Last month I drove up to Utah of all places and picked up a new 2020 Supra. Other than a few online photos I had not even seen this car in person before buying it. My first impressions upon seeing it in person quickly silenced my opinion on the aesthetics of the car. It's spectacular to see in person, as you are able to perceive all the curvy angles of the car. My very first drive was over 800 miles back to Phoenix, AZ and what an adventure that was. Took about 30-45 minutes before leaving Utah to bed in the pads and rotors properly and then drove it a few hundred miles before engaging sport mode and getting into boost. I was speechless upon the first few pulls. Had no idea that this MKV would be this fast right off the showroom floor. A week later after being home and researching more info on the car I read and watched the dyno results from multiple tuners and shops showing that the Supra was putting down 330-360whp and close to 400 lb-ft to the wheels. Impressive!

It didn't take me long to begin modding the car. I had 20% limo tint done almost immediately, followed by an HKS drop in filter and Titan Motorsports down pipe installed. Since the 2020 Supra is still a new platform the support isn't readily available just yet as many companies are just now releasing their first parts for it. I anxiously searched for a wheel and tire set-up and found that Advan and Volk as well as Titan 7 had specific spec'd wheels coming out but not until November. Unbeknownst to me Ray's Wheels also had the new Gram Lights 57CR come out just last week. I bought those as quick as they came off the boat. I recently added the new TRD carbon fiber mirrors and YMP carbon fiber engine cover, HKS Hypermax springs and a set of Toyo R888R tires.

I have had the chance to take the car to the track and made a few passes and ran a 12.1@115mph my first pass without going through the waterbox or doing a burnout. Quite impressive considering the car is still not even tuned. I ran the pass on my OEM wheels and think that I should be able to hit 11.99 now that I'm on a lighter wheel.

I like others was very skeptical about this car. When I heard that the FT-1 was dropped in favor of this Toyota/BMW collaboration and that the Supra would be based on a Z4 chassis and a BMW I6 only making 335hp I quickly dismissed it and never bothered even considering it for a purchase. Well, somewhere in the midst of me trying to purchase a Lamborghini Huracan, I did a quick search on Cargurus to see if the 2020 Supra was even available for sale yet. Low and behold I found a few scattered about the country with MSRP's ranging from mid $50K to low $60K range and got a bit excited. I told myself that if I pulled the trigger on one I would have to get a crazy neon color as I have become so bored with my Ultra White LC500 color. I found a Nitro Yellow premium edition in Bountiful, Utah and when I called the dealer they were asking $5K over MSRP. All other dealers were asking between $10-$20K over or they were sold out. I bought the car sight unseen and it was my hail marry.

Excited that I had just bought this new 2020 GR Supra I began calling friends for a sporadic road trip to Utah and no one could take the time to go the same day. I called Enterprise Rental booked a one way and left the same day to get my new Supra. Arrived in Utah the same night and dropped the rental off at a local branch the next morning and was then dropped over at the dealer to sign the final paperwork and take delivery of my car. The drive through the canyons of Utah and northern Arizona were breathtaking and it could not have been a better back-drop for the first time driving my new Supra. The honeymoon phase is only getting better.

After having the car for over a month now and having it up on a lift and really examining the car inside and out, it's clear this is not a re-badged Z4. Toyota Racing Development has not simply just re-tuned the BMW B58 inline six nor did they just slap a new shell on a Z4 chassis. The silly rumors and unnecessary bashing of this car's collaboration from tuner purists has become absurd. They have no clue what they're talking about and the JDM and tuner scene are beginning to learn that the 2020 GR Supra is one hell of a machine. The B58B30 has been tore down and examined with scrutiny by Stephan Papdakis "Papadakis Racing". The B58 motor is capable of 1,000hp on stock block however, Papdakis has had a custom intake and exhaust manifold built for the B58 as well as placed forged pistons and rods in, despite the fact that the B58 already has forged rods and a forged crankshaft from the factory.

The 2020 GR Supra is capable of putting down 600rwhp for $3,500 in bolt-ons and a tune. That is 700hp at the crank on a car that weighs 3,350 lbs. and good for a mid to low 10 second pass at the strip. I have already hit 2,000 miles on mine and every time I drive it it thrills me.

How do I like it compared to my LC500? I prefer it over my LC500. The LC500 despite having a very plush interior, exclusive body design and amazing sounding V8 is just slow and heavy. I feel like I'm driving an old Caddy Vs. the 2020 Supra. The LC500 is a great car but after driving the Supra for a month I think the LC500 will be going up for sale.

 

Congrats! I'm not usually a fan of yellow but that car pulls it off. Nice.

 

Great writeup! Wheels look great on that car!

-Josh

 

Jealous of your stable! Congrats!

 

Wow, congratulations! That yellow really pops.

Hey, it's not fair comparing the fun factor of a coupe vs a GT car
(I would take your LC over the supra though)

 

I did something similar at the end of June. As are you, I'm in Arizona. I bought my LC at Lexus of Lincoln Nebraska. A friend and I flew out to Omaha. The dealer picked us up and drove us to the showroom. A couple hours later, I was on the road back home. Took us 20 hrs and 30 mins. My LC, now with new Vossen wheels, MPS4S tires & PPE headers with dual mode exhaust aint goin' nowhere.

Lou

 

Where did you get this info from? I haven't seen any 2020Supra making those numbers (even hypothetically i doubt you can double the HP with just 'Bolt-ons')

 

That yellow is the best color I've seen for the Supra. Reminds me of a yellow LF-A.

 

A friend of mine recently sold his Alfa 4C and bought a new Supra. I've driven it back to back with my LC and my opinion is quite the opposite of yours. I'm glad you love the car but I but I did have to laugh at the fake air vents. Seriously? I don't think you'll even find those on a Mustang.

 

Congrats!! Your LC500 is def my favorite!
Personally, no way would I take the Supra over the LC. With full bolt on, the LC should be capable of 12.2 to 12.4 sec 1/4 passes. PLENTY fast for the street.

V.

 

Seen your car at SIV. The yellow is beautiful in person!

 

Many 2020 GR Supras with a Pure Turbo, down pipe and a tune hitting over 600whp on 100 octane and MS109 fuel. Pure Turbo is a stock housing turbo just larger compressor wheel it's about $2500, the down pipe is $299 and the tune is $595 so yeah very easy to make 600whp. Add a cat-back exhaust and drop in filter and the numbers go higher LOL. Good for low 10 second 1/4 mile. Speedy Muffler out of Puerto Rico hit 9.92@133mph on a Pure Turbo, down pipe, tune, race fuel and a small shot of N20. We will see mid to low 9's without the bottle though very soon on stock block and transmission.

 

honestly, I think I laughed harder that the LC500 performance package that I bought comes with a carbon roof, carbon door sills while still weighing in at 4,465 lbs.. What's the carbon suppose to do with over 2 tons of weight again? A 5.0L V8 with 471hp and 378 lb-ft of torque that doesn't come in until 4,800 rpm is like pushing a wheel barrow full of cement up a hill by yourself. I'll take the capped vent slots on the MKV all day over the LC's excessively heavy chassis and under-powered small displacement V8. The LC's have taken such a brutal depreciation hit due to the lack of power and the fact that it's an iron tank. She's all hips and lips but can't perform sadly.

 

SIV? This isn't my car.

 

How's this for a shoot? Audi R8 V8 manual, Toyota MKV Supra, Lexus LC500, Audi R8 V10 manual
Photo credit on Instsgram: evolutionized_photography
Photographer: Becca Furnish