Is the 2020 Toyota Supra More Than Just a BMW Z4 in Disguise?

New Supra and Z4 have a lot in common under the hood. Does this mean their look is the only thing that makes them different?

In case you haven’t seen it on the Internet a million times already, the 2020 Toyota GR Supra and 2020 BMW Z4 M40i share the same basic engine, transmission, chassis, and several interior parts. Love it or hate it, that’s how it is. That kind of parts-sharing is what it took to bring the Supra back to the North American market after an over 20-year absence. Many have lamented the fact that the new Supra has so much BMW DNA. But does that mean it’s a just Bimmer with a different body?

Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, the co-hosts of the YouTube channel Throttle House, recently found out by putting the two cars head to head (or is that bumper to bumper?). True, they both have the same single-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 engine, which is connected to an 8-speed automatic and powers the rear wheels. However, there’s a big difference between the Supra’s and Z4’s power plants. In Supra tune, the B58 engine produces 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque; the Z4 M40i version of it cranks out 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft.

There’s certainly a wide chasm between the Supra’s body work and the Z4’s sheet metal. Engelsman compliments the Toyota by saying, “This car has got more attention than any car I’ve ever driven.” Its retina-searing Nitro Yellow paint certainly helps. So do its various fake exterior vents, but not in a good way. As beautifully red and well-proportioned as the BMW is, it fails to stand out on the road, according to Holland.

That’s where the two cars diverge from each other even more. Although they have similar 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) times of 4.4 (Supra) and 4.5 seconds (Z4), they’re totally different in terms of their personalities. The Bimmer’s convertible top, quiet cabin (whether the roof is in place or not), and refined interior materials make it great for cruising. One major strike against it is its occasionally nervous and harsh suspension.

The Supra is clearly the sports car of the pair. Engelsman praises its grip and turn-in. It may not be as light as its little brother, the 86, but the Supra has a lower center of gravity, a shorter wheelbase, and “it drives lighter than it is,” according to him. Holland finds his own favorite things about the Supra, saying, “It feels really sharp and the noise is sharper. Everything about this car is a little bit more crisp than the Z4.”

Clearly, Toyota and BMW found ways to make completely different machines out of common components. They didn’t split Holland’s and Engelsman’s opinions, though. The co-hosts both agree that they’d rather have the Supra.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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