The mkv Supra has now been officially released after many years of spotting mules driving around and seeing the mkv wearing camo.
I'm not a fan of the mkv Supra as it has been released, although it may turn out to be a decent sports car down the road. Whether Toyota should have called it the Supra is another question altogether.
Pricing is expected to be in the NZ $100,000 to 130,000 range. There will be 3 models launched in Japan, the SZ, SZ-R and RZ. The SZ versions will have a BMW 2.0L turbo engine (197hp and 255hp) while the RZ comes with the BMW 3.0L engine (335hp). Here are the specifications for the 3.0L version compared to the mkiv Supra:
| Body |
| Description |
Mkiv Supra (Export spec) |
Mkv Supra |
| Length |
4,515 mm |
4,380 mm |
| Width |
1,810 mm |
1,865 mm |
| Height |
1,275 mm |
1,290 mm |
| Wheelbase |
2,550 mm |
2,470 mm |
| Seats |
2 + 2 |
2 |
| Ground clearance |
130 mm |
114 mm (104 mm in sport mode) |
| Weight |
1,585 kg (3,494 lb) |
1,520 kg (3,351 lb) |
| Track (F/R) |
1,520 mm / 1,525 mm |
1,594 mm / 1,589 mm |
| Tires (F/R) |
235/45 ZR17 / 255/40 ZR17 |
255/40 ZR18 95Y / 275/40 ZR18 99Y |
| Wheels (F/R) |
8J x 17 / 9.5J x 17 |
9J x 18 LM / 10J x 18 LM |
| Turning circle |
10.8 m |
11.0 m |
| Fuel Tank |
80 L |
52 L |
The mkiv Supra is 135mm longer and 15mm lower and when dropped to the same ground clearance as the mkv, it is 31mm lower.
Overall the mkiv Supra has better proportions from the side view. The mkv is 45mm wider with a 64-74mm wider track, so it should handle
better. The mkv has a shorter wheelbase by 80mm, which will probably make it less stable at high speed but more nimble at lower speeds.
The mkv only has 2 seats where as all previous Supra's have been 2 + 2 for the GT look and feel. This is one reason why I don't think it
should have been called the Supra.
| Engine |
| Description |
Mkiv Supra (Export spec) |
Mkv Supra |
| Engine |
Toyota 2JZ-GTE, twin sequential turbos, 24-valve, DOHC, I-6 |
BMW B58 (B58B30M1) TwinScroll turbo, direct injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing, double VANOS variable camshaft control, 24-valve, I-6, water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head |
| Power |
243 kw (326 hp) @ 5,600 rpm |
250 kw (335 hp) @ 5,000 to 6,500 rpm |
| Torque |
440 nm (325 ft/lb) @ 4,800 rpm |
500 nm (369 ft/lb) @ 1,600 to 4,500 rpm |
| Bore x Stroke |
86.0 mm x 86.0 mm |
82.0 mm x 94.6 mm |
| Capacity |
2,997 cc |
2,998 cc |
| Compression |
8.5.0 : 1 |
11.0 : 1 |
| Engine Oil |
5.5 L |
6.5 L |
The Export spec mkiv Supra had 326hp, only 9hp less than the mkv despite 26 years of engine advances. This is a disappointing power level from the mkv
when it's direct price and performance competitors are already at much higher power levels. E.g. BMW M2 coupe NZ $128k, 302KW, 0-100 kmh 4.2sec
| Chassis |
| Description |
Mkiv Supra (Export spec) |
Mkv Supra |
| Front Suspension |
Double wishbone with high pressure gas filled shock absorbers and stabiliser bar |
Double-joint spring strut axle, aluminium control arms and swivel bearings, hydraulically damped tension rod bearing |
| Rear Suspension |
Double wishbone with high pressure gas filled shock absorbers and stabiliser bar |
Five-link axle in lightweight aluminum-steel construction |
| Front Brakes |
Toyota four-piston fixed caliper disc brakes, ventilated |
Brembo four-piston fixed caliper disc brakes, ventilated |
| Rear Brakes |
Toyota dual-piston fixed caliper disc brakes, ventilated |
BMW dual-piston floating caliper disc brakes, ventilated |
| Driving Stability Systems |
Dual range Electronic control (ETC) with manual mode |
