By the time the BMW Z4 G29 and the Toyota GR Supra were unveiled, the motoring world caused a stir rather than celebrating their arrival, probably because both of these sports cars have the same bits and bobs, meaning they behave just like them rather than looking different.
Yes, both the Z4 G29 and the GR Supra are like two sides of the same coin. They may look different but they were built by the same master because, as they say, it's the economy, el bimbo. Anyway, how did they get through?
The Z4 G29 came first when it went on sale in the first quarter of 2019. Apart from its concept-inspired exterior design, the new model brings back the soft-top roof that was absent from the previous model and it can be folded up or down in approximately ten seconds even at cruising speeds. Seen here is the range-topping M40i model with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power, and 500Nm of torque, and when mated with the 8-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.
The Toyota GR Supra marked the beginning of Reiwa-era JDM sports cars when it went on sale in May 2019, a month after the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan. It's built in collaboration with BMW so most speedo boys call this Supra a BMW because it runs on the same specs as the BMW Z4 G29. With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.
With their quick introduction done, it's time to find which of these two clones is the superior one and with that, I'm heading to the Horizon Mexico festival site to bring this heated debate into action. Before I had a chance, I had a problem.
Checking at the specs, it looks like the Z4 G29 has superior specs compared to the GR Supra. Don't ask me, ask the producers. I was going to say such specs will make the Z4 G29 the winner of this comparison but that would be premature. After careful consideration, the quick lap duel between the two clones is on. Bring it!
After a quick lap around the festival circuit, here are the results;
Z4 G29 - 1:18.545
GR Supra - 1:18.478
This is the closest result they've ever pulled. A near-second gap between them and looks like the Z4's Japanese clone, the GR Supra, is the winner. Just.
I guess I underestimated the GR Supra's potential even though it's basically a BMW Z4 underneath. For a Japanese car that has the same blood as its German equivalent, the Supra of the Reiwa era always comes on top.
At this point, I was going to end this Clone Slasher but because of the Supra's potential, it's time to reward this...clone slasher the biggest challenge of all; The Marathon. Yes, The Marathon is the toughest street race in the Horizon Festival. Before getting ready, it's time to give the GR Supra the makeover it needs.
Mirrored in! See what I did?
With the GR Supra mirrored in and beefed up on steroids, it's ready to take on The Marathon, Horizon Festival's toughest street race. Do your best, my little BMW...errr....Toyota. Toyota! Yes! Just rooting for your Supra-ness in this ultimate street race!
Anyway, without further ado, The Marathon is on!
The Marathon of Horizon Mexico starts at the Horizon Street Scene site, then goes through the streets of Guanajuato, outside the stadium, the festival site, the Autopista, and then you'll fight through the stretching finale at the Gran Puente bridge. Endurance is key in this ultimate street race and a slight mistake will slip you out of the race. This ultimate cannonball run will be the true test for the GR Supra's potential as it tries to live up to its predecessor's street cred, you know what I say.
Having fought our way through this ultimate cannonball run, it looks like I and the Supra made it through the Gran Puente finale and won The Marathon. Well done!
The GR Supra...even though it's as German as the BMW Z4, it still lives up to its predecessor's street credentials and this is why most speedo boys ended up being on the Supra side rather than the Z4's side even though they're built on the same factory in Austria. Why? It's Japanese. Every speedo boy in the world loves Japanese sports cars nowadays even before The Fast and The Furious movies came out.
With The Marathon behind me now, it looks like I have one last challenge to take on Horizon Mexico. It's the big one; The Goliath. Better get ready because this is the biggest challenge I'll ever take on, even if it costs me.
The journey continues...
