Interviews w/ Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada (Post Launch)

KahnBB6

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2018
Threads
24
Messages
1,224
Reaction score
1,726
Location
Florida
Car(s)
'93 Lexus SC300 2JZGTE R154 LSD & 2023 GR86 6MT
Hearing Masayuki Kai talk in the interview on the last page was welcome. One of the most straightforward talks from one of the head engineers on the MKV program.
 

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
[GR Supra test drive part 4] Development leader Tetsuya Tada talks about the next development!

 

Mike

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2016
Threads
3
Messages
231
Reaction score
801
Location
Cyprus
Car(s)
NISSAN Silvia S15 Spec-R
In a Japanese review of the SZ-R, they mention that Tada said that this model (4-cylinder 258hp) is the best base for tuning as it offers a tunable engine, lower base price, and better handling due to the -150kg of the engine compared to the 6-cylinder RZ.
 

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.autoblog.com/2019/08/09/toyota-supra-tada-interview/

Toyota Supra will get more power, additional versions
In our exclusive interview, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada hints at future plans

Toyota's performance strategy is curious. Even though the company has a rich history of sports cars, it chose to team up with partners for its last two projects, the 86 and the 2020 Toyota Supra. The man behind both of them is Tetsuya Tada and I recently sat down with him to talk about the future of Toyota's latest sports car.

While the 86 was co-developed with Subaru, who sells the model as the BRZ, the Supra was developed in concert with the third-generation BMW Z4. It's a cooperation that took some time to get off the ground. Initially, BMW's then-CEO Herbert Diess, now head of Volkswagen, wanted to jointly develop a successor of the i8, but Tada declined. After Diess' departure, talks resumed.

But while BMW was interested in continuing the Z4 in the form of a somewhat more lazy cruiser, Tada-san made sure the joint project turned out to be a serious sports car. And a drive in the Supra will reveal that Toyota's tuning is more in line with its performance purpose than BMW's convertible – even though the BMW, in its six-cylinder form, packs a whopping 382 horsepower, significantly more than the 335-horsepower Supra.

I spoke with Tada-san about the reaction to his car - and about where it could go next. One thing is clear: The 335-horsepower rating is not the end of the road.

"With a sports car, the promise is to offer more performance with each additional version," he said. And we can expect additional versions pretty much every year.

While Tada won't confirm actual figures, we believe that the six-cylinder version of the Supra will get an additional 50 horsepower or so when it is facelifted in about three years. But even before, there will be performance upgrades, such as available carbon-ceramic brakes.

Tada also told us what not to expect: There will be no manual transmission, despite an outcry in parts of the enthusiast community over the lack of a row-it-yourself shifter. His advice: "Customers who want a manual should choose the Toyota 86."

What about a roadster version? That's unlikely to happen as well, as there is already such a model: the BMW Z4. "The relationship between the Supra and the Z4 resembles the relationship between the Porsche Cayman and Boxster," Tada ventures.

Of course, there is more differentiation. While the Supra offers exactly two driving modes, tuned to perfection, the BMW Z4 comes with a vast number of modes and two transmission maps to fiddle with. The BMW's steering is also overly heavy, in an artificial effort at sportiness. On the other hand, BMW is one step ahead when it comes to the infotainment system: In the interest of reliability, Toyota says it chose to stick with BMW's previous generation.

A quick spin with Tada-san behind the Supra's wheel confirms its legitimate sports car credentials. And it makes me want more of the higher-performance future variants he hints at. He smiles: "We have many ideas."
 

supraboi

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2018
Threads
25
Messages
1,823
Reaction score
2,473
Location
America
Car(s)
A70, GS300
Toyota Supra chief engineer is asking you: manual gearbox or more power?

post15980_3.jpg


During the press drive of the A90 Toyota GR Supra at Sportsland Sugo in Japan, Tada spent quite a bit of time with members of the regional press to talk about the Supra and the interesting development story behind it.

I can't say it enough: I really had a good conversation with Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. He had the honor of taking the lead on two of the company's most exciting projects; the 86 sports coupe, as well as the much-awaited fifth generation Supra. And I had the pleasure of picking his brain for several hours in the day he spent with us.

When I asked him about the potential MR2 revival, he gladly obliged with a surprise answer. But there was another question that I've been itching to ask Tada-san ever since they launched the Supra: “Why doesn't the Supra, given its name, come with the more powerful BMW S58 engine and when can we expect a Supra with a manual gearbox?”

