Rough Draft

Toyota Supra (MK4)

Tuesday, September 15th, 2015
Rules and Conventions
There are numerous conventions in the world of Supras, particularly with owning
a Supra, and fitting in the common stereotype, as these cars have been a major player
in all forms of racing and modifying.
One major convention is that you must keep your Supra in top-notch shape. This
is understandable and highly recommend due to the lack of depreciation, and actually a
slight appreciation of these cars. Also, as a Supra owner, you would not want to catch
heat from fellow car enthusiasts, or Supra owners, for letting your Supra succumb to
your careless means of ownership.
Another major convention is basically fitting the stereotype of fellow Supras and
their owners, particularly with modifying. It is extremely hard to find any Supra that has
been not mechanically modified, due to the Supras ease to gain immense power from
various upgrades and tunes. The 2JZ-GTE is every tuners dream, as its strong inline 6cylinder, coupled with forged internals from the factory, made this car able to handle
added boost and power. In short, have fun trying to find an unmodified Supra, because
the previous owner most likely knew what the Supra could handle, and modified it
accordingly.
Last but not least, since this car is such an instant classic, you as a fellow owner,
should fulfill this last convention, and take your Supra to car shows/meets. Everyone,
including myself, jump with excitement every time we have the chance to see a Supra,
so why not parade its glory at a car show? The car is a huge hit, even with people who
dont really care for Japanese performance cars. But now since they have been out of
production in the U.S. since 1998, everyone would love to see the halo car from the
golden age of Japanese motorsports.

Background

John Davis from Motorweek and his team of colleagues performed a video review on a
1993 Toyota Supra turbo. Motorweek enlisted a professional car tester to test the
Supras not only in the real world, but also tested its limit at the drag strip, and other
various means of testing. Most of the video review was set on a closed road/track, while
you also get to see the Supra take on back roads, and spacious highways. The driver
tested the Supra in many performance oriented test, like the 0-60 mph (miles per hour)
time, the braking distance from 60-0 mph, as well as cornering tests, and general realworld daily driving.
Car and Driver also conducted testing on the car, and went more in depth and made
more comparisons with even more cars than that of Motorweek. For the most part, the
review was strictly focused on the track, and was closely compared to the likes of the
Nissan 300ZX, Porsche 928GT, Mazda RX7, Acura NSX, and the Chevrolet Corvette,
with the Supra outperforming each car on paper. Amazing how a Toyota could
outperform some of the highest performing cars of its time.
Last but not least, I watched a short video on how the infamous 2JZ-GTE engine block
was produced. This infamous engine is an inline 6 cylinder, with its block constructed of
Iron, which in this case was gravity casted. The construction of this engine proved to be
more than adequate to supply tuners with a very modifiable and tunable engine that
would instantly become an instant classic, and would be transplanted into many
different cars.
Actors:
John Davis: John Davis is the primary host for the automobile show/review for
Motorweek. In this case as many other car reviews, this is a retro one that was reuploaded, along with the likes of other high performance Japanese cars at the time.
John is primarily just the host, but he does drive the review cars casually, and leaves
the high performance testing to a professional driver. He and his team of colleagues
(implied that hes not the only one inputting his opinion on the car, he often uses the
word we when describing an opinion) basically break down the car from its exterior,
interior, suspension, and last but not least the power plant of the car.
Professional Car Tester: The Professional car tester has little to no known
information about him. Hes strictly hired to push the car to its limits in performanceoriented tests that I have stated in the background of this observation. Tests like: the 060 mile per hour time, 60-0 mile per hour braking distance, a slalom through
strategically placed orange cones, as well as every ones favorite, the quarter mile time.
These tests are the norm for performance cars in general to undergo, and to compare
with other cars in its performance class.

Megan Pounds 9/29/2015 10:35 PM

Comment [1]: Good job explaining the
purpose of the video. I think it would be
helpful to give additional information on
the purpose of Motorweek. It is difficult to
understand the focus of Motorweek when
one is not that familiar with cars.

