The Toyota Supra was produced from 1979 to 2002 and went through four generations. Originally starting off as a sideline of the Celica, and largely being based on this car, it became a model in its own right when the Mk3 arrived in 1982.
With the launch of the Lexus LFA supercar and the forthcoming rear-drive “Toyobaru” FT-86 it seems Toyota is rediscovering its performance roots.
With this in mind Autocar has revisited its Porsche-baiting sports car of the nineties, the twin-turbo Supra, to bring you a buying guide. In 1993 the Supra Turbo cost £40,000, which could also have bought you a brand new Lotus Esprit in the same year.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t sell anywhere near as well as Toyota GB hoped. In the end buyers couldn’t get beyond the fact that it was a Toyota, not a Porsche, in light of which it didn’t seem to matter that there was 326bhp of twin-turbo power beneath the bonnet, or a rear-drive chassis that could run rings around even the most potent Porsche 928s of the same era.
Fewer than 500 examples were sold through the official dealerships as a result, the vast majority of which have since been either crashed, modified beyond recognition or exported. Yet despite its less-than-dramatic impact, the Supra Mk4 has become a more successful and desirable commodity on the used market.
Why? Because when Toyota first designed and engineered the car, it knew that to compete with the biggest, most established players, it would have to offer something extra, and that came in two forms. One: much more performance than anything else at the same money at the same time. Two: reliability.
It’s the second of these factors that’s most crucial to the Supra’s enduring appeal, because even today it’s regarded as a quite extraordinarily strong car mechanically. Even with 150,000 miles showing, not a lot regularly goes wrong, according to Supra specialists AFR Tuning near Gatwick.
What to look out for:
Differential
Massively strong; the standard item can handle close to twice the normal power output without too many problems. Which is just as well, because a replacement will cost £450 from a specialist like AFR. Even when new, the diffs used to clonk sometimes, especially when selecting first gear from reverse. What you don’t want to hear is any whining under load.
Gearbox
If you want really big power then you must have the six-speed manual ’box. The five-speed auto is okay up to 500bhp, but the manual — made bespoke for the car by Getrag — is heroically strong and can take up to 1000bhp without requiring any work whatsoever.
Bodywork
The quality of a Mk4’s bodywork will be largely down to the way each car has been treated. Generally it’s very good, but there are areas — such as at the base of the tailgate, just below the rear window — that are vulnerable to rust. If you do need to source new panels and/or bumpers front and rear, avoid the official dealer prices and instead go to a specialist.
Engine
As bulletproof as they get, especially the 3.0-litre twin-turbo units fitted to UK cars, because the internals of the turbos are more durable than those fitted to imported versions. Replacement turbos can be had for £550 a pop. Bottom end is good for over 500bhp; 1000bhp is possible.
UK spec was 326bhp and 325lb ft; stage one upgrade from AFR costs £1000 and increases figures to 390bhp and 375lb ft. Stage two costs around £7k but unleashes 550-600bhp.
Steering/suspension
The Supra is fundamentally strong in this area. Basic suspension parts are over-engineered, as are the driveshafts and the steering rack. What can make a fine example feel very baggy indeed is a set of worn dampers. Prices for new ones vary, and unless you want to do a lot of track days don’t go for so-called uprated versions that are stiffer than standard; all they do is ruin the ride. A new set of UK-spec dampers will cost anything from £300 to £600.
Although officially still a concept, the FT-86 is said to be very close to the production version of Toyota’s half of the joint-venture sports coupe project.
Reports say the compact rear-drive Toyota will be built by Subaru alongside the latter company’s own version of the project. Both cars will share a Subaru-sourced 2.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-four engine.
The production version of the FT-86 will be the first genuinely sporty Toyota since the demise of the MR2 in early 2007.
Design-wise, the FT-86 owes a great deal to the FT-HS hybrid concept from the 2007 Detroit show, although it is much smaller. The FT-HS was conceived as a spiritual successor to the larger Toyota Supra and, although the FT-86 shares the same front-engine rear-drive layout, it is a whole class of coupe lower.
