Folks know that Japanese cars are known to be good tuning platforms. In fact, that’s why Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars are essentially synonymous with imaginations of big wings, large turbochargers, and deafening exhausts.
But if there’s ever a list of the most highly regarded Japanese sports car, the Mk4 Toyota Supra would definitely make it to the top of the list. In fact, the Toyota Supra has proven to be a tried and tested platform for comprehensive modifications.
There are a number of reasons that contributes to the Toyota Supra’s popularity as a Japanese tuner car. To understand why, you’d have to know more about the Toyota Supra, and especially what makes the Mk4 Supra so legendary.
The Toyota Supra
Originally, the Toyota Supra was known as the Toyota Celica Supra. It was built and designed from the ground up to compete against the Datsun Z. An inline-6 powered sports coupe that would put Toyota on the map.
The early generation Supras weren’t too memorable until the Mk3 Toyota Supra. For this generation, Toyota dropped the Celica name from the Supra. And this kick-started the venerated Supra as we know it today.
A70 Supra
Known by the code A70, the 3rd generation Supra was produced from 1986 to 1993, and notably marked a big step forward for the Supra. It was also relatively modern for its time and touted a more angular and aggressive design.
Not only was the Mk3 Supra available with a variety of engines, but it also introduced to the world the 7M series of engines. The 7M would go on to serve as the basis for the development of the JZ engines.
The range-topping 7M-GTE was especially impressive. It is a 3.0-liter turbocharged twin-cam engine with an intercooler, making 230 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. It was also amongst the first distributor-less engines to be introduced in the US.
Not only that, the new Supra demonstrated Toyota’s technological aptitude. With ABS, Toyota’s electronically adjustable suspension and active aerodynamics. But it was not until the later years that the Mk3 Supra received the 1JZ-GTE.
Regardless, the Mk3 Supra cemented Toyota’s reputation in building sports cars. It provided more than adequate acceleration and top speed while balancing it with proper FR handling & driving dynamics.
It was a car well-received by auto journalists and enthusiasts alike. The Mk3 Supra would pave the way for the Supra as we know it today. It was a significant milestone in the Supra’s development and helped established the Supra as a household name.
A80 Supra
The fourth-generation A80 Toyota Supra, colloquially known as the Mk4 Supra, is the penultimate Supra. It is the Supra that everyone, whether if they like cars or not, would have heard, seen or know of. There’s no overstating just how popular the Mk4 Supra is, and that has reflected greatly in its market value.
It’s a fine Japanese sports car for sure, but what made it venerated is underneath the hood. You’ll find the legendary 3.0-litre 2JZ-GTE hiding within. In its twin-turbocharged guise, it’s capable of producing 320 horsepower nad 315 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Courtesy of its potent engine and a lightweight, aerodynamic design; the Supra will achieve a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph time of sub-5 seconds. The car’s advanced suspension system and responsive steering also contributed to its exceptional handling, making it a popular choice among car enthusiasts.
It might not share the menacing look that a GTR boasts, but the relatively subdued aesthetics hides a highly dynamic vehicle that will pull nearly 1g around a skidpan. While we’re used to seeing Mk4 Supras running the drag strips, the Mk4 is a complete package that surely impressed its owners back in the 90s.
Today, the Supra Mk4 remains a highly sought-after sports car, with many collectors and enthusiasts eager to get their hands on this iconic vehicle. Nowadays, that is overtly reflected in its price. The turbocharged manual variants in clean condition will easily fetch over $100k.
A90 Supra
One of the most highly anticipated sports car. Many ardent fans of Toyota had been waiting with bated breath once Toyota announced the latest A90 Toyota GR Supra, also the 5th generation Supra. Some might’ve doubted the collaboration between Toyota and BMW. However, there’s no doubt that nowadays, the A90 Supra is known as one of the most capable sportscar out there.
