BMW Z4 M40i v Toyota GR Supra
Compared to its ‘relative’, how does the new Supra perform?
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you would know that Toyota’s new Supra shares its underpinnings, and powertrain with the latest generation BMW Z4. While the Z4 debuted locally some months ago, petrol heads around the country are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the GR Supra which hits Msanzi next week.
Much like the Z4, the Supra rides on BMW’s lightweight CLAR platform, and boasts a perfect 50:50 weight distribution. And while both sports cars compete in the same segment, the biggest visual difference is that the Supra is a coupe, whereas the Z4 features a retractable roof.
But under the hood, it’s largely the same. Both feature a twin-scroll turbocharged straight-six that displaces 3.0-litres, and goes by the name of the ‘B58’. Both sports cars also are rear-wheel drive and feature the same eight-speed automatic transmission too.
In other markets, the Z4 M40i packs 285kw, but in South African-guise it matches the Supra’s outputs of 250kw and 500nm. However, it should be noted that while both produce identical amounts of power, the motor in the Supra has been tuned specifically for that application.
How will they compare when they are unleashed on a test strip? The UK’s Carwow finds out.