Although Toyota says the car is indeed close to the production version, you can expect smaller wheels and a more subdued interior (which Toyota says ‘expresses modern feel with minimal coverage of the highly refined structural components evoking enthusiasm for cruising’) by the time the Toyobaru hits dealers.
The Toyobaru’s diminutive stance and an anticipated sub-£20k price should put it directly up against the new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe, which is due in the middle of 2010.
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When the name "Toyota" is heard, these days most thoughts jump straight to Prius or Camry, but that hasn't always been the case. There once was a time when all-wheel drive Celicas, midengined MR2s, and twin-turbocharged Supras could be found at your local Toyota dealer and gracing adolescents' walls in poster form. Toyota used to be fun. Perhaps it still can be.
Witness the dramatic return of the Toyota Supra, only this time it's not a Supra. Heck, it's not even a Toyota. It is the Lexus LF-A.
While the LF-A may not share a name with its spiritual predecessor, it does share a vision. The slick profile and front-engined, rear-driven configuration definitely pay homage to the previous ultimate Toyota. However, instead of a twin-turbocharged V-6, the LF-A is packing a 4.8-liter V-10 twists its crank to the tune of 560 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Lightweight titanium valves and connecting rods along with forged aluminum pistons, help the LF-A's engine achieve its lofty 9,000rpm redline. Power is transmitted to a Torsen limited slip differential that splits torque between the back pair of 20-inch wheels.
Runs from 0-62 mph will happen in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 201.94 mph. A 48/52 weight distribution and meaty tires at all four corners mean that this big boy should be able to dance like Warren Sapp.
The original Supra was no bantamweight and neither is the LF-A; it tips the scales at 3,263 pounds. All things considered, that's still pretty light for its size, thanks to gratuitous usage of carbon fiber in its body's construction. The power to weight ratio places the LF-A right on the tail of Audi R8 V10 and the Lamborghini Gallardo, and within shouting distance of the Ferrari 599. To say the least, watching the LF-A versus Nissan GT-R shootouts that are bound to pop up over the next year should be interesting.
Being Car Tech, we can't overlook what's happening inside the LF-A's cabin. Tucked deeply into the center console is a large LCD screen that we assume is connected to something similar to Lexus' current Enform interface. We also gather that it is not a touch screen because of the presence of Lexus' Remote Touch joystick with haptic feedback. While we're speculating, it would be nice if Lexus threw in some sort of customizable performance computer a la Nissan GT-R.
The instrument cluster is very cool looking, placing emphasis on the huge centrally-mounted tachometer with integrated digital speedometer. An LED shift light ring is hidden in the tach's bezel and illuminates red at redline and amber at a user adjustable shift point.
So let's run through the checklist. Exotic engine? Check. Greater than 200 mph top speed? Check. Impractical two-seat configuration? Check. Extremely limited production? Only 500 units being produced, so check. Exorbitant price tag? At a little under $400k, we can safely say double check.
Say what? Yeah, while I was busy saving Lady Jay from Cobra Commander, my cousins were busy wrenching away on their Corollas or first-gen CRXs. The name HKS sticks so well because they plastered those graphics all over their cars. "Damn, check out the exhaust," one of my cousins said, and off they went, smoking one of those drop-top preppie-mobile Rabbits at the first street light.
Probably not one of life's most enigmatic questions or a quest to find the Holy Grail, but just a cool thought that maybe somewhere out there in this great world, someone's advising the next generation on how to stay on top of things. And maybe, just maybe, Mike Wen received one of these pep talks. You see, Mike has been able to get his hands on a car that most of us won't be able to afford until the age of 30 or so (30? 30! Try 50.-MP). This car that I'm talking about is the JZA80 from Toyota (better known as the Supra), and with a car like this, why would you even settle for anything less than the best in high-performance tuning and styling?