Artifacts
2JZ-GTE (engine): The engines that were transplanted into the fourth generation
Supra (2JZ-GE, and 2JZ-GTE) were based off of Lexuss (Toyotas luxury brand made
by Toyota) inline 6 dual overhead cam (shaft) engine of the time. The difference
between the 2JZ-GE and the 2JZ-GTE is that the GTE is turbocharged, utilizing a
sequential turbo system and intercooler. The sequential turbo system is comprised of
two turbochargers, one for low RPM (Revolutions Per Minute), and a second one for
higher RPM. The intercooler is utilized to cool and condense the air going to the
turbochargers. Denser, cooled air means more horsepower. The 2JZ-GTE was the
engine that was in the test Supra for the episode of Motorweek. This engine in particular
made 320 horsepower and 315 pound feet of torque. John praised the engine saying it
was smooth and consistent), but also noted turbo lag (the time it takes for a turbo to
spool back up and produce power) at around 4,000 RPM. At the time this engine was
considered over-engineered, but to this day the 2JZ-GTE remains one of the most
prolific engines ever put in an automobile, due to its capabilities of making triple the
stock horsepower, and good overall reliability.
Communities of Practice
MotorWeek reviewers: MotorWeek enlists the team of John Davis, a
professional car tester, as well as other members who critique the Supra. They
reviewed the exterior, interior and performance of the car, to every last detail.
Car and Driver reviewers: Very little is known about who actually tested the
new Supra, but whomever did really pushed the new Supra to its limits. They hit marks
that the reviewers from Motorweek couldnt muster, often beating out each performance
test that Motorweek conducted.
Engine Builders: The infamous engine in this car, which was produced in
Japan, has since become an endless hit due to the hands of its creators.
Domain
Toyota Supra: The Toyota Supra is the domain, as it is the car that is being
tested. To start off the Supra model was released in 1979 as the Celica Supra, and
went on to become its own model in 1986. The particular generation that Im observing
is the 4th generation (Mark 4). The Mark 4 was released in 1993 and went out of
production in 1998 for the US market. The Toyota Supra gained fame from the
notorious movie The Fast and the Furious that the late Paul Walker drove under the
character Brian OConnor, as well as its capability to produce high amounts of

Gracie Hunter 9/29/2015 10:45 PM

Comment [2]: Expanding on the engine
builders might be a good idea. You could
mention what they exactly do/have to go
through to obtain that job. What new
modern technology has made it become
an endless hit?

horsepower with engine upgrades. Over the years, it has not only appreciated in value,
but has also become an instant cult classic.
Practices of the Community
Reviewing the car: In each episode, one car is selected, tested and reviewed.
They test each car in the manners I have previously stated in the Communities of
Practice.
Literacy Practices
Narration: The whole time the Supra is being reviewed, John Davis himself is
narrating it, as well as being narrated in Car and Driver, and in the engine block video.
The videos will show footage of the car driving, the engine making process, or shots of
the interior for example, and the narration will coincide with whats present on the
screen.

Observation 1 Motorweek Review (5 minutes, 36 second video)

The review of the Toyota Supra starts of with John Davis introducing himself, as well as
the car. He states that the new Supra is unlike the old GT (Grand Touring) MK3 Supra,
as well as going on to say that the new Supra is now a sports focused car. He continues
to compare the older Supra to the new one, stating that the new Supra utilizes
sweeping curves that demonstrates added size, unlike the edgy body style of the last
generation Supra. The new Supra is 2 inches wider, has a 2-inch shorter wheelbase, as
well as shredding 310 pounds off from the last model. John goes on to talk about the
pricing increase from the last generation, to the newer generation supra that Im
observing. John states there was an 8 thousand dollar increase between the two
generations. He goes on to specify the engine, saying its a beefed up version of
Lexuss inline 6 cylinder, with dual overhead camshafts, as well as two sequential
turbochargers and an added intercooler. The test car was equipped with the
turbocharged engine, and was said to have made 320 horsepower as well as 315
pound feet of torque. Going along with the engine, the drivetrain was described as a
new 6 speed manual transmission, paired with an electronic traction control system.
Now to the performance of the Supra. The Supra clocked in a 5.1 0-60 MPH
time, beating out the Corvette LT1 that MotorWeek has previously tested. Quarter mile
time was tested at 14 seconds at 104 MPH. The Slalom test proved that the Supras
new double wishbone suspension performed exceptionally well, but was less

Megan Pounds 9/29/2015 10:42 PM

Comment [3]: Maybe you could be a
little more descriptive about the practices
of the community. Further explaining how
the community reviews various cars would
be beneficial. I would explain how the
community selects a car and then later
tests it.

