My GT7 Log: The stars of the first GT game

When the first-ever Gran Turismo game was launched on the PlayStation in late December 1997, the R33 Skyline GT-R and the JZA80 Supra are the cover cars of the first GT game. In Gran Turismo 7, you have been given the chance to drive the two JDM icons that served as the foundation of the genesis of the Gran Turismo franchise. One of the many reasons to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary.

Here they are; the two JDM legends that served as the foundation of the first Gran Turismo game; the R33 Skyline GT-R from Nissan and the JZA80 Supra from Toyota. Both of these icons became forever favorites coveted by speedo boys around the globe because of their supercar-slaying performance when fully tuned to the critical level. What can I say? You can't really beat the classics, right?

Anyway, before taking a quick spin with the two JDM legends, let's have a quick dive with the stars of the first GT game.

Let's begin with the R33 Skyline GT-R. Penned by its advert as the "minus 21-second roman", the R33 GT-R lapped the legendary Nurburgring 21 seconds faster than its R32 predecessor. The hood is now made of aluminum along with the front fenders and the engine that powers it is the RB26DETT engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, delivering power through all four wheels via Nissan's ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system. This generation once participated in the 1995 Le Mans and one of them finished in 10th place overall, fifth in class.

Hailed as "The Sports of Toyota", the A80-spec Toyota Supra was launched in 1993 and its unique styling makes it one of the most iconic sports cars ever to come out from Japan. This generation comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. The turbocharged variant produces 276HP of power but the ones used in the JGTC (now called SuperGT) produce between less than 400 to 500HP, although speedo boys love to tune the Supra to Fast and Furious levels. Toyota says that this Supra is the best handling in its class because of its double-wishbone suspension setup. Despite being discontinued in 2002, it remains popular among speedo boys, and if it's good enough for Paul Walker, it's good enough for every speedo boy worldwide.

With their quick introduction done, it's time to take these two for a one-lap time attack around the Tsukuba Circuit. This is quite a coincidence because back in my GT SPORT days, I pitted these two round Tsukuba to find out which of these icons is the best and in the end, the R33 emerged as the winner. Now that we're living in the GT7 era, it's time to redo the experiment for nostalgic purposes.

I'm getting basked to the glory of the game's improved graphics and physics compared to GT SPORT but this is no time for that, it's time to find out which one is the best. Roll the tape.

After a quick lap around Tsukuba, again, here are the results;

JZA80 - 1m08.861s

R33 GT-R - 1m07.509s

Wow, these cars are better than they were in their GT SPORT days but in the end, it's Godzilla trumped The Fast and the Furious. Victory for the GT-R.

Looking at the cover art of the first Gran Turismo game and these two cars with your eyes, it's certain that why they are loved by many because they really are the originals that forged from our passion for cars and it's certainly where we are now without them. Yes, I know, I said this line before but it's good to have the icons back for more fun in GT7.

The R33 GT-R and the JZA80 Supra, they have really been the foundation of the Gran Turismo franchise ever since they've been chosen to be the cover cars of the first game. As the franchise continues to evolve, so does our love of cars and looks like we should be thankful for these two JDM legends that laid the seeds of this iconic car racing franchise. The more you know.

My FH5 Log - Day One

Congratulations on your first day of playing Forza Horizon 5! As you kick off your Mexican adventure, you have been given keys to your first three cars to drive while taking your first steps toward your goal of becoming the Horizon Mexico Hall of Fame.

Without further ado, let's say hello to the first three cars you'll be driving on your first adventure;

This is the all-new Ford Bronco. Returned after its 1996 discontinuation, the modern take of Ford's legendary offroader brings its pioneer spirit to those who are ready to get themselves dirty. Seen here is the two-door Badlands model with a 2.7L EcoBoost engine with 330HP of power and 415lb-ft of torque while mated to a 10-speed AT.

Next is the Toyota GR Supra, the sportscar most speedo boys love to begin on their first day at Horizon Mexico because of its tuner reputation its A80 predecessor don in the past. Because it's a BMW Z4 underneath, the revived Supra now behaves like a European sportscar, something worth noticing for speedo boys behind the wheel. This BMW-derived Japanese sportscar runs on the same 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine as the current Z4.

Lastly, for the Patriots, the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray. Now as a mid-engined supercar, the all-new Corvette is capable of taking on the world's best sportscars with its radical styling, futuristic interior, and its newly-built 6.2L LT2 V8 engine mounted in the middle, which produces up to 495HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque, while mated to a double-clutch gearbox for the first time.

A reborn take on the iconic Ford SUV, a revived Supra that is not really a Supra, and a mid-engined Corvette, what an odd trio we have but they sure known to be the ideal choice of starters for those who are starting their Mexican journey on Day One. Whichever starter they begin with, they sure are a lot of fun to enjoy and with that, I got clips of these three starters flexing their muscles on Mexican roads. Let's roll the tapes, esse.

So, which of these three FH5 starter cars is your favorite? Either way, welcome to Mexico, hombre. I hope you have fun driving through Mexican roads the Horizon way. Enjoy!

35 years of Toyota Supra

For 35 years after its launch in Japan, the Toyota Supra became the speedo boys' favorite in the tuner scene because of its hard-hitting reputation on the road and track. From the early days of the A70 to the iconic A80 that not only became popularized from its involvement in Super GT but also in The Fast and The Furious courtesy of the late Paul Walker, leading the way to the controversial DB82 revival which was met with mixed comments, probably because of its BMW DNA, the Supra is always will be The Sports of Toyota. In honor of the Supra's 35th anniversary, it's time for a quick history lesson of Toyota's legendary sports car that started its life from Toyota's 3000GT to The Sports of Toyota.

2022 Toyota GR Supra 35th Anniversary

A70 (1986) - Launched in 1986, the Supra replaced the Celica XX as their newest sports car that uses the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the Soarer. Known in the commercials as "Toyota 3000GT" because it's basically the spiritual successor to the legendary 2000GT, the Supra is powered by a choice of a 3.0L turbocharged engine, a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (seen here), and NA versions. A 2.5L Twin Turbo version replaced the 3.0L in 1990, producing 280PS of power which is the maximum allowed for Japanese cars at that time.

A80 (1993) - Dubbed from the TV ads as "The Sports of Toyota", the A80-spec Toyota Supra was launched in 1993 and comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. The turbocharged variant produces 276HP of power and aside from that, Toyota says that this Supra is the best handling in its class because of its double-wishbone suspension setup. Despite being discontinued in 2002, it remains popular among speedo boys thanks to The Fast and the Furious franchise.

DB82/22/42 (2019) - Toyota unveiled the long-awaited GR Supra at the 2019 North American International Auto Show after a 17-year absence from the lineup and by shock, this new car is 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. Built in the same factory where the said BMW is made as well. 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. The 2021MY update gave the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant has been boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS of power output. In addition, the GR Supra 2020 Model features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

In honor of the Supra's 35th birthday, Toyota launched a special