Collision Warning and the Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Lane Departure Warning system, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Start-Off Assistant |
| Options |
None as already fully optioned |
Speed Limit Info system with No Passing Info display, distance information, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the Lane Change and Lane Departure Warning systems, Rear Collision Prevention and Cross-Traffic Alert, Parking Assistant including Reversing Assistant, Heads-Up Display, Rear view camera, Adaptive LED headlights and cornering light functions |
| Suspension |
Gas filled shock absorbers |
Adaptive M Sport suspension, electronically controlled dampers, COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ modes |
| Differential |
Torsen differential, ratio 3.266 |
Electronically controlled M sport LSD differential, ratio 3.154 |
| Steering |
Power assisted Rack & Pinion steering |
Steering Electromechanical Rack & Pinion Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic function, variable sports steering |
| Safety features |
Airbags for driver and front passenger, three-point automatic belts with belt stopper, belt tensioner and belt force limiter, crash sensors |
Airbags for driver and front passenger, side airbags for driver and passenger with combined head airbags, three-point automatic belts with belt stopper, belt tensioner and belt force limiter, crash sensors, tire pressure gauge |
| Transmission Control |
Gear stick, manual park brake |
Shift paddles on the steering wheel, transmission also features a Launch Control function, Electric Parking Brake |
| Transmission |
| Description |
Mkiv Supra (Export spec) |
Mkv Supra |
| Type |
Getrag 6 speed manual |
ZF 8-speed Steptronic transmission |
| Gear Ratio: 1st |
3.287 |
5.250 |
| Gear Ratio: 2nd |
2.360 |
3.360 |
| Gear Ratio: 3rd |
1.685 |
2.172 |
| Gear Ratio: 4th |
1.312 |
1.720 |
| Gear Ratio: 5th |
1.000 |
1.316 |
| Gear Ratio: 6th |
0.793 |
1.000 |
| Gear Ratio: 7th |
- |
0.822 |
| Gear Ratio: 8th |
- |
0.640 |
| Reverse |
3.280 |
3.712 |
The mkv Supra only comes with a 500NM rated automatic transmission and no manual option. Perhaps the after market will develop a Tremec T56 Magnum
conversion for all the Supra fans that are disappointed by the lack of a manual transmission.
As you probably know the Supra mkv and the BMW Z4 share the same engine, drivetrain and chassis and most of the electronics. Only the body shell and the
interior are different. This is another reason why it should not have been called a Supra, as why would Toyota have their flagship car made by BMW?
The interior is mainly older BMW parts with a few Toyota specific parts added to make it look different to the new BMZ Z4. Looks like an 80's design to me apart
from the screen (which could have been integrated better), but that may be what the new cars are looking like these days.
| Performance |
| Description |
Mkiv Supra (Export spec) |
Mkv Supra |
| 0-60mph |
4.6 sec |
4.1 sec |
| 0-100 kmh |
4.8 sec (est) |
4.3 sec |
| 1/4 mile |
13.1 @ 109 mph |
12.4 secs @ 111 mph (est) |
| Top Speed |
250 kmh (limited) |
250 kmh (limited) |
The mkv Supra is a quicker car off the line and around a track as well, thanks mainly to advances in automatic transmission and suspension technology since 1993.
Toyota could have made the Supra so much better if they had designed and manufactured it themselves, but for cost saving reasons and Toyota's desire to move the
car down market, this did not happen. Hopefully the GRMN Supra (due in the next few years) will be the Supra that everyone wanted this one to be?
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