unforgiving compared to the Corvette of the time. Braking distance from 60 MPH was at
an impressive 105 feet. Miles Per Gallon was also tested, with MotorWeek achieving
an average of 18 miles per gallon in real-world driving. The interior of the car didnt
receive good praise, as MotorWeek was unhappy with the dash layout, and the
mediocre amounts of gauges in the car. Also, cargo space was perceived as
inadequate, along with the weight saving shortcuts.
Overall, the Mark 4 Supra was praised with its looks and performance, but
received flack with the interior. A fully loaded Supra was priced at a staggering 42,000
dollars, which at the time was very expensive, and even expensive by todays
standards. Regardless of MotorWeeks review, the Supra has gone on to be one of the
most prolific cars ever produced.

Observation 2, Car And Driver Article

This article starts of with a few basic statements regarding the first generation
Supra, calling it a make believe Monte Carlo, with doughy suspension. Much has
changed since the first Supra had come out in 1979. Car and Driver described the Mark
4 Supra as Ferrari F40-like, saying the Supra took design cues such as the trapezoidal
headlamps, big wing, and rear brake ducts from the F40. As with all other generations
of the Supra, it has a Inline 6 Cylinder engine. The Mark 4 Supra shares this dual
overhead cam 3.0 Liter engine with its Lexus counterparts, the GS300, as well as the
SC300. You also had the option to get the twin turbo 2JZ-GTE that pumps out 320
horsepower. The new Supra was described as being stubbier, but also wider than the
last generation car.
Car and Driver also tested cars in the same class as the Supra, like the Acura NSX,
Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo, Mazda RX7, Nissan 300ZX Porsche 928GT, as well as the
American favorite, the Chevrolet Corvette. The NSX, Stealth, and the Porsche achieved
0-60mph times in 5.2 seconds, while the 300ZX, RX7, and the Corvette achieved that
mark in 5 seconds flat, all of which succumbed to the Supra Turbos 4.6 0-60mph mark.
Car and Driver heads back to talk about the styling of the car, reiterating its body style
resembles the Ferrari F40. The design remained heavily and drew from older
generations of the car. The car has a hatch and C Pillar comparably to its little brother,
the Toyota Celica. Car and Driver also stated the difficulty in telling the turbo model from

Gracie Hunter 9/29/2015 11:06 PM

Comment [4]: I think it would help the
reader if you could list out what some of
these exact models mean. Either
explaining these in the text, or in the
vocabulary section would greatly help. You
wouldn't even have to explain every one in
depth, just say what each one means.
Zachary Stroud 9/29/2015 11:06 PM
Comment [5]: I just shortened the
names of these cars. The numbers have
nothing to do with any mechanics of the
cars, they are just strictly names.

its naturally aspirated counterpart. The wing and the wide Potenza tires are the only
giveaway to tell if it is in fact the turbo model. The rear of the car was described as
flabby, but has grown to be one of the most recognized rear ends in the car world, with
its plump rear end, baseball sized taillights, and a huge, but toned wing.
Car and Driver heads back to the performance of the rest of the Supra. The Mark 4
Supra Turbo came with bigger brakes than that of the Chevrolet Corvette, having
massive 12.8-inch diameter rotors up front, and 12.7-inch rotors out back, giving the
Supra enough braking power to stop a Clinton Campaign bus so to speak. The Supra
also gained enhanced suspension, utilizing Macho Coilover shocks, which reduced
body roll, and gave the Supra a more responsive feel on the track. Also, the optional
Getrag six speed transmission with the Turbo model gives the Supra shift throws as
short as a BIC lighter, while also being very precise and easy to shift with its fairly light
clutch. With all these improvements, the new Supra was, and still to this day is a game
changer by todays automotive standards.

Observation 3, How the 2JZ-GTE block was made

This short 3-minute video details the process of how the block of the infamous 2JZ-GTE
Supra motor is made. Tuners from every corner of the world have grown to recognize
the 2JZ-GTEs over-engineering and have taken advantage of its strength and
technology to modify and tune these 3 liter motors to make upwards of 1,800
horsepower, more than 5 times the amount these motors made back when this engine
came out in 1993.
This video was filmed at the Toyota Commemorative Industry and Technology

museum, located in Nagoya, Japan. First, the block of the motor is the heart.
The block consists of bored out cylinders, to where the engines pistons will be
placed. The pistons turn their revolutions with the help of the pistons rod and
head.
The block itself is made of cast iron, which is gravity-casted using core molding.
The Iron is poured into the mold, and is left to sit and be heat-treated. Once that
process is complete, the block is then excavated from the mold, and any
imperfections are diminished in the final process to make sure the block will
perform up to its standards.

