When Toyota reintroduced the Supra nameplate at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the public reaction was mixed. While some applauded the return of the iconic Japanese sports car, others derided it as nothing more than a rebadged BMW Z4. And while there’s some truth to that sentiment, the reality is much more complicated, as explored in this well-researched video from YouTube user Albon.

Just The Facts, Hold The Hype

One of the things I like most about this video is that it doesn’t automatically jump on one side of the debate or the other. It simply explores the story behind the A90 Supra’s development and lets the viewer make the final decision.

The video begins with a little background on the fifth-gen Supra’s origins, starting in 2012 with the debut of the Toyota 86 and Toyota’s chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada. While journalists fawned over the compact 86’s impressive handling prowess, Tada was approached by a representative from BMW, who proposed a collaborative effort between the two automakers to create a new sports car platform.

From there, the partnership blossomed into a collaborative effort to create the new Z4 on BMW’s end, and the new Supra on Toyota’s end. However, as the video explores, the contributions of both automakers is far more nuanced than the plethora of Internet comments would let on.

Of course, whether or not the fifth-generation Toyota Supra is simply a rebadged BMW is still up for debate, but the video does a great job in explaining both sides of the argument.

Which side do you agree with? Let us know in the comments section below.

2020 Toyota Supra Specifications

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Toyota Supra.

Read our full review on the 2019 BMW Z4.

Visual Comparison: The 2020 Toyota Supra And The 2019 BMW Z4