Fast forward to 2019. Toyota brings back the Supra after a 17-year nap. But… it has a BMW engine. I know, I know. The internet lost its collective mind. “It’s not a real Supra!” they screamed. But hear me out. The B58 straight-six is a piece of art.
This is a 3.0-liter, single-turbocharged engine. And it’s good. Like, really, really good. It’s smooth, it’s powerful (382 horsepower stock, thank you very much), and it revs like a sewing machine that’s had a few espressos. It’s also built for boost. The block is closed-deck, meaning it loves tuning.
People moan about the BMW heritage, but they forget that BMW makes amazing straight-sixes. It’s like complaining that your new pizza has a perfect crust. Just eat it. The B58 is already proving to be just as legendary as the 2JZ in terms of tuning potential. Give it a few years, and you’ll see 800-horsepower A90 Supras everywhere.
The Four-Cylinder Whiner
Wait, there’s a base model. The B48 engine. This is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo. It makes 255 horsepower. It’s not slow, but it’s… well, it’s the Supra’s sensible cousin who drives a Prius. It saves weight, it’s cheaper, but it lacks the soul of the six-pot.
Toyota Chairman Says a Sports Car Must Have a Gas…
If you buy a four-cylinder Supra, you will get questions. “Why didn’t you get the six?” Expect that. It’s a good engine, but it’s the decaf latte of the Supra lineup. It’ll get you to work, but you won’t write home about it.