The A90 Supra is a highly anticipated sports car that has captivated automotive enthusiasts with its design and performance that captures the spirit of the Supra. It combines Toyota’s GR skunkworks know-how with BMW’s legendary pedigree resulting in a truly remarkable collaborative effort.
Under the hood, the A90 Supra boasts a potent drivetrain sourced from BMW. In fact, it’s BMW’s venerated B58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-6 engine that produces either 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Mated to the ZF 8HP transmission, the 3.0-litre Supra will sprint from 0-62 mph in just 4 seconds.
Obviously, there’s also the B48 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 variant available. Later models received an optional transmission: a proper 6-speed manual. The 3.0-litre paired with the 6-speed manual makes the A90 an especially desirable sportscar.
Of course, it also comes with all the modern day amenities you’d want to live with as a modern sportscar. It’s easy to drive, and handles dynamic driving well when needed. The B58 engine also responds very well to mods, ask any BMW enthusiast and they’d tell you.
Not only is the GR Supra reviving a legendary nameplate, it also marks Toyota’s return into the foray of interesting cars. Thus far, with how the GR cars are shaping up, Toyota is onto a winner here. No longer will Toyota be known for only making boring, everyday man’s car.
Why are there more Modified Supra Mk4s?
Despite the availability of the Mk5 GR Supra, the Mk4 Supra will forever remain in the heart of enthusiasts. Of course, it is not by sheer coincidence that the Mk4 Supra became renowned amongst the Japanese modified scene. People saw its potential as a highly capable (even overengineered) platform that resonates well with modifications.
The Drivetrain
When it comes to drivetrain performance, there is simply no denying the Mk4 Supra’s affinity for power modifications. This is courtesy to the engine that is now cemented as one of the best to have been made the last century – the 2JZ-GTE.
It’s fair to say that the 2JZ-GTE makes up half of the reputation that the Supra has garnered. It’s the same recipe that makes up many great inline-6s, 3.0-litre and turbocharged. In the Supra it comes as a sequential twin turbo setup that produces 320 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque.
Mated to the Getrag V160 6-speed manual, the Mk4 Supra with a good driver will manage 0-62 mph in just shy of 5 seconds. That is impressive figures even today. Of course, large brakes with ABS also helped the Supra to stop. In fact, its stopping power is comparable to a Porsche Carrera GT.
But it’s not just the stock performance. What truly makes the 2JZ-GTE shine is the aftermarket. Thanks to the measures Toyota undertook to beef up the 2JZ for turbocharging including a cast iron block and strong internals, people have pushed the 2JZ-GTE upwards of 5-600 whp on stock internals.
The Chassis
Certainly, the Mk4 Supra is not all about the drivetrain. The chassis itself is also plenty capable. After all, you need a good chassis to handle the power to truly be a sports car. That said, it’s not doubt that the Supra is not as well-known as its peers for being a proper track weapon.
However, the Mk4 Supra has been used before as a racer in the Japan Super GT racing series as the Castrol TOM’s Supra. Despite ditching the 2JZ-GTE in favour of a smaller, more balanced (for front mid-engine layout) and at the time better developed 2.1-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine known as the 503E. It sports a very well-known livery too.
While it’s an entertaining driver’s car stock thanks to its front engine rear wheel drive layout with a 51:49 weight distribution, it gets better with straightforward modifications. Suspension mods vary from simple coilovers and wheels to custom subframe designs. It will hold up in a spirited track day among modern sports cars with proper setup.
With that said, there’s no getting away from the fact that the Supra isn’t as well-known for its track demeanor compared to its peers. This is primarily due to the heft of the Supra. Despite Toyota’s best efforts at keeping the weight down, it still weighs nearly 1.5-tonnes.
This brings the Supra closer to weight to the 4-wheel drive Nissan Skyline GT-R. Compared to the similar front engine rear-wheel drive Mazda RX-7, the Mk4 Supra is almost 300 kg heavier. That’s a lot of extra weight that hinders the Supra.
