Supra set to exit with hot and hotter editions
/The Track Edition sounds spesh, but it’s the ‘A90 Final Edition’ that’ll stand as the true collectible.
JUST as it is beginning a life in New Zealand motorsport - the country’s first GT4 example making its debut in a supporting class for the GR86 round at Taupo last weekend - and even before it hits the scene as a V8 Supercar, the current Toyota Supra is curtailing as a road car.
To mark the end of a five year production run of the A90 series co-developed with BMW as a spin from the Z4, Toyota has announced two special editions.
There’s a circuit-focused Track Edition (in grey) and a far more powerful A90 Final Edition (in black).
Will New Zealand see either? It’s yet to made clear, but Toyota Japan via its Gazoo Racing feed has made clear the A90 Final Edition - basically the long-awaited GRMN release - is a global choice. The challenge will be to snap one up. Just 300 will be made.
Still, what a catch. This is a manual-only car delivering with the most powerful, with 320kW and 570Nm, version of the Munich-supplied 3.0-litre single-turbo petrol inline-six ever fitted. It also has racing suspension, bigger brakes, track-day tyres and a rear spoiler.
No 0-100kmh acceleration time has been shared with the make says top speed is 270kmh; so 20kmh higher than the standard car.
Toyota has added a baffle plate to the engine oil pan to "prevent uneven oil distribution" during cornering, a stronger radiator fan, a new sub-radiator, larger differential cooling fins, and a retuned rear differential.
Among the biggest upgrades is new manually-adjustable KW suspension derived from the GR Supra GT4 race car, which comes from a factory in Belgium, with 12 stages of compression adjustment, and 16 stages of rebound adjustment.
Thicker anti-roll bars, strengthened rubber bushings and pillow ball joints for the front lower control arms, and rigid aluminium rear subframe mounts from the GT4 racer involve. The brake discs are drilled and, at 395mm up front, are the largest yet in the car. Brembo calipers with high-friction pads include.
The rear brake discs are no larger, but are drilled for improved cooling. Stainless-steel mesh brake hoses have been added to "reduce pressure transmission loss due to hose expansion during braking".
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track-day tyres replace Pilot Super Sports, 10mm wider than the standard Supra, wrapped around light 19-inch front and 20-inch wheels (up from 19-inch front and rear). the GT4 runs 20-inch wheels front and rear.
No word of price, but it would have to be cheaper than the GT4 race car, which comes in for just over $300,000 in basic form, with most GT4 buyers opting to add in another $100k worth of hardware.
The Track Edition, meantime, has the same power meted the car in standard form (so, 285kW and 500Nm), and also configures with an automatic as well as the manual, but picks up some suspension and brake enhancements.
Upgrades focus on retuned adaptive dampers, rear differential and power steering, plus larger 374mm front brake discs (up from 348mm in the GTS), stiffer rear underfloor bracing, and strengthened rubber rear subframe mounts.
There is also a larger front anti-roll bar, new aluminium front and rear anti-roll bar brackets, a "changed" front control arm bearing, and increased front-wheel camber.
Visual changes include a matte black finish for the 19-inch wheels, a new front underlip tyre spat, aero flaps ahead of the front wheel arches, and a carbon-fibre ducktail rear spoiler.
All nice, but the Final Edition is more honed, of course, with generous application of carbon-fibre parts, across the larger front splitter, front canards, front centre flap, tall 'swan-neck' rear wing, and bonnet duct.
Inside, too the ultra special has carbon-fibre Recaro Podium bucket seats, in Alcantara - coloured red on the driver's side, and black on the passenger side.
Alcantara is also used on the steering wheel, shift boot, door panels, centre console kneepads, centre armrest, and part of the dashboard, while red seatbelts, red trim on the shift knob. Carbon-fibre sill plates also include.