed585282e.jpg

As I’ve explained in the intro, the original is literally adored by anyone who’s seen Fast and Furious and has access to the internet. But let’s get over the subjective modified cars and look at the untouched example, to see why it was such a hit back in the late ’90s.

Toyota had their guns aimed at their neighbours, Nissan and Honda. The ultimate Japanese performance weapons in which the Supra had to compete against, was the technologically amazing Nissan Skyline GT-R, and the Aryton Senna approved Honda NSX. Call me a competition critic, but that was some pretty stiff rivalry at a time when ‘easy to live with’ performance was becoming a growing trend. So naturally, Toyota threw in all of their cards, when they made the bewitchingly quick Supra Twin Turbo.

This was a 4 seater Toyota coupe, which could cover up to 0-60 in just 4.6 seconds, and go onto a top speed of a massive 177mph! That was enough to scare people in almost ANY available Porsche or Ferrari. This was all helped by a 3.0 litre straight six engine, from a Lexus… Ah, but don’t despair, because 2 socking great turbochargers were strapped to it and the car now produced 326bhp and 410 N.m of torque! Seems pretty tasty even by today’s standards doesn’t it?

However, the base model MK4 Supra, which was naturally aspirated only produced 223bhp and 280 N.m of torque. It wasn’t that mentally quick at a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds, and it wasn’t loved either by enthusiasts. Simply because it was what they might’ve called; “Under-powered”.

But anyway, it wasn’t the N/A version that we all loved, it was the mighty fast twin turbo version! That alone is probably why car enthusiasts are so hyped up about the new Supra, but I’m not for some particular reasons.

It's Going To Be Based On a Beemer-
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In case you don’t know, the new Supra is to be based on BMW’s Z4 replacement, the Z5. And to me, that’s a bit of a problem. Of course, this might make us assured that the car will be naturally excellent around corners and to have a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Which matters in a performance car! But then again, have you ever tried to dip chocolate in coke? Yes, both are awesome things, but those two together? It’s a bit of a sacrilege to me.

Having the new Supra sharing a platform with BMW may just ruin what Toyota’s performance scheme is all about, having their own unique platform, that out-performs rivals with no help required. And that’s just one of the things that made the old Supra a truly great car! It was an independent success. Some partnerships work, but BMW and Toyota, kind of don’t in my view.

Mind you, I can’t judge this point fully until the car has been road tested. But it’s really reducing my excitement, I mean a lot.

It Seems Down On Performance-
7e2ecc2e2d4512fc5cd34fce4960898f.jpg

Now the two cars pictured above are in my mind, what the Supra should really be gunning against. The Honda NSX, and the Nissan GT-R. Both are capable of hitting 0-60 fast enough to blitz almost ANY supercar, both are kicking out well over 500bhp, and both are pure, thoroughbred supercars. However, reports on the new Supra suggest that the new car isn’t targeting these two titans.

For example, here’s a section from the popular automotive magazine, Carwow; “Engine options are yet to be confirmed but rumours suggest a six-cylinder, turbocharged engine could feature with around 400hp. It’s expected to coexist alongside side a flagship hybrid model. Others have claimed BMW will provide both turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines for the Japanese cult hero.”

Now, I’ve been informed that the new Supra is to use a Lexus V6 combined with electric motors. So it’ll be a hybrid performance car, and I’m completely fine with that.

However, 400bhp? Really? Compare to the NSX and GT-R that’s absolutely pathetic! However, there have been no reports as to there being a super-performance version of the new car, producing over 500bhp. But still, those figures alone are making me lose hope as if this new car will be any good.

But then again, Toyota may be making an upper class sports car to go above the GT-86. And that seems like a very nice idea, I support that just as long as it doesn’t wear the Supra name tag. Because if that’s so, I’ll be very disappointed with the Japanese brand.

It Looks Quite Small-
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Now I’m a bit of a size critic myself, so forgive me on this one please. But as I’ve been looking at the spy-shots for the upcoming car, I couldn’t help but notice that this is actually quite a short and compact looking sports car.

