Petrol rules for father of GR Supra
Yes please to BMW M engine, no thanks to boring hybrid power, says Supra chief engineer Tatsuya Tada. Richard Bosselman talks to him.
No sooner had he finished the Toyota GT86 in 2012 than Tatsuya Tada was sent to Munich to begin groundwork for his next pride and joy – the fifth generation Supra.
Now that the A90 Supra is on the road, is there time for a wellearned break? Perhaps not.
During a flying visit to New Zealand for Supra’s media and public reveal, Tada-san made a point of reminding that Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda, is seeking three performance models in its lineup.
The Gazoo Racing-fettled Supra on top, GT86 – continuing in a second generation – holding the middle, and an even cheaper Toyota sports car as the entry level.
Like the idea of a new-gen extra-pepped Starlet or a reprise of the S800, a 1960s’ microcar deeply revered in Japan?
Actually, there’s also a chance those ‘‘three brothers’’ could be joined by a fourth: Toyota also reportedly plans a road-going version of the hypercar it will throw at the World Endurance Championship from 2021. Fancy having Brendon Hartley’s next ride in your garage?
Assuredly, from the tenor of what Tada-san has been telling us, Toyota’s definitely back on a performance pathway.
Stuff Motoring: Supra took seven years to bring into life. Can you explain why?
Tatsuya Tada: I needed the additional time for discussions with BMW.
I first went to Munich in May of 2012. We announced our memorandum of understanding [which called for the ‘‘joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle’’] then.
The target was for us to build a coupe and they would build a convertible, ours to beat Porsche Cayman and BMW’s to beat Boxster.
But negotiations on the developmental processes took two years. Their process was completely different to ours. Only after that did I start our true development. It’s true that a sports car needs a long, long time.
Can you give some insight into the process as it unfolded?
At the start we discussed whether we could use some existing platforms – either from BMW or Toyota – but that would not make it possible to beat the Porsches.
So, we quickly decided we needed to go completely new, with something that offered a new dimension that gave us a short wheelbase and wide track.
Does it concern you when people compare Z4 and Supra?
Some people have asked me ‘‘which is better?’’ I think it’s quite a boring question; it makes no sense. If you like a performance coupe, please choose Supra.
If you like a convertible, please choose Z4. Both are really good cars. It was 10 years ago when I talked to Akio Toyoda about sports cars and how many we should make.
He would be happy to have three brothers.
The GT86 is at the middle and Supra is the big brother.
The third? I cannot say too much but yes, some day. What kind of car?
Well, maybe like Toyota Sports 800 [the famous Yota-Hatchi, a teensy two metres long 790cc bopper of the 1960s] or perhaps like Starlet. Very small with a small engine.
How will Supra develop – more performance, more technology?
Of course. Every year there must be some update to the engine, the suspension, some equipment.
I’ve already started on next year’s model – in fact, it is almost finished.
Would you like a BMW M engine in your car?
I don’t know. It could be a candidate for a future update. It’s technically possible.
Could Supra stand an electric or hybrid drivetrain?
I get this from the marketing side. They ask me ‘‘please use the hybrid technology for Supra’’. But I strongly say ‘‘no, absolutely not’’.
A battery drivetrain would add more weight and make the car boring. But that’s now; new battery technology is coming and when it does, a sports car offering much fun will be possible.
But with current technology, I think it is impossible.
A Toyota World Endurance Racing hypercar from 2021 could mean a road-legal spinoff. What do you know of this or the new-gen GT86?
(Laughing): I don’t know too much about the hypercar project. I’m not involved with GT86, that’s not my project now. I cannot say any more about 86 than I can about the hypercar.