Photo: Toyota
Just when you thought you'd heard it all when Toyota claimed the BMW B58 inline-six engine in the 2020 Supra is “legendary,” the Japanese automaker returns with another statement that boggles the mind.
This time around, chief engineer Tetsuya Tada told GoAuto.com.au that pricing for the Supra would be “acceptable for Toyota fans.” For starters, acceptable is a vaguer term than you’d think. On a different note, remember how much the Z4 with the B58 costs in M40i flavor.
But wait, there’s more! According to Tada-san, “the goal for a Toyota sports car is not to sell a lot, but to really to sell Supra to fans who like cars a lot.” We’re not exactly sure that’s how an automaker makes profit through this business model, but then again, Toyota didn’t pour too much into the development of the Supra considering that most of the oily bits and architecture are sourced from BMW.
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, rewind back to April 2018. That’s when Toyota’s vice-president of research & development said the Supra “will not be a cheap car,” which goes to show how little the higher-ups, engineers, and marketers know about the legacy of this nameplate.
Scheduled to be revealed in January 2019 at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2020 Supra will also be available with a four-cylinder turbo, also from BMW. The B48 in the 20i develops 197 PS (195 horsepower) and 320 Nm (236 pound-feet) of torque, which begs a question.
Who would take Toyota on their offer instead of Mazda with the MX-5 RF? The 2019 refresh saw the SkyActiv-G gain a handful of ponies, and even though the 2.0-liter engine isn't big on torque because of natural aspiration, the lower weight of the MX-5 and narrower tires more than make up for it.
Also worthy of mention, who would spend in the ballpark of $50,000 if not more for a Supra with the range-topping engine? People with that kind of disposable income are better off buying a second-hand 718 Cayman or Corvette, two cars that are extremely different in nature but similar in terms of driving pleasure.
But wait, there’s more! According to Tada-san, “the goal for a Toyota sports car is not to sell a lot, but to really to sell Supra to fans who like cars a lot.” We’re not exactly sure that’s how an automaker makes profit through this business model, but then again, Toyota didn’t pour too much into the development of the Supra considering that most of the oily bits and architecture are sourced from BMW.
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, rewind back to April 2018. That’s when Toyota’s vice-president of research & development said the Supra “will not be a cheap car,” which goes to show how little the higher-ups, engineers, and marketers know about the legacy of this nameplate.
Scheduled to be revealed in January 2019 at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2020 Supra will also be available with a four-cylinder turbo, also from BMW. The B48 in the 20i develops 197 PS (195 horsepower) and 320 Nm (236 pound-feet) of torque, which begs a question.
Who would take Toyota on their offer instead of Mazda with the MX-5 RF? The 2019 refresh saw the SkyActiv-G gain a handful of ponies, and even though the 2.0-liter engine isn't big on torque because of natural aspiration, the lower weight of the MX-5 and narrower tires more than make up for it.
Also worthy of mention, who would spend in the ballpark of $50,000 if not more for a Supra with the range-topping engine? People with that kind of disposable income are better off buying a second-hand 718 Cayman or Corvette, two cars that are extremely different in nature but similar in terms of driving pleasure.
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