Okay, so I actually had two questions, but they were rather intertwined. For starters, BMW does have a more powerful variant of the B58 engine, and it's known as the S58; it's capable (in stock factory tune) of producing 500 horsepower. The other is more obvious, especially given that the Supra is supposed to be a pureblooded sportscar, and such a sportscar should -at the very least- have a manual option for purists.

Toyota's chief engineer for the Supra sportscar project was actually ready with an answer... but not the kind I expected.

“If you had to choose between the S58 twin turbo or introducing the manual transmission, which would have the higher priority?” said Tada-san as we walked over to have lunch.

Personally I was taken aback; I'm not really used to getting answers in the form of a question, but it was clear that the A90's chief engineer wants a little help deciding which way to go with the Supra. Some parties want him to give it more power while others want a manual, or even both.

“I really want to hear what you guys want the absolute most,” said Tada.

Here's the interesting bit: Tada san had mentioned to other automotive websites that the manual gearbox option for the Supra won't happen, especially in a time when the industry -super sportscar manufacturers included- are moving away from a manual gearbox. Does the question he replied to us mean -given the voice of many Supra fans, enthusiasts, and even customers- that he is exploring the possibility of a manual gearbox for a future Supra update or variant?

With that in mind, which do you think should come first: (A) Toyota A90 GR Supra with a 6-speed manual or (B) Toyota A90 GR Supra with the more powerful S58 engine? You could say (C) for both, but that won't exactly help him out.

The answer I gave Tetsuya Tada then and there was: “Okay, then it's just a matter of choosing a shift knob I like.”

Yes, I'd personally prioritize developing a 6-speed manual option for the 6-cylinder Supra because the B58 is already a superb engine for the car's size and handling. And developing and putting in a 6-speed manual (presumably from ZF, the same makers of the 8-speed auto) would really work well for a sportscar that, quite frankly, is fairly old school raw despite its strong digital connections.

As for the 500+ horsepower S58, well, I think that can wait for a special variant. Super Supra, perhaps?

https://www.autoindustriya.com/auto...-asking-you-manual-gearbox-or-more-power.html
 

Saeedali78

Well-Known Member
First Name
Saeed
Joined
May 24, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
53
Reaction score
117
Location
Oman
Car(s)
2jzgte IS300
Toyota Supra chief engineer is asking you: manual gearbox or more power?

post15980_3.jpg


During the press drive of the A90 Toyota GR Supra at Sportsland Sugo in Japan, Tada spent quite a bit of time with members of the regional press to talk about the Supra and the interesting development story behind it.

I can't say it enough: I really had a good conversation with Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. He had the honor of taking the lead on two of the company's most exciting projects; the 86 sports coupe, as well as the much-awaited fifth generation Supra. And I had the pleasure of picking his brain for several hours in the day he spent with us.

When I asked him about the potential MR2 revival, he gladly obliged with a surprise answer. But there was another question that I've been itching to ask Tada-san ever since they launched the Supra: “Why doesn't the Supra, given its name, come with the more powerful BMW S58 engine and when can we expect a Supra with a manual gearbox?”

Okay, so I actually had two questions, but they were rather intertwined. For starters, BMW does have a more powerful variant of the B58 engine, and it's known as the S58; it's capable (in stock factory tune) of producing 500 horsepower. The other is more obvious, especially given that the Supra is supposed to be a pureblooded sportscar, and such a sportscar should -at the very least- have a manual option for purists.

Toyota's chief engineer for the Supra sportscar project was actually ready with an answer... but not the kind I expected.

“If you had to choose between the S58 twin turbo or introducing the manual transmission, which would have the higher priority?” said Tada-san as we walked over to have lunch.

Personally I was taken aback; I'm not really used to getting answers in the form of a question, but it was clear that the A90's chief engineer wants a little help deciding which way to go with the Supra. Some parties want him to give it more power while others want a manual, or even both.

“I really want to hear what you guys want the absolute most,” said Tada.

Here's the interesting bit: Tada san had mentioned to other automotive websites that the manual gearbox option for the Supra won't happen, especially in a time when the industry -super sportscar manufacturers included- are moving away from a manual gearbox. Does the question he replied to us mean -given the voice of many Supra fans, enthusiasts, and even customers- that he is exploring the possibility of a manual gearbox for a future Supra update or variant?

With that in mind, which do you think should come first: (A) Toyota A90 GR Supra with a 6-speed manual or (B) Toyota A90 GR Supra with the more powerful S58 engine? You could say (C) for both, but that won't exactly help him out.

The answer I gave Tetsuya Tada then and there was: “Okay, then it's just a matter of choosing a shift knob I like.”

