A90 Toyota Supra vs G29 BMW Z4 Drag Race, Rolling Race & Brake Test

johnny_10196

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Threads
19
Messages
1,137
Reaction score
1,758
Location
US
Car(s)
Ford
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/supra/2020/2020-bmw-z4-m40i-vs-2020-toyota-supra-car-comparison-test/

2020-Toyota-Supra-vs-2020-BMW-Z4-M40i-comparison-test-4.jpg


So different from the outside, but so similar underneath


Miguel Cortina
Oct 29, 2019

The relationship between the 2020 BMW Z4 and the 2020 Toyota Supra couldn't be more interesting. The two models were conceived after the two automakers agreed to split the costs of developing the iconic car that each brand needed and wanted back in its lineup. For Toyota, the agreement made a lot of senseā€”BMW has plenty of inline-six engines, and the Supra, following the tradition set by its previous generations, needed an inline-six under its hood. For BMW, splitting the costs of developing a new Z4 would make it possible to bring a new generation of the iconic roadster to the market.

Toyota has been down this road in the past: The Japanese automaker co-developed the 86/BRZ with Subaru, and partnering with the Ultimate Driving Machine team in a joint venture to develop the Supra was a huge win.

How closely related are the Supra and Z4? The cars share a platform and powertrain and are built by Magna Steyr in the same plant in Graz, Austria. Most of what's hidden under the sheetmetal is the same, but almost everything that's in plain sight is completely different. The BMW is only available as a convertible. Its exterior design, featuring swift lines, has changed drastically in comparison with the previous Z4. The Supra, on the other hand, comes only as a coupe, and its design is based on the Toyota FT-1 concept that made its debut at the 2014 Detroit auto show.

With that in mind, let's see how the two models compare head to head.

2020-Toyota-Supra-vs-2020-BMW-Z4-M40i-comparison-test-6.jpg


The Brothers
Although the Z4 can be had with the standard 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, we got an M40i for this comparison so we could compare the same engine on both cars. The BMW Z4 M40i is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo inline-six that sends 382 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic. Our test car was equipped with the Driving Assistance, Premium, and Executive packages, which added about $4,500 in options for an eye-popping $73,295 as tested.

The 2020 Toyota GR Supra Launch Edition is powered by the same 3.0-liter turbo inline-six, but it produces 335 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque in the Japanese two-seater. The eight-speed automatic is the same one as in the Z4, and it also sends that power to the rear wheels. Where we see a big difference is in pricing; our Supra came equipped with the Driver Assist package, which costs an additional $1,195 for an as-tested price of $57,375.

The Z4 M40i's base price is higher than our Supra's as-tested price, which already hurts the Z4. And given that the Supra has so many BMW features, Toyota made a smart move with its pricing: The four-cylinder Z4 is only about $5,000 less than the Supra's base model.

The Drive
Associate online editor Duncan Brady took the Supra on a twisty loop under the watchful gaze of a windmill farm near Tehachapi, California. He thought it felt "marginally less powerful than the Z4 at full throttle" but conceded that "most of the time it's not that noticeable." He also found the Supra's sound unique for a Toyota. Turn on Sport mode, and you'll immediately hear loud pops and snaps coming from the exhaust. Even inside the Supra's cabin, you can't avoid hearing the loud note when Sport mode is on.

Despite its hard top, the Supra is noisy over rough pavement, with a lot of tire noise making its way into the cabin. During our test drives, the Toyota's interior was also prone to creaks from the infotainment screen and the dashboard. "Pretty nasty rattle with the stereo turned up and bass hitting hard," Brady noted.

If you can get over that, the Supra is fun to drive. The two-seater is equally happy on a twisty road or the freeway and shows good push from the engine. Just as it does with the exhaust, Sport mode makes the transmission's tuning livelier, ensuring it shift quickly and at the right times. Although there's a bit of turbo lag, acceleration is strong once you get underway. And the torque doesn't seem to endā€”press the gas when going at high speeds, and the Supra will downshift quickly and deliver.

The Supra's steering is well balanced and provides good road feedback. It feels well planted and has good grip, but there were a couple of instances where its tail drifted to deliver a spirited drive.

