It was a big joke—albeit not a very original one—at Best Driver’s Car 2019 that we had three BMWs present: the BMW M850i, the BMW M2 Competition, and the Toyota GR Supra Launch Edition. The new Toyota Supra may be built on the same line (and with most of the same parts) as the new BMW Z4, but when it came to tuning and calibration, it was Toyota that had the final sign-off, not BMW. But with a similarly spec’d M-modified BMW 2 Series on hand, we wondered who builds the better BMW—BMW, or Toyota? So, we chucked the keys to Randy Pobst and set him loose on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to find out which was quickest.
The BMW M2 is the car Randy is undoubtably more familiar with. We could have opted to bring the new BMW Z4 to Best Driver’s Car for a true Supra-Z4 track battle, but BMW only had four-cylinder models available, and the lure of the new Competition-spec M2 proved to be irresistible. Powered by the M3’s 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6, the M2 Competition makes 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, putting its power down through a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. The Competition changes don’t stop there, either. The M2 Comp also gets upgraded brakes, carbon-fiber bracing, and aluminum axles. The end result is one of the nicest M cars we’ve driven in a long time. By the numbers, it’ll hustle from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, through the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds at 114.7 mph, and lap our figure eight in 24.1 seconds at 0.82 g average.
The Toyota Supra may be new to Randy, but under the skin its specs ought to be recognizable with anyone familiar with modern BMWs. Under our Supra Launch Edition’s voluptuous hood sits a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 making 335 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. It drives the rear wheels through a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox. Thanks to its light curb weight—the Supra, at around 3,400 pounds, weighs about 200 pounds less than the M2—the Toyota is quick on its feet. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, through the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 111.2 mph, and it laps our figure eight in 24.0 seconds at 0.83 g.
So, which is quicker around Laguna Seca? Watch to find out.
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Source: WORLD NEWS