Yes, I'd personally prioritize developing a 6-speed manual option for the 6-cylinder Supra because the B58 is already a superb engine for the car's size and handling. And developing and putting in a 6-speed manual (presumably from ZF, the same makers of the 8-speed auto) would really work well for a sportscar that, quite frankly, is fairly old school raw despite its strong digital connections.

As for the 500+ horsepower S58, well, I think that can wait for a special variant. Super Supra, perhaps?

https://www.autoindustriya.com/auto...-asking-you-manual-gearbox-or-more-power.html

MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION PLEASE.

PLEASE????? :bow::cry:
 

Bryster

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bryan
Joined
Oct 17, 2018
Threads
68
Messages
1,644
Reaction score
1,691
Location
Los Angeles
Car(s)
Nothing,considering a Civic DX
Toyota Supra chief engineer is asking you: manual gearbox or more power?

post15980_3.jpg


During the press drive of the A90 Toyota GR Supra at Sportsland Sugo in Japan, Tada spent quite a bit of time with members of the regional press to talk about the Supra and the interesting development story behind it.

I can't say it enough: I really had a good conversation with Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. He had the honor of taking the lead on two of the company's most exciting projects; the 86 sports coupe, as well as the much-awaited fifth generation Supra. And I had the pleasure of picking his brain for several hours in the day he spent with us.

When I asked him about the potential MR2 revival, he gladly obliged with a surprise answer. But there was another question that I've been itching to ask Tada-san ever since they launched the Supra: “Why doesn't the Supra, given its name, come with the more powerful BMW S58 engine and when can we expect a Supra with a manual gearbox?”

Okay, so I actually had two questions, but they were rather intertwined. For starters, BMW does have a more powerful variant of the B58 engine, and it's known as the S58; it's capable (in stock factory tune) of producing 500 horsepower. The other is more obvious, especially given that the Supra is supposed to be a pureblooded sportscar, and such a sportscar should -at the very least- have a manual option for purists.

Toyota's chief engineer for the Supra sportscar project was actually ready with an answer... but not the kind I expected.

“If you had to choose between the S58 twin turbo or introducing the manual transmission, which would have the higher priority?” said Tada-san as we walked over to have lunch.

Personally I was taken aback; I'm not really used to getting answers in the form of a question, but it was clear that the A90's chief engineer wants a little help deciding which way to go with the Supra. Some parties want him to give it more power while others want a manual, or even both.

“I really want to hear what you guys want the absolute most,” said Tada.

Here's the interesting bit: Tada san had mentioned to other automotive websites that the manual gearbox option for the Supra won't happen, especially in a time when the industry -super sportscar manufacturers included- are moving away from a manual gearbox. Does the question he replied to us mean -given the voice of many Supra fans, enthusiasts, and even customers- that he is exploring the possibility of a manual gearbox for a future Supra update or variant?

With that in mind, which do you think should come first: (A) Toyota A90 GR Supra with a 6-speed manual or (B) Toyota A90 GR Supra with the more powerful S58 engine? You could say (C) for both, but that won't exactly help him out.

The answer I gave Tetsuya Tada then and there was: “Okay, then it's just a matter of choosing a shift knob I like.”

Yes, I'd personally prioritize developing a 6-speed manual option for the 6-cylinder Supra because the B58 is already a superb engine for the car's size and handling. And developing and putting in a 6-speed manual (presumably from ZF, the same makers of the 8-speed auto) would really work well for a sportscar that, quite frankly, is fairly old school raw despite its strong digital connections.

As for the 500+ horsepower S58, well, I think that can wait for a special variant. Super Supra, perhaps?

https://www.autoindustriya.com/auto...-asking-you-manual-gearbox-or-more-power.html
Manual transmission
P.S. i guess this confirms my suspicion on Tada san biding his time with the Manual A90
 

KahnBB6

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2018
Threads
24
Messages
1,224
Reaction score
1,726
Location
Florida
Car(s)
'93 Lexus SC300 2JZGTE R154 LSD & 2023 GR86 6MT
This is very encouraging news!

Option C (the S58-TT 500hp engine with a manual) is the most ideal but I get it that he has to prioritize A or B right now. It's been hinted at many times already that the GRMN and GT4 variants will be auto or DCT only and those models will come regardless within the model's production cycle.

Without question I hope he gives the manual B58 Supra priority. Now is the time to do it.

With what has already been published regarding the tuning potential of the existing B58 engine and as well as its true bone stock output on the dyno a 6-speed M/T option is exactly what the car needs.
 
 




Top