There’s plenty of evidence Toyota may have underrated the Supra’s power figures – see exhibit A, exhibit B, and exhibit C. But an even more powerful version of the Toyota Supra could be possible, even if it’s highly unlikely. In an interview with Autocar, BMW M division president Markus Flasch said there is a possibility the German automaker would let Toyota use its S58 twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, which is capable of producing up to 503 bhp, in a hotter version of the Supra.
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In the interview, Flasch was coy about such a possibility saying Toyota hasn’t expressed any interest in using the mill nor has BMW offered it to the Japanese automaker. He admitted it’d be a lot for the company to give away; however, he added, “But I’d never say never.” BMW’s S58 engine comes in two flavours, a standard 473-bhp version, and the hotter 503-bhp version, and will power the next BMW M3. Either variant would go a long way to cementing the Supra as a true performance sports car.
Gallery: 2020 Toyota Supra first drive
Flasch also said it’s a rule for BMW to not offer its M engines to third parties, citing them as a strength of their performance cars. “I think it would be a hard decision for a lot of the team to accept,” Flasch added. As Autocar notes, the last time BMW sold an M engine to a third-party was when the McLaren F1 used the BMW S70 V12.
Currently, Toyota uses BMW’s B58 3.0-litre inline-six engine that Toyota says produces 335 bhp and 365 lb-ft of torque. However, a dyno test suggests the Supra makes much more — possibly as much as 400 bhp and 500 lb-ft of torque. The addition of a second, more powerful engine with Toyota’s own secret sauce could push the Supra well above 500 bhp. The move is unlikely, but there’s a glimmer of hope for such a possibility.
Source: Autocar