Of course, cars sometimes do look smaller in the pictures than in real life. But I’m not confident that this will be the case for the new Supra, because the GT-R and the NSX are both pretty sizeable cars considering their price and class. So I’m left to believe that this new Supra will be in a completely different class of sports car than those two supercars.

Size is actually more important than you may suggest, because would you buy a smaller television for the same price, if not more than the larger one with better quality? I wouldn’t either, and that I think is the problem in which the new Supra will face.

Because according to reports, the top spec models could cost anywhere from £60k-80k. That’s Nissan GT-R money! And the new Supra may only just overshadow the lesser 370Z Nismo, which seems a bit of a lost opportunity. Not only for Toyota, but for the giddy fans too. I’m sorry to break it to you, but that’s what the truth seems to be beholding for the new Supra.

As I’ve said though, this car may not even be named the Supra anyway! But if it is, then I won’t really care much for it.

So there we are, there’s my reasoning as to why I’m not that hyped up about the upcoming Toyota Supra. I hope you enjoyed this post!
Agree or disagree, what are your thought?
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SupraGuy19

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some valid points, I agree and disagree at the same time
 

pikappa

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Totally disagree.
The old Supra was in the same segment of Nissan 300zx or Mitsubishi GTO, not in the segment of NSX.
And today it's the same...
I love the new GTR and NSX, but they are too expensive, too heavy, too big and too powerful.
I'd like to see the new supra fighting against Cayman and TTRS for example and not against R8, NSX, GTR...
 

Craigy

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Not sure what he's on about with the size thing. But the rest is pretty spot-on. FT1 was exotic sportscar but all the rumors suggest we're just getting boy racer.

Supra
is to mean "above" and should be a halo sportscar, not some sporty Z car competitor. At the time, the Supra performed alongside the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 348 and 355, not to mention the NSX. The FT1 was an exciting, true high-end sportscar concept. All of the interviews talked about "big power" and emulating sportscars like the 911. But all of the rumors coming out over the past couple years suggest that it's going to fall completely short.

If they roll out some 400 horsepower car, really who cares at that point. Like the blogger said, the enthusiasts didn't like the NA Supra. It was a big disappointment. But the car looked cool so it sold well. MkV might be a low-end sportscar but it won't really be a successor to the MKIV Supra that everyone was so excited about after seeing FT1.
 
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vb22

vb22

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some valid points, I agree and disagree at the same time
Care to elaborate?

i totally disagree with him when it comes to size. this meme sums it up for me.

MTv8pRK.png
It can be larger without being fat and ugly. The concept was a good example of that.

Totally disagree.
The old Supra was in the same segment of Nissan 300zx or Mitsubishi GTO, not in the segment of NSX.
And today it's the same...
I love the new GTR and NSX, but they are too expensive, too heavy, too big and too powerful.
I'd like to see the new supra fighting against Cayman and TTRS for example and not against R8, NSX, GTR...
The old Supra may have been a 300ZX competitor, but it was so good it that people compared it to the GT-R.

If they roll out some 400 horsepower car, really who cares at that point. Like the blogger said, the enthusiasts didn't like the NA Supra. It was a big disappointment. But the car looked cool so it sold well. MkV might be a low-end sportscar but it won't really be a successor to the MKIV Supra that everyone was so excited about after seeing FT1.
If its only packing that much it better be >3,000lbs.
 

Supraman

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The car will sell by having the 'Supra' badge on it alone. But will the car live to what's expected out of a Supra badged sports car? That is what we're all waiting to see. If it doesn't and/or using a BMW sourced engine, I agree with them badging this something else and letting the MKIV live as the last true Supra! As much as I'd love to see this rock that Supra badge especially if it looks like the FT-1, I just feel like it would be the right thing to do.

It's on Toyota now to show what this car will be: A marketing sporty car with a legendary name or giving enthusiast the true return of the Toyota Supra. Just waiting for that Tokyo Auto Show :popcorn:
 

gymratter

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base on the rumored production numbers and trim level i think this car won't be exclusive like the MK4. i have a feeling that its going to be a A to Z car. we have a base 4 banger turbo model that will compete with cars like the Cayman. than a 6 cylinder turbo model that will most likely have it sight on the base C7. and lastly the hybrid model could give the NSX a run for its money.