2020-Toyota-Supra-vs-2020-BMW-Z4-M40i-comparison-test-5.jpg


Although the Z4 felt a bit more powerful than the Supra, during our testing, both cars made it to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Even accelerating at full throttle, the Z4 is barely quicker on the quarter mile, completing it in 12.4 seconds at 112.0 mph to the Supra's 12.5 seconds at 111.2 mphā€”numbers that feel the same in real life.

The Bavarian is 259 pounds heavier, and that's one of the reasons it's not that much faster than the Japanese despite the extra power. But in the real world, the Z4 M40i delivers a different experience with its top down. The Z4 handles better than the Supra, with a bit more push and steering that provides more feedback. The ride is also sportierā€”too sporty, perhaps, when Sport Plus mode is engaged. But in Sport mode, the Z4 feels more balanced.

"This engine feels special," Brady said of the Z4's powerplant. "Great throttle response that sounds more muscular than the metallic rash I associate with BMW inline-sixes." Despite the nice sound from the engine, the Z4 doesn't have the same snaps and pops as the Toyota. The Z4 also stood out for its braking performance, stopping from 60 mph in 101 feet, compared to the Supra's 106 feet. Even during our test loop, the BMW showed a better brake pedal feel than its Japanese counterpart. And unlike in the Supra, we didn't notice as much tire noise in the BMW despite its soft top, which makes us wonder why Toyota didn't invest more in NVH.

Interior
Although these cars are essentially the same under their skin, they couldn't be more different inside.

Sporting Magma Red Vernasca leather, the BMW Z4's interior looks and feels more premium. The luxury brand equipped our test car with this good-looking leather, which complemented the car's personality well.

2020-BMW-Z4-M40i-dashboard-1.jpg


Our Z4 was equipped with a 10.25-inch screen with BMW's latest iDrive infotainment system, which has nice graphics and is easy to control via a big knob located next to the gear shifter. BMW includes wireless Apple CarPlay for the first year; after that, you'll have to pay extra for it. The Executive package ($2,500) includes ambient lighting, adaptive LED lights, auto high-beams, and a sweet Harman Kardon surround sound system.

The rest of the interior is tasteful, though we'd like to see a better trim for the plastic in the center console. Brady thought the seats were comfortable but criticized the lack of seat cooling in a car that costs over $70,000.

On the other hand, the Supra falls short in offering more color inside. Given its wild exterior design, the black-on-black interior feels out of place; we wish there were more color for better contrast. Yet there's no doubt this interior was taken out of a BMW: The fonts, switchgear, and infotainment system all come straight out of Bavaria. Toyota did make some small changes to the interior, though, like swapping in a different shifter.

We liked the Supra's 8.8-inch touchscreen, which can also be controlled via a knob, and it didn't even bother us that the infotainment system uses a previous version of BMW's iDrive system. Unlike the Z4, wireless Apple CarPlay is standard in the 3.0 Premium trimā€”the higher of the two trims availableā€”and you don't have to pay any kind of subscription.

Our tester was equipped with navigation, a wireless phone charger, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system, though we prefer the Z4's Harman Kardon. Comparing both cars, we prefer the carbon-fiber trim on the Supra's center console to the BMW's plastic.

2020-Toyota-Supra-dashboard.jpg


The X-Factor
As car journalists, we're used to driving the newest vehicles on the market, but some get more attention than othersā€”and that was the case with the Toyota Supra. During our evaluation drives, the Supra turned heads, and people even snapped pictures as we cruised down the street. And it wasn't all because of its Renaissance Red paint. The Supra has an appeal that makes it more special than the Z4ā€”its sharp lines, big hips, and overall polarizing styling attracts eyeballs. It's wild.

The Z4 doesn't really have that. Its European design is much more subtle and conservative. Even with the beautiful Frozen Grey II Metallic paint, which adds a matte touch, it doesn't get the attention the Supra does.

And it doesn't matter what generation you're part of, the Supra simply gets more attention.

Conclusion
Although the BMW Z4 M40i and the Toyota Supra have the same platform and powertrain, their interior and exterior designs are so different that it's hard to see the relationship. Both drive and handle similarly, and our test numbers confirm how close these two cars are.

But with that in mind, we asked ourselvesā€”is the BMW Z4 worth the nearly $16,000 difference? The Z4 M40i is a compelling package, but it's not that much better than the Supra.

