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It doesn’t matter where you first saw a Toyota Supra, whether it was on the street, at a car meet or a racetrack, or even in a video game. It’s safe to say that it made an impact. The Supra MKIV Turbo carries an intimidating aura wherever it goes, and it demands respect.
If you can see past the people crowding around it with their phones out, you’ll catch a glimpse of some truly legendary Japanese engineering. The saying ‘never meet your heroes’ simply doesn’t apply to the Toyota Supra Turbo. This sports car lives up to the hype with ease.
The Toyota Supra MKIV Turbo Is A High–Performance Beast From The Far East
Upon its release, it was clear that the Toyota Supra MKIV Turbo had one thing in mind – performance. The mighty 2JZ–GTE is the jewel in the crown of the Supra, but there’s more to it than just that. Toyota worked hard to reduce the car’s weight. Aluminum featured where possible along with some impressive pieces, such as a magnesium–alloy steering wheel. Even with all the technology, including airbags and traction control, the Supra came in lighter than its predecessor. The curb weight for the MKIV Turbo is still on the high side at 3,450 lbs. However, this was never meant to be a lightweight roadster. It’s a monstrous bruiser ready to blow away anything in its path.
The Toyota Supra MKIV Turbo came along at a time when Honda and Nissan were pulling out all the stops with the NSX and the Skyline GT–R respectively. The Supra was a welcome addition to this exclusive club, and it held its own. It says a lot that in the midst of the brutal rivalry of car enthusiasts, everyone respects the Supra.
With Its Infamous 2JZ, Not Many Cars Can Keep Up With The Toyota Supra MKIV
Back to that jewel in the crown, the venerable 2JZ–GTE. It is perhaps the greatest engine of all time. From the factory, this twin–turbocharged 3.0–liter inline–six produced 276 hp, although those for the North American market made 320 hp. The power delivery is buttery smooth and doesn’t really suffer from turbo lag due to the way the turbos came online at different stages. As you move up the rev range, the exhaust gas is re–routed from one turbo to another until they are both creating optimal boost. The power moves through a six–speed manual transmission to the rear wheels, which will have a hard time maintaining grip if you’re not gentle with the accelerator.
Many Supra owners opt to swap out the twin–turbo system for a larger, single turbocharger. Toyota’s engineers probably rolled their eyes when their cleverly–devised setup was ripped out and replaced with a less–complicated method of forced induction. The results, however, speak for themselves. Although power low down the rev range is sacrificed, when the turbo gets up to speed all hell breaks loose. The stock internals are well able to withstand doubling the baseline power. There are plenty of MKIV Supra Turbos out there that have gone beyond the 1,000 hp level and some have even surpassed 2,000 hp, while still using the 2JZ. The engine is an automotive marvel and deserves all the praise it gets.
The Toyota Supra MKIV Turbo Has Unmatched Road Presence
If you’ve ever been at a car meet when a Toyota Supra MKIV Turbo shows up, you are well aware of their presence. It doesn’t matter what else is there, everyone will make their way to get a closer look. From car people, you will get far more attention in one of these than any Ferrari or Lamborghini. The Supra is akin to an automotive god that moves among us, and people can’t help but be drawn to it. Its muscular appearance is both alluring and unnerving at the same time. The pair of quad tail lights under the high rear wing is synonymous with the MKIV Supra, and is also most likely all you’ll see if you ever come up against one in a drag race. Particularly when equipped with anti–lag, the Toyota Supra’s soundtrack is overwhelming enough to make your ears bleed.
Adding to the legend, Japanese car tuner Smokey Nagata worked his Top Secret magic on a Toyota Supra. After a top speed run in the UK in 1998, he got arrested and banned from the country for 10 years. In 2007, frustrated with the lack of innovation in the aftermarket car scene, he respectfully removed the 2JZ, only to replace it with a twin–turbo V12. All this infamy garnered more and more adoration for the Supra MKIV Turbo.
Japanese Sports Cars Peaked In The ’90s, And The MKIV Supra Was One Of The Best
If there was an automotive Hall Of Fame, the Toyota Supra Turbo MKIV would definitely be in there. Unfortunately, this means that their values are shooting through the roof. Only a few years ago, you could pick a relatively clean one up for around $20,000. Since then, more than one has gone for ten times that (yes, really!), and you’ll need to double your $20,000 to get a decent example.
Despite all that, it’s still safe to say that the Supra Turbo is worth the money. It’s easy to say that they don’t make them like they used to. In the Supra’s case though, it couldn’t be more true. It’s the heavenly pinnacle of Japanese car culture, and it will never be replicated.
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