For track purposes, Mike installed a 120hp-shot nitrous oxide system from NOS. An RPS Turbo Clutch matched with a 13-pound forged aluminum flywheel helps transfer the power to the wheels while a C's Short Shift kit makes shifting the gears a breeze. The dyno-test results are extremely impressive as Mike's Supra pushes out an astonishing 530 hp at 5,600 rpm at the flywheel, and 650 hp with the nitrous hooked up.
Mike obtained a set of 16-way adjustable coilovers from Tein. Imported directly from Japan, the Tein kits feature an adjustable camber plate and damping settings. GReddy front and rear strut braces also help keep the chassis stiff whenever the Supra feels fit to go canyon-carving. A set of 18-inch Racing Sparco NTs (front 18x8 1/2, rear 18x9 1/2) wrapped by Falken GR-Bs (front 235/40ZR18, rear 265/35ZR18) keep the car planted to the ground at all times.
Fast Facts To add some flair to an otherwise stock exterior, a GReddy front lip spoiler, Type S carbon fiber wing from TRD, and Catz foglights were bolted in place. Inside, a plethora of accessories-including MOMO Corse racing seats and Competition steering wheel; Räzo shift knob, shift light, and pedals; Auto Meter gauges; and white-faced instrument panel gauges-takes the place of the boring stock pieces. Pretty flashy indeed, but what makes this interior stand out the most is its stereo components. Keeping the tunes in check are a Premier DEX-P88 Hi-Volt CD head unit, Premier 6-inch front speaker/tweeters, Premier 6 1/2-inch three-way rear speakers, Premier 2x crossovers, Kenwood KGC-7043 Digital EQ with Spectrum Analyzer, Alpine V12 amps, Phoenix Gold wires, and an Orion NT carbon-fiber 10-inch subwoofer. This system "sounds" like something you should fire up the THX opening sequence to.
As you can see, with the right guidance on selecting the performance parts, you can also build your own hoochie magnet like Mike has. Supposing he passes on his knowledge to the generations to come, the outcome for the future looks pretty bright. It only gets better from here.
Owner: Mike Wen
Edmond, OK
Ride: '94 Toyota Supra Under the Hood: 3.0L 2JZ-GTE, HKS Super Mega Flow, HKS Super Drager exhaust, Rod Millen downpipe, upgraded compressor wheel, XS Engineering ECU upgrade, HKS F35i spark plugs, AEM adjustable cam gears, C's Short Shift kit, RPS Turbo Clutch, forged aluminum flywheel, Unorthodox underdrive pulley kit Stiff Stuff: Tein Type HA 16-way adjustable coilovers and camber plates, GReddy front and rear strut braces Rollers: 18x8 1/2 Racing Sparco NTs (front), 18x9 1/2 Racing Sparco NTs (rear), 235/40ZR18 Falken GR-Bs (front), 265/35ZR18 Falken GR-Bs (rear) Stoppers: Brembo front and rear rotors, HKS brake pads Outside: GReddy front lip spoiler, TRD Type S carbon fiber rear wing, CATZ MSC foglights, custom front air scoop Inside: MOMO Corse racing seats and Champion steering wheel; Räzo shift knob, pedals, and shift light; Auto Meter gauges; white-faced gauges Sounds: Premier DEX-P88 Hi-Volt Super Tuner CD head unit; Kenwood KGC-7043 Digital Graphic EQ/Spectrum Analyzer; Premier crossover x2; Alpine V12 MRV-F300 4/3/2-channel; Alpine V12 MRV-T500 2/1-channel; Premier 6-inch front speaker/tweeters; 6 1/2-inch three-way rear speakers; Phoenix Gold wires; Orion NT carbon fiber 10-inch subwoofer x2 Props: Trizone Motorsports; Xtreme Motorsports; Henery Wu at Kaosiung Turbo Research, Taiwan; Ma Phen; HKS USA; Lee at PAS Performance Shop; Sean Gordon at Ultra Performance
Day 2 of the Grassroots Motorsports $2009 Challenge commenced this morning with a Christmas tree, time slips, and a sky full of tire smoke. Each participant in this year's Challenge got in as many runs down Gainesville Raceway's ¼-mile track as they could, and turned in their fastest time slip at the end of the day.