Vocabulary
Inline 6 meaning the engines cylinders are vertically lined with the chassis, parallel to
the car.
Turbocharger and intercooler consists of a housing and a turbine, this part draws in
air, which is thus cooled down by a intercooler in the front of the car, and is deposited in
the engine. Cooler/denser air, paired with more fuel equals more power.
Traction Control System System where the car notices a loss of traction, and will
electronically cut/reduce power going to the rear wheels in an effort to let you regain
control of the vehicle.
C-Pillar There are A, B, and C pillars on each car. The A pillar being the part where
the roof meets the body of the car at the windshield, the B pillar being at the gap
between the front and rear side windows, and the C-pillar being where the roof meets
the tail or trunk of the car.
Interview (@moesupra on instagram)
1.
What was the main reason you bought a Supra?
The main reason behind why I purchased a Supra, was for the lifetime thrill that I know
was guaranteed.
2.
Is there any parts of the Supra you deem poorly executed, or you feel could
be improved?
Upon buying multiple parts for this car, Ive realized that the majority of Megan Racing
products were on the same level as China-made car parts. But hey, they still make
some pretty cool stuff.
3. What do you like most about your Supra, and also what do you enjoy most
about owning a Supra?
What I like most about my Supra, is that every time I hop in it, it feels like the first day I
bought it. Windows down, targa (top) off, and just blazing through smooth roads.
4. Describe in detail how your particular Supra performs, and if possible include
horsepower numbers and upgrades?

Gracie Hunter 9/29/2015 10:27 PM

Comment [6]: Maybe if you could add a
couple more vocabulary words to this list,
it would help clarify more. Explaining what
"motorweek" is would help me to
understand what John does within this
group. Also, it is hard for me to understand
what all of the numbers and letters mean
for the name of the engine
Megan Pounds 9/29/2015 10:45 PM
Comment [7]: Maybe you should
underline or bold the vocabulary words. I
think it would be easier to distinguish
between the words and the definitions.
Also, it would make your layout look more
organized.
Gracie Hunter 9/29/2015 10:50 PM
Comment [8]: I think that you did a great
job of explaining the vocabulary terms. For
a non-car expert like myself, knowing what
the different pillars are really helped me. It
might would help if you were to bold the
words or put bullets beside them.
Megan Pounds 9/29/2015 10:57 PM
Comment [9]: I think adding more
definitions would help the reader to better
understand what is going on throughout
the observations. Not having a
background with cars, it can be difficult to
comprehend. Maybe go back and look for
words that were used often.
Megan Pounds 9/29/2015 10:52 PM
Comment [10]: I think that interviewing
this individual gave you very descriptive
answers. Good job interviewing someone
who has a lot of knowledge on the topic
you chose to observe. I think it is more
benefical when the person you are
interviewing is engaged in the topic.
Gracie Hunter 9/29/2015 10:42 PM
Comment [11]: I think that interviewing
this man was a very good idea! Having the
reader know go through y'all's
conversation does provide more insight
because he was very descriptive. Also, I
think that getting someone with a strong
background of performance vehicles was
very clever.

My Supra runs amazing! She has her flaws here and there but definitely nothing that
can turn me away from her. When one thing goes wrong, you just upgrade! Horsepower
sits at 405 horsepower to the wheels, while maintaining a 2J setup capable of easy
500s (as said by a tuner). The only thing holding me back from bigger numbers is a
complete drivetrain swap to replace my stock NA w58 5-speed transmission. Once I go
either V160 or R154 with a built rear end, Ill be able to aim higher.
5. What do you feel separates the Supra from cars of its time, and even cars of
today? This could be based on performance, heritage, following, and any other
characteristics.
In my opinion, what separates Supras from cars of todays era, is their timeless look.
Their exotic body lines that car manufactures till this day still see to replicate on other
vehicles (Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ for example). Their sleek front end followed by a
spankin hot rear end, capped off with the infamous, godly sound and performance of a
2JZ Engine. Another thing would be the classical history behind how and when the
Supra generations came about (MKI-MKIV).