The fifth-gen Supra has been a long time coming. It wouldn’t be a hyperbole to say that it’s been one of the most eagerly anticipated new cars in recent memory, yet, when it finally arrived, it kinda split opinions.
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Some applauded Toyota for resurrecting the iconic nameplate that sticks to the same recipe that made its predecessor a legend, namely the turbocharged inline-six engine, unique styling and rear-wheel drive.
Others, though, took issue with the fact that it was co-developed with BMW. And its true that German DNA can be found in the chassis, engine and interior, even though the Japanese insist that, apart from certain parameters that were jointly agreed upon early on and some hardware, the 2020 Supra and the new Z4 have little in common.
Also Watch: New Toyota Supra Races Porsche Cayman GTS, Audi TT RS And Alpine A110
The new Supra and Z4 may share many things between them, but Toyota actually tuned the components independently from BMW, and during the final leg of the journey, engineers from both companies lost touch altogether.
Thus, the Japanese sports cars handles differently than its German counterpart, with a well-balanced chassis and lots of grip in corners, while also allowing users to put that rear end out quite easily. Moreover, it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance either, with the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint being dispatched in 4.1 seconds, courtesy of the 3.0-liter inline-six that pumps out 335 HP (340 PS / 250 kW) and 365 lb-ft (495 Nm) of torque – according to Toyota, at least, because so far independent users have pointed out that it actually is be more potent than what the specs would have us believe.
Getting the 2020 Supra in the United States will drain almost $50,000 from your bank account for the base version, and $53,990 for the 3.0 Premium grade. As for the Launch Edition, put to the test by CNET’s RoadShow in the video posted below, it can be had from $55,250 and adds a bunch of visual and technical upgrades.
The question is, should you choose it over an entry-level Porsche 718 Cayman that, at $$56,900, is too close for comfort and sports a more prestigious badge? That’s for you to decide, and the following review could help you do just that.