Toyota just introduced the fifth-gen Supra for the 2020 model year, and with it, a long list of performance specs. However, looking ‘em over has us scratching our heads a bit, especially with regards to the Japanese sports machine’s surprisingly quick 0-to-60 mph time.

How About Some Real-World Testing?

When it comes to the estimated performance numbers for sports models from the big automakers, it’s not uncommon for the occasional… let’s call it wishful thinking. Combine a textbook launch, flawless gear changes, perfect conditions, and an ideal surface, not to mention an optimized powertrain, what you usually end up with is a guesstimate ready for publishing in a press release blast. But of course, anyone who’s actually investigated “what she’ll do” on a track in real life will tell you - these numbers don’t always line up with reality.

Let’s check out the specs:

Under the hood, the next-gen Supra arrives with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder gas engine. Output is rated at 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, while a twin-scroll turbo spec should help to boost the low-end torque quite a bit. Making the connection is an eight-speed automatic transmission, both with a fully auto mode and paddle shifters.

There’s also a pair of driving modes to help tighten things when needed, including settings for Normal and Sport, with the latter sharpening the throttle, quickening the steering response, and cutting shift times.

But here’s where the Supra may really pick up some of that acceleration difference - the rear differential. It’s an active unit that incorporates an electric motor and multi-plate clutch for lateral torque loads, and it offers stepless variable locking between 0 and 100 percent.

Complementing the diff is a multi-link five-arm rear suspension with Adaptive Variable Suspension components. The whole shebang weighs in at 3,400 pounds and offers a solid 50:50 weight distribution, which helps place a bit more heft over the rear axle.

Wrapping the wheels are Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, a very sticky compound found on many high-end sports cars today.

So What’s The Problem?

Note: Fourth-Gen A80 Toyota Supra pictured here.


You probably remember the old fourth-gen Supra, yes? When it was first released, this thing came equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder making 320 horsepower. Properly motivated, it could reach 60 mph in about 4.9 seconds.

That’s nearly a second slower than the fifth-gen model, which is an enormous gulf to fill with just an extra 15 horsepower, even when you consider the 100-pound weight difference, the traction-adding electronics, and contemporary sport tires.

For the sake of comparison, here are a few other cars that can do 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, plus specs on horsepower, torque, the transmission, and curb weight.

-* Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (444 horsepower, 347 pound-feet, six-speed semi-automatic, 3,494 pounds

-* Aston Martin V-12 Vantage (510 horsepower, 420 pound-feet, six-speed manual, 3,750 pounds)

Hell, the C7 Corvette Stingray can hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, just three-tenths off the Supra’s figures, buts its got an enormous 6.2-liter V-8 making 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet, with the curb weight rated at 3,347 pounds and an eight-speed automatic transmission connected to absolutely massive meats in the rear.

Ya see what I’m getting at here?!

Note: 2020 BMW Z4 pictured here.


It’s not just the Supra though - the new BMW Z4 is also looking a little suspect. Developed in conjunction with Toyota, the Z4 shares the same 3.0-liter ‘six as the Supra, but ups output to 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Even with a slightly higher curb weight of 3,443 pounds, Bimmer is claiming an incredible 3.9 seconds 0-to-60 mph time.

Originally, BMW said the Z4 would would make 340 horsepower and take around 4.5 seconds to hit 60 mph, give or take a tenth. That’s pretty much what we’d expect, but 3.9 seconds with an extra 42 ponies? Really?!

Toyota claims the fifth-gen Supra as the quickest model ever to wear the T badge, and we certainly hope that’s the case, but we’ll need to see some real test results before we can fully back that 4.1-second 0-to-60 mph claim.

What do you think about the fifth-gen Supra’s claimed performance figures? Let us know in the comments section below.

2020 Toyota Supra Specifications

Wheelbase

97.2 in.

Overall Length

172.5 in.

Overall Width

73.0 in.

Overall Height

50.9 in.

Track Width Front

62.8 in.

Track Width Rear

62.6 in.

Curb Weight

3,397 lbs.

0-60 mph

4.1 seconds


Further Reading

Toyota Supra Returns After 21 Years with BMW Engine; And it's Not Cheap

Read our speculative review of the 2020 Toyota Supra

Read our full review on the 2020 Toyota Supra GR.

Check out our full review of the 2014 Toyota FT-1 Concept

Read our full, in-depth review of the 2019 BMW Z4