The Toyota Supra Mk4 has acquired a cult-like following since its debut in 1993. The redesigned body, engine, and aerodynamics showed the world that Toyota was taking a big step into automotive performance with the Supra Mk4. Thirty years later, it is apparent that they hit the nail on the head. The combination of ferocious performance and subtle beauty gives the Supra Mk4 its desirability, which has lasted throughout the Supra’s seventeen-year absence. Even as the newest Supra cruises across streets and highways worldwide, there are those that sit back and dream of the nostalgic days of the Mk4 Supra. Let’s look at a few things that you may not know about this fantastic car.

Related: 1993-1998 Toyota Supra MK4 (A80): Performance, Price, And Photos

10 The Toyota Supra Mk4 Could Compete With Almost Any American Muscle Car

Red 1995 Toyota Supra
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A side-view of a 1995 Toyota Supra on a road

While the Mk4 Supra sold in Japan came with a respectable 276 horsepower, it is a different story for the Supras that were exported to Europe and America. By replacing some of the engine components, including the turbos and fuel injectors, Toyota was able to push approximately 326 horsepower out of the Mk4 Supra. This small leap in power led to some impressive performance figures, including a 0–60 MPH time of roughly 4.7 seconds. That time, while not very impressive to us in 2023, was almost two seconds quicker than a Ford Mustang of the same year. This is even more impressive when one considers that the Mustang wielded a V8 engine, while the Toyota Supra Mk4 had a deceptive inline-6.

9 The Supra Mk4 Had Two Engine Options To Choose From

1997 Toyota Supra 2JZ Engine in red engine bay
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1997 Toyota Supra 2JZ-GTE side view

Anyone that wanted to buy a Toyota Supra Mk4 had a decision to make: How fast did they want to go? There were two different inline-6 engine options to pick from. The first engine, a Toyota 2JZ-GE, was naturally aspirated, meaning it did not rely on turbocharging or force induction. This was the engine to go for if you wanted to go fast, but still have gas in the tank afterward. The second option, the 2JZ-GTE, is a completely different animal. This was the twin-turbocharged engine that gave the Supra Mk4 both its great performance figures and its devoted following. Pushing the Supra Mk4 to speeds over 170 MPH while remaining hardy and reliable, this engine is one of Toyota’s greatest creations.

Related: Despite Its Appearance, This Is Not A Typical Mk4 Toyota Supra

8 The Twin-Turbocharged 2JZ-GTE Engine In The Supra Mk4 Could Be Tuned For Eye-watering Speed

Red 1997 Toyota Supra 2JZ with the hood open
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A red 1997 Toyota Supra with the hood open parked on a street

While the beloved and envied 2JZ-GTE was already turning out 276 horsepower, it was not enough for some. Mk4 owners began modifying their cars, improving airflow, installing bigger turbochargers, and forcing more fuel into the engine. While tuning an engine, there is always a risk of significant damage at high speeds and temperatures, but the Mk4 Supra’s engine proved incredibly reliable. Even after receiving several different modifications, the engine would remain sturdy and tough. Tuners have found that the 2JZ-GTE engine will be perfectly safe and sound at up to approximately 750 horsepower. An engine that can reliably handle almost three times its maximum power output is not just rare; it is incredible.

7 The Mk4 Supra Was 200 LBS. Lighter Than Its Predecessor

Red 1997 Toyota Supra MK VI (1)
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A red 1997 Toyota Supra MK IV parked on a street.

It was not just the new engines in the Mk4 Supra that make it quick. Toyota’s use of aluminum in the Supra’s hood, roof, and various other components shaved off excess weight. Toyota wasn’t done though, replacing the metal fuel tank with a plastic one, putting magnesium-alloy wheels on the car, and even hollowing out the carpet fibers throughout the interior. The result of this minute attention to weight reduction was a Supra that was 200 lbs lighter than its Mk3 father. Combining the Mk4’s newfound lightness with the savagery of its 2JZ engines, Toyota had created a high-speed monster.

