THE WORLD - BEATER : TOYOTA SUPRA

TOYOTA SUPRA A80 (1993 – 2002)

Toyota Supra

Soon after it’s launch in 1993 roadtesters were dreaming up new superlatives as the A80 Supra trounced ‘Top Gun’ rivals that had been such a cause for concern only a few years previously. It was unbeatable at that time. Even the 3.6-litre Porsche 911 Turbo could not beat it, while one Australian magazine pitched the car into an unlikely comparison with the Aston Martin DB7, which the Supra duly won on an objective level. The highly-anticipated fourth-generation Supra was finally unveiled at the 1993 Chicago Motor Show after a four years in development under the guidance of chief engineer Isao Tsuzuki, who had also worked on the first Celica and both generations of MR2. Unlike anything Toyota had produced before, the Supra proportions and flowing design owed more to the 2000GT of the Sixties than its predecessor. With a long, low bonnet line and high-rise optional rear spoiler it was aerodynamically efficient and clearly aimed at delivering a much higher top speed. Subsequent tuning of the 2JZ engine within the enthusiast aftermarket revealed it to be such an engineering master class that heavily modified units have been able to reach up to 2041bhp! – more than a Bugatti chiron!. Even though its front engine, rear-wheel drive format never altered throughout the history of the Toyota Supra, the Supra was by far the most successful in motorsport.

PERFORMANCE

The legendary Supra had different engine for Japanese Version and different one for other countries. The Japanese Version was powered by a twin turbocharged Toyota 2JZ-GTE making 276 bhp and 431 Nm of torque and other versions were powered by a naturally aspirated Toyota 2JZ-GE producing 220 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. For the export model (America/Europe) Toyota upgraded the Supra turbo's engine (smaller, steel wheeled turbochargers, bigger fuel injectors, etc.). This increased the power output to 320 bhp and 427 Nm torque. The power was delivered through a new six-speed Getrag/Toyota V160 gearbox on the turbo models while the naturally aspirated models made do with a five-speed manual W58. The turbocharged variant could achieve 0–100 kmph in as low as 4.6 seconds and was capable of reaching 285 kmph (177 mph) but the cars are restricted to just 180 kmph (112 mph) in Japan and 250 kmph (155 mph) elsewhere. The base Supra featured a nearly perfect 51:49 weight distribution, making it very balanced in the twist. Combine this weight ratio with its fantastic independent suspension system and sticky rollers underneath it. This allowed it to hold up to 0.95 lateral Gs. The Turbo model was a little more front-biased than the standard variant with its 53:47 weight distribution, but it held the track as well as its slower brother. The Turbo variant came standard with a four-channel track-tuned ABS system with Yaw control combined with an F1-inspired braking system. This unique Formula One-inspired braking system allowed the Supra Turbo to record a 70 mph (113 kmmh) -0 braking distance of 149 ft (45 m), the best braking performance of any production car tested in 1997 by Car and Driver magazine.

DESIGN

EXTERIOR

The Supra looked like a true sports car. It became a true contender in the modern sports when it was introduced. An all-new swooping body, fixed headlights, optional rear wing helped make it a legendary. Toyota took measures to reduce the weight of this new model. Aluminium was used for the hood, targa top (when fitted), front crossmember, oil and transmission pans, and the suspension upper A-arms. Other measures included hollow carpet fibers, plastic gas tank and lid, gas injected rear spoiler, and a single pipe exhaust. The base model with a manual transmission had a curb weight of 1,460 kg. The Sport Roof added 18 kg while the automatic transmission added 25 kg. It had a 51:49 (front:rear) weight distribution.

INTERIOR

Supra’s interior feels like an airplane’s. The closed cockpit and the buttons and lights on the side give it a airplane like interior. It's the right combination of low seating position, driver-focused dash, simple 3-gauge instrument cluster, and amazing visibility. There’s everything you need and nothing you don't. The base model came standard with cloth seats, a power driver seat, cruise, a tilt steering wheel, remote trunk release, auto climate control, power everything and an AM/FM/Cassette audio system. The Turbo model added in power heated mirrors, and a leather-wrapped gear shifter and steering wheel.

Toyota Supra Interior

APPEARANCES

The Toyota Supra is quiet famous for appearing in Fast and Furious movies. It appeared in Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious and then it appeared several times in Furious 7 in flashback scenes and in the ending song which payed tribute to the late Fast and Farious star “Paul Walker”. The same clip in movie ending appears in very famous music video by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. Hence Supra appers in the song video too. Paul walker is seen driving Supra in the video with Vin Diesel (Dominic Toretto) by side. We see them driving together, pull over in their cars and smile at each other one last time before driving away on separate roads into the sunset. As the camera pans up into the sky, a message reads "For Paul" and the video ends.

Toyota Supra in Furious 7 and Music Video "See You Again"

Toyota Supra in Fast and the Furious

Toyota Supra is featured in many Racing video games. It is featured in Need For Speed’s : Underground, Underground 2, Most Wanted (2005), Carbon, Prostreet, Undercover, Shift, Shift 2 Unleashed, The Run and Need For Speed 2015. Other video games in which Supra is featured are Forza Horizon 2, Forza Motorsport 4, 5 & 6, Gran Turismo 3, 4, 5 & 6, Test Drive Unlimited and mobile video games Asphalt 8 and Need For Speed No Limits.