Strangely enough, however, the entire field of cars spent the whole day trying to beat the first recorded ET: Andrew Nelson's V8-powered yellow VW Bug representing PACC Racing. Taking advantage of the cool morning air around 9:30am, Nelson rocketed down the track for a blistering 10.8 ¼-mile time. Neither he, nor anyone else, could beat that time.
Many tried and came awfully close though. Pat Culkin with SDAC NCC ran an 11.75 in his turbocharged Dodge Shadow, Adam Jabaay in Team Gutty's turbo Integra-LS powered CRX ran an 11.84, and Lee Sebring, also with SDAC, ran a 12.73 in his turbo Plymouth Neon.
The college engineering programs had dichotomous results in today's racing. Texas A&M's turbo Honda Civic proved to be reliable and fast, each run getting quicker until they reached a 13.1. Georgia Tech's Wreck Racing, on the other hand, was plagued with problems all weekend. The first attempt left the Lexus-V8-powered Miata stalled on the track before reaching the ¼-mile mark, while a transmission problem locked up the rear wheels and sent the car into a spin on the second attempt (a picture is in the Slideshow), sliding backwards to the finish at 18.1 seconds.
Other quick times of the day include Stan Dorsey's LT1-powered Nissan 240SX, which did a 12.81, Matt Lee's turbo Plymouth Laser doing a 13 flat, and Brad Green's V8-powered Ford Maverick representing Chrome Horns racing team trapping at 13.44.
Also, two cars that missed yesterday's autocross were up and running in time to run down the strip: David Alvarado drove team OMGWTFBBQ's Toyota Supra to a 14.06, and Al Johnson drove Mouseworks Motorsports' Austin-Mini-powered Fiat Nuova 500 to a leisurely 32.449.
Thus concluded the Grassroots Motorsports $2009 Challenge. An awards banquet was held afterwards, at which the following participants were recognized for the total results from yesterday's autocross and concours and today's drag races:
3rd in Autocross: Adam Jabaay/Team Gutty/Honda CRX
2nd in Autocross: Carlos Mendez/Condor Speed Shop/BMW 325is
1st in Autocross: Lee Graser/ETR SCCA/Zamboni
3rd in Concours: Bryce Nash/Project Parts Bin/Pontiac Fiero
2nd in Concours: Adam Jabaay/Team Gutty/Honda CRX
1st in Concours: Andrew Nelson/PACC Racing/V8-powered VW Bug
3rd in Drag Time: Adam Jabaay/Team Gutty/Honda CRX
2nd in Drag Time: Patrick Culkin/SDAC NCC/Dodge Shadow
1st in Drag Time: Andrew Nelson/PACC Racing/V8-powered VW Bug
3rd Overall: Carlos Mendez/Condor Speed Shop/BMW 325is
2nd Overall: Patrick Culkin/SDAC NCC/Dodge Shadow
1st Overall: Adam Jabaay/Team Gutty/Honda CRX
Adam Jabaay and Team Gutty are the winners of the Grassroots Motorsports $2009 Challenge. Congratulations to them for an outstanding effort this year, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for next year!
Be sure to check out Grassroots Motorsports Online for lots more details and pictures from the event.
Sporty concept on show from Toyota
TOYOTA may be heading back into sports cars with the unveiling of a new concept at its home motor show.
The FT-86 is a rear wheel drive lightweight model powered by a two-litre boxer engine and could be the next Supra.
Since the demise of the MR-2 roadster and the previous high performance Supra several years ago, Toyota has been absent from the sports car sector.
The concept will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month alongside an electric city car called the FT-EV II.
Using a joystick instead of a steering wheel the FT-EV ll has a top speed above 60mph and a 50-mile range on a fully charged battery.