Second Place
BMW Z4

First Place
Toyota Supra

2020-Toyota-Supra-vs-2020-BMW-Z4-M40i-comparison-test-10.jpg
Sponsored

 

mas921

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Threads
1
Messages
249
Reaction score
596
Location
Bahrain
Car(s)
Several RWD's
Z4 is "sportier" ?? is he trying to say its "stiffer" sprung? because i think it is so, given than it has less rigidity rendered by the chopped roof.
am also surprised that the Z4 has a different steering rack!
 

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
Z4 is "sportier" ?? is he trying to say its "stiffer" sprung? because i think it is so, given than it has less rigidity rendered by the chopped roof.
am also surprised that the Z4 has a different steering rack!
Yeah I'm confused. Now they're saying the Z4 is more sporty and handles better? Are you sure it's not because of the stiff springs?
 

thedude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2019
Threads
8
Messages
460
Reaction score
297
Location
USA
Car(s)
NONE. BOUGHT BACK - 2020 Absolute Zero 3.0 Premium
Yeah I'm confused. Now they're saying the Z4 is more sporty and handles better? Are you sure it's not because of the stiff springs?
Yeah, that the opposite of basically every review.

The Z4 is a car for lunching ladies...
 

s219

Well-Known Member
First Name
Doc
Joined
Jun 22, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
528
Reaction score
635
Location
Virginia USA
Car(s)
BMW X3 M40i, BMW M2 Comp, Ferrari 328
I don't think they have a different steering rack, probably just different software. With the latest generation BMW EPS systems, feel is pretty much down to how it's programmed to behave. The cars do have different suspension tuning, so that's another factor in how they would compare.
 

RyanGT3RS

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
215
Reaction score
558
Location
USA
Car(s)
Red 991.2 GT3RS, M and AMG,s
What?? From many other reviews Iā€™ve read the Supra was the one that handled better and steered better, with better feel! So what gives??
 

a90moe

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
814
Reaction score
805
Location
Earth
Car(s)
MKV Supra
2.3 sec difference 0-130mph is a lot

That B58D motor moves
 

kissmyrs

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gabe
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
211
Reaction score
113
Location
SATX
Car(s)
A90 Supra
2.3 sec diff 0-130 and 4 more mph trap down the strip..... wow......2020 owners got fkn jacked. Thats Massive. what a huge disappointment...........
 

kissmyrs

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gabe
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
211
Reaction score
113
Location
SATX
Car(s)
A90 Supra
this car is going to put a couple of buses on the 2020 supra
 

AustinGRSupra

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Threads
50
Messages
728
Reaction score
1,044
Location
Austin, TX
Car(s)
2020 GR Supra
My buddy has the 2020 z4, and weā€™ve put our stock cars against each other many times: in a dig, the Supra loses by just a car length 0-100, and by 2 car lengths in the 1/4 mile. But hereā€™s where it gets interesting: 30 roll, the Supra gaps the Beemer by 2 buses to 145, and same for 40 and 50 rolls.

Weā€™ve also run with the Supra in map 2 (JB4), and the z4 never catches it.
 

kissmyrs

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gabe
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
211
Reaction score
113
Location
SATX
Car(s)
A90 Supra
My buddy has the 2020 z4, and weā€™ve put our stock cars against each other many times: in a dig, the Supra loses by just a car length 0-100, and by 2 car lengths in the 1/4 mile. But hereā€™s where it gets interesting: 30 roll, the Supra gaps the Beemer by 2 buses to 145, and same for 40 and 50 rolls.

Weā€™ve also run with the Supra in map 2 (JB4), and the z4 never catches it.
love to see some vids
 

AustinGRSupra

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Threads
50
Messages
728
Reaction score
1,044
Location
Austin, TX
Car(s)
2020 GR Supra
Results vary, Iā€™m sure. But itā€™s basically well known that the Bimmer is not tuned as well, and therefore gets gapped by the Supra. I forgot to mention that stock versus stock, Iā€™ve never been beat by my buddyā€™s z4, 0-60.

Vid:



where do you want to eat?
GappleBeeā€™s!
 

kissmyrs

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gabe
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
211
Reaction score
113
Location
SATX
Car(s)
A90 Supra
so this is the new motor Z4 vs the old motor in the supra?
 

XtremeMaC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Threads
41
Messages
2,957
Reaction score
3,205
Location
_________ SE Michigan, USA
Car(s)
2020 Supra
 




Top