Related: The 10 Best JDM Cars Of The 90s

6 The Toyota Supra Mk4 Was The First Toyota To Include A Passenger Airbag

Red 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo with the hood open
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Red 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo with the hood open parked on a road

Toyota was quick to realize that with great power comes great responsibility. Now that the Mk4 Supra was able to wield 750 horsepower without breaking a sweat, safety became a very high priority. This led Toyota to come up with an idea that, while unheard of by Toyota, became standard practice afterward. Toyota sold the Mk4 Supra with the passenger airbag already included. This was the first time Toyota had done this, typically charging customers extra to have the safety feature installed. With how safety-oriented the automotive industry is now, Toyota’s idea is a perfect indicator that the 90s were simply a different time.

5 The NHTSA Had Several Problems With The Mk4 Toyota Supra

White 1994 Toyota Super Mk IV
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Front three-quarters shot of a white 1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV

Even after Toyota turned its attention towards the safety features of the Mk4, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association had some issues with the Supra. Upon testing the 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4, the NHTSA came away with a list of 10 faults and issues with the car overall. These problems varied from simple damage to the tires to complete brake failure. These complaints have contributed to an internet rumor that the 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4 was banned from the United States because of reliability issues. Despite the rumor, the NHTSA has no mention of a ban of any kind, instead displaying the ominously long list of problems they experienced during the testing.

Related: With A Manual Transmission, The 2023 Toyota Supra Is Now Complete

Red 1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV
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Three-quarter shot of a red 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4 parked on a street

When the Mk4 Supra was due to hit the streets in 1993, people were excited. The previous generation, the Mk3, had sold well both domestically and overseas. The Mk4, however, was a different story. Looking at the sales figures, where Toyota had sold over 100,000 Mk3s in the United States, the Mk4 only had just over 12,000 sales during its entire six-year run in America. There are several reasons for this sharp decline, with the most likely culprit being America’s newly-adopted SUV craze. People wanted family cars rather than sports cars, and the Mk4 Supra paid the price for this transgression. The disappointing sales figures led to the end of American-exported Mk4 Supras in 1999.

3 The Mk4 Supra Can Now Sell For Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars

Silver Toyota Supra Mk4
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Three-quarter shot of a silver Toyota Supra Mk4 in a parking lot

The discontinuation of the Toyota Supra Mk4 in 2002 did not come as a surprise to most. The previously-mentioned sales figures were rather sad and in the final year of exporting the Mk4, Toyota only sold 24 models in America. However, the lack of demand would not last long. The Mk4 Supra is now a JDM classic, considered to be one of the best cars that Toyota has made. This increase in demand has Mk4 Toyota Supras selling for increasingly higher prices. Some mint-condition Supras have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, with more worn models still fetching upwards of 80,000 dollars. The Mk4 Supra’s comeback is in full swing, and it shows no sign of stopping.

Related: A True Hero Has Crammed a Supra's 2JZ Into The Toyota GR86

2 The 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4 Was The Canvas For The Beloved TRD 3000GT

White Toyota Supra Mk4
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Three-quarter shot of a white Mk4 Toyota Supra in a parking lot at night

Just after the Mk4 Supra rolled out to the general public, Toyota revealed a masterpiece to the world. Coming straight from Toyota’s in-house tuning branch, TRD, the TRD 3000GT is one of the rarest and most beloved Toyotas on the planet. Based on the Mk4 Supra, the 3000GT was a masterclass in using both horsepower and aerodynamics to make a truly fast car. Only 35 3000GTs were made in the Toyota factory, but customers could bring their Mk4 into a dealership and have every single 3000GT modification put onto their car. This effectively turned their Mk4 Supra into a 3000GT, turning the already fast car into a JDM missile.

1 The Supra Mk4 Gained Immense Popularity After Starring In Three Fast & Furious Films

Orange 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4
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Orange 1994 Toyota Supra Mk4 speeding in front of white background

By the time 2001 rolled around, the Mk4 Supra had just about had its day. It had been pulled from both the Canadian and American Markets by that time and was only one year away from being discontinued entirely. Then, The Fast and the Furious came out in theaters, with the late Paul Walker skidding around in a heavily modified, bright orange Mk4 Supra. Suddenly, almost overnight, the Mk4 Supra was back. After seeing the film, people were looking to buy any Mk4 they could get their hands on. The film brought the Supra Mk4 back to life, and the tragic death of Paul Walker made it a well-known classic.