It can be larger without being fat and ugly. The concept was a good example of that.
when it comes to the concept the hood is definitely shorter on the prototype. but overall i dont think its that much shorter than the concept. i really think the camo and shorter wheelbase is playing tricks on people's eyes and making people think its tiny like a Z.
 
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SupraGuy19

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Care to elaborate?



It can be larger without being fat and ugly. The concept was a good example of that.



The old Supra may have been a 300ZX competitor, but it was so good it that people compared it to the GT-R.



If its only packing that much it better be >3,000lbs.
I feel that if the Supra was to go after the GTR and NSX, the price would go thru the roof. By not targeting those cars, this would make the Supra more affordable for the common man. Nevertheless anything less than 400 HP would be a HUGE disappointment. With economy based sport compacts in the 300 HP range, the Supra should not be in that power bracket. It needs a minimum of 400.
 

2JZ-No-Sh*t

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The issue with going after the GT-R and NSX is that those two are totally different animals from their 90's counterpart. I also don't think the MK4 was as 'exclusive' as people make them out to be. Yeah we didn't see them left and right like Camrys and Corollas, but with 45,230 units made globally it didn't exactly made them super rare either. Now the new NSX being limited to 800 units worldwide a year is definitely more exclusive.
 

HKz

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The issue with going after the GT-R and NSX is that those two are totally different animals from their 90's counterpart. I also don't think the MK4 was as 'exclusive' as people make them out to be. Yeah we didn't see them left and right like Camrys and Corollas, but with 45,230 units made globally it didn't exactly made them super rare either. Now the new NSX being limited to 800 units worldwide a year is definitely more exclusive.
...but how many were actually TT?
 

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Let's not forget the original reason why Akio Toyoda approved having the Toyota FT-1 built as an actual concept (if we're assuming the Toyota Supra should be based on this concept).

It was because the virtual version of the FT-1 lapped a faster time around Fuji speedway than his personal lap time in a Lexus LFA. The original design/intent of the Toyota FT-1 was to go toe-to-toe with supercars.

Before presenting the concept proposal to Toyota management in Japan, the maker’s Californian Calty Design Research studio collaborated with game developer Polyphony Digital to use the Gran Turismo 6 game environment to digitally render the high-performance FT-1 concept. When Toyota president Akio Toyoda lapped Fuji Speedway in the virtual FT-1 faster than he has lapped the real circuit in his own Lexus LFA, he gave the go-ahead for the real-life FT-1 concept to be built in model form for Detroit.
http://blog.toyota.co.uk/toyota-ft-1-gt6-review
 

2JZ-No-Sh*t

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...but how many were actually TT?
Its hard to find the exact number. Some units for the US were somehow unaccounted for. But based on what we do know from the two largest market for the MK4 I would say roughly 50/50. Either way I still count the NAs as Supras. If not, one could say Corvettes aren't really rare because we're only counting ZR1 numbers.

Total
Japan- 31,575
USA- 11,446

NA vs TT
Japan NA- 17,507
Japan TT- 14,060

(Missing a few, but this is what we do know)
USA NA- 6,977
USA TT- 4,262
 

HKz

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Its hard to find the exact number. Some units for the US were somehow unaccounted for. But based on what we do know from the two largest market for the MK4 I would say roughly 50/50. Either way I still count the NAs as Supras. If not, one could say Corvettes aren't really rare because we're only counting ZR1 numbers.

Total
Japan- 31,575
USA- 11,446

NA vs TT
Japan NA- 17,507
Japan TT- 14,060

(Missing a few, but this is what we do know)
USA NA- 6,977
USA TT- 4,262
my point was it is very difficult to compare those cars with each other especially since the GT-R was only 1 particular model of the Skyline lineup and Honda never offered the NSX with multiple powertrains
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