Page 91 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

Finalists I COTY

PRO Paparazzi attention getter • Thrilling to drive • Competitive price CON Polarizing design • Needs smooth roads • It’s OK, just not great

2020 Toyota Supra

irst things first. Yes, the 2020 thereof, the way the steering
Toyota Supra is built from feels/behaves, the brake feel/
FBMW parts in the same boost behavior, and so on. There
Austrian factory as the BMW Z4. are myriad ways they can and
So, you ask, how come the Supra do differ despite the shared
advanced to the COTY finalist Bavarian parts supplier.
round and the Z4 did not? Loh didn’t realize it at the time,
Naturally, pricing the Supra but he summarized what nearly
about $8,000 to $13,000 below all the judges had written in
a comparable Z4 M40i caught their happenstance BMW versus
our notice. And although both Toyota notes. “I appreciate the
drew ire for their overwrought price of this vehicle and the deci- its shapely, bulbous armor. next to the tach that does not do
“coachwork” during COTY sion to treat BMW as the supplier Nishimoto found a rattling cargo anything, unless I’m just missing
judging (as well as throughout our of such a sonorous and smooth cover and creaking noises from something,” he said. “But then
annual Best Driver’s Car contest turbo I-6,” he said. “It sounds the infotainment screen and the trip computer occupies only a
in the Toyota’s case), the Supra great, and handling is pretty tidy dash: “It’s noisy over rough, little half-inch strip at the bottom.
drew more gas station attention/ on smooth surfaces, but when broken road surfaces, too.” I hate to see misuse or squan-
queries than pricier cars filling up you get it loose, stability control There was criticism of the car’s dered opportunity on digital
beside it. intervention is not next-level, as it interior, as well. Compared to displays.”
There’s no question: For a is with the BMW. But it’s very good its flamboyant exterior, “Inside Like a proper sports car should,
certain demographic, the A90 at it, as the Supra really likes to we’re talking all black with some the Supra “needs” its driver.
Supra is this moment’s “it” car. For hang its tail out given the oppor- white stitching in the leather “Handling requires slow hands,
some people, it’s quite literally a tunity. It’s an easier car to set up and modest use of ‘carbon- no midcorner corrections, be very
second coming of a legendary and ‘just drive’ than the BMW fiber’ trim,” Priddle said. “The sure of your line, and don’t get
model they’ve only seen in because there isn’t the prolifer- BMW-sourced buttons look very twitchy,” Rechtin said. “Straight-
movies. The same cannot be said ation of modes—just Sport—and dated, and there’s a wireless line braking is a must. Deviate
of the Zzzzz4. then you decide if you want to charging tray for your phone but from this curriculum, and things
Since their underpinnings manually shift or not. Refreshingly then a flimsy shelf on top of that.” will get squirrelly. Yet it squirts out
are mechanically the same, simple to drive after all the BMWs Markus thought Toyota failed of corners with a definite thrill.”
albeit with different tuning, it this year. Very direct. It’s basically to make good use of the digital MacKenzie earns the last word:
was down to those finishing a simplified BMW.” display. “There’s this big swath “A real sports car, but not the
dynamic touches, the way the That’s not to say the Supra groundbreaker the previous two
two manufacturers chose for their didn’t show some kinks in Supras were.” Chris Walton
cars to drive: the ride/handling
trade-offs, road isolation or lack

SPECS 2020 Toyota GR Supra
Base Price/As Tested $50,945/$57,400
Power (SAE net) 335 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 365 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 3.9 sec
Quarter Mile 12.5 sec @ 111.2 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 106 ft
Lateral Acceleration 1.01 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 23.9 sec @ 0.84 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 24/31/26 mpg

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door hatchback Engine/Transmission Plus 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/8-speed automatic
Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 3,367 lb (52/48%) Wheelbase 97.2 in Length x Width x Height 172.5 x 73.0 x 50.9 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 140/109
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.73 lb/mile

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