The 2020 Supra Can Run a 7:40 Nurburgring Lap, Thinks Tetsuya Tada

Supra93

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Threads
82
Messages
2,486
Reaction score
4,339
Location
TX
Car(s)
Supra & RX7
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-sh...904857/new-toyota-supra-nurburgring-lap-time/

2020-supra-exterior-011-1547470871.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.753xh;0,0.jpg


Tetsuya Tada says the automaker has not done a timed lap at the 'Ring, but speculates his car could handily beat the Z4's lap time.

Nurburgring lap times have become a crucial data point for high-performance vehicles. Automakers have claimed 'Ring lap records for everything from hybrid hypercars to front-drive hatchbacks and even SUVs.

So it's a little bit surprising that Toyota hasn't publicized an official Nurburgring lap time for the 2020 Supra. But at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Supra chief engineer Tetsuya Tada hinted at what he believes the new sports car will be capable of achieving at the 'Ring.

"We haven't had an official time attack yet," Tada told R&T through an interpreter. The engineering boss explained that the car would likely run into its 155-mph speed limiter on the Nurburgring's lengthy straightaway, hampering its lap time. "One day, perhaps, we cut the speed limiter and try the time attack," he said. "But even just driving it as it is, it's really fast. On the old course, it's very easy to break eights—7:50, 7:40. It will do that easily."

Compare that to the new BMW Z4, which was developed alongside the new Supra. The two cars share a platform, and their suspension and braking components are nearly identical. They offer the same 3.0-liter turbo straight-six engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, though the top-spec Z4 M40i makes 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, compared to the Supra's 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft.

Tada says the hardtop-only Supra is lighter and more rigid than the soft-top BMW, which could explain how the Supra out-accelerates the Z4 (a 4.1-second 0-60 sprint, compared to 4.4 for the BMW). And while BMW has not claimed an official Nurburgring lap time for the Z4, German publication Sport Auto ran a 7:55 in a preproduction Z4 M40i.

Of course, there's only one way to find out what the Supra can do at the Nurburgring. Consider this our plea: Toyota, take it to the 'Ring for an official timed lap.
Sponsored

 

Jabba

Well-Known Member
First Name
Joel
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
268
Reaction score
630
Location
U.S.
Car(s)
2022 Hyundai Veloster N
Tada's got to be talking about the lighter mules they were testing. If somehow the production Supra pulls off a ~7:50, I'll be surprised.

I could see the headline now:
"Sibling Rivalry"
 

F1 Silver Arrows

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2018
Threads
5
Messages
683
Reaction score
1,234
Location
Circuits around the world
Car(s)
Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid
Okay something is going on and I like it. The fact that he is so assured that it will make 7:50 or even 7:40 with the speed limiter on is fucking scary. There is also how one will look stupid if they make a bold claim like that and it ends up backfiring, I'm sure he understands that, and the fact that he's saying this makes me believe him that it's for real.

I also feel like in the future Toyota will work their Japanese magic and do BMW dirty big time. If I were BMW I wouldn't be so keen to partner up unless there was an contract or some sort of immunity agreement that will not allow Toyota to do as well as BMW. I'm getting the vibe that if that's even the case, Toyota will work and read between the lines and fuck BMW up. I have mentioned this many times and will say it again. I think we will have our own inline-six again.

I can also feel the toxicity between the two parties even though they both did good for each other. BMW gave hardware while Toyota traded some other things that we don't know about (I'm pretty sure chassis tuning is all Toyota because I remember nobody liked BMW steering until the M2, but other than that the Z4 was the first car that they liked the steering, even then every publication said they liked the Toyota steering more). I do think this will be a rivalry with the two cars. And in the future the Z4 will be only as an alternative to people who want a MkV or any Supra in general. Similar to how some other cars were to the older Supra's. Meanwhile the Supra will be hella popular. I'm feeling that BMW is really salty about the amount of love that the Supra is getting and they're pissed. Tada just shut them up right now.

Somebody (a moderator) told me via pm that I should be hopeful because once official reviews come out people's mindset will change. Any real person with half a brain would understand that it is great as it is.

I want the big dog Supra though. If that's too far off, I want me a launch edition. :love::spaz:

Just. Please. Release. A. Stick.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

McWicked

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2018
Threads
0
Messages
225
Reaction score
892
Location
USA
Car(s)
Stutz Bearcat
Vehicle Showcase
1
Tada is definitely hiding something
I don't think Tada-san is hiding anything, I just think he has confidence in the product.
Hopefully Toyota will do a legitimate 'Ring run. By legit I mean bone stock down to the tires. I'm tired of seeing manufacturers make runs in purportedly stock cars. "Oh the cage is for safety and it in no way helps with chassis rigidity. Why's the interior gutted? That's just to make up for the weight of the cage and data-logging equipment. The tires? Yes they're street legal... somewhere in the world."
 

Nurburgring

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Threads
5
Messages
209
Reaction score
866
Location
Chile
Car(s)
911 Turbo, M3 E46, Turbocharged NA Miata, S2000, Mazda FC3S & FD3S, EP91 Starlet, EK9 Type R, EG6 Sir2, AE86, 3SGE AE86, Evo7RS, F3 race car
He seems pretty confident in the product! SportAuto will probably test it before Toyota does, and it won`t do 7:40 in showroom stock form.
 

MA617M

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2017
Threads
23
Messages
2,302
Reaction score
5,149
Location
Australia
Car(s)
lots
that's impressive - was it the one that competed at VLN or an earlier mule on street Michelins?
 

kona61

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Mar 25, 2018
Threads
22
Messages
1,029
Reaction score
1,407
Location
San Bernardino-ish, CA
Car(s)
Sold Launch Edition Supra #445
Vehicle Showcase
1
Mule on Michelins afaik; I wouldn't be surprised if that VLN car was even faster on slicks, but I have no idea.
So a 7:38 puts the Supra at the same level as a Giulia Quadrifolgio, a brand new F90 M5, a LFA, the R35, the Veyron, etc.
 

kona61

Well-Known Member
First Name
Josh
Joined
Mar 25, 2018
Threads
22
Messages
1,029
Reaction score
1,407
Location
San Bernardino-ish, CA
Car(s)
Sold Launch Edition Supra #445
Vehicle Showcase
1
7:40 would be a good spot to be in for a $50-60K car. Then Toyota could pretty much say "Look, just about anything quicker costs more. Anything cheaper is slower."
Sounds about right. Maybe I will need some R888's and a tune to get that 7:38 ;)
Sponsored

 
 




Top