The Knowledge
Finally, the Mk4 Supra has a remarkable community surrounding it. There are so much information on everything you need to know about the engine, the chassis and the car itself. Every owner of the Mk4 Supra is an enthusiast to a degree.
The collectability and desirability is just the icing on the cake. Many current modified Supra MK4 owners are born and raised in the era where the Japanese modified scene gained traction. Now that they have the money, it makes sense why many yearn to own one to make it into their own ’10 second car’.
Thanks to the worldwide availability of the Mk4 Supra and the more affordable naturally aspirated automatic variants, the gate of entry isn’t unattainable yet. It certainly hasn’t reached the level of classic Ferraris.
This means that budding enthusiasts are able to get into the platform to serve as a solid foundation. Not many cars are quite as recognisable as a Toyota Supra, regardless of the specifications.
People love to modify the Supra Mk4 because it’s a chassis with seemingly endless potential. Not to mention the community making engine swaps such as Smokey Nagata’s incredible V12-powered Top Secret Supra.
Your own Modified Supra Mk4s?
Perhaps you already own a Mk4 Supra and wishes to modify it. WIth the sea of information out there, it can be daunting to learn where to start and what to search for.
Obviously, much like every other project, you should have a plan laid out. With a clear goal in mind you can spend your cash more efficiently.
Most people are happy with the car being peppier and having better grip, in which case basic mods and tires wil do; some seek for a lot more. Keep in mind that the cost and time rises exponentially in the quest for mods.
Drivetrain modifications
The topic of modifying the 2JZ-GTE is one that has been well explored. Given that the stock output is already over 320 hosrepower, the next step people tend to go for is 400 to 500 wheel hosrepower. Fortunately, for an engine like the 2JZ-GTE, it doesn’t take a whole lot to start making big power.
Engine
The simplest way to boost the output of the Mk4 Supra is via the turbos (given that you have the GTE and not the GE). There are 2 ways to go about this – either by sticking to the stock twins or converting it to single turbo.
Obviously, the more affordable option is to stick with the stock twin-turbo. Here, by performing a few straightforward mods you can expect approximately 400 horsepower. All you need is a bigger bang, and fueling isn’t a big issue yet.
Since old Toyota sportscars have a tendency for overfueling, by taking advantage of that fact, people will trick the turbos into running more boost by installing a boost controller. A simple (but quality) manual boost controller (MBC) will do.
You should also carry out the TTC and 12V fuel pump mods just for reliability and simplicity sake. With a boost gauge, tweak the boost levels to just over 1 bar (15 psi). This, combined with an aftermarket exhaust, will provide a palpable gain in power.
If you’re thinking to push further, you should go ahead and ditch the original engine control unit for an aftermarket standalone one. The standalone ECU will provide much more control over the engine’s behavior. It also provides additional functionality such as electronic boost control, E85 conversion and more.
Beyond the 400 horsepower mark, the stock twins should be ditched. One of the most popular modifications people make is to convert the engine to run on one turbo. The stock twin-turbo system, while pragmatic for daily driving, can be too complex which becomes a failure point. The two turbos are also quite small, proving to be restrictive when pushing for more power.
Single-turbo
A single turbo conversion is a straightforward but involved modification. You’re going to ditch the Mk4 Supra’s factory exhaust and intake. Fortunately, it’s so frequently carried out that you won’t have a hard time finding information and kits for it.
You’d have to ditch the stock manifold for a single turbo one. Meanwhile, get your exhaust system and intake system fabricated accordingly to accommodate the turbo. Thanks to the large 3.0-litre capacity you have quite a broad array of options for turbocharger too.
Depending on your goals, people have fit a variety of sizes to the 2JZ-GTE. Most commonly, a GT30 or GT35 equivalent turbocharger. Two of the most popular choices are probably the Precision PT6266 and GTX3582R. Nowadays though people often opt for the newer G35 series of turbochargers by Garrett.
Those options will easily boost output to 600 horsepower with the appropriate headwork, good fuel and standalone ECU. Anything beyond this point will be treading on thin ice without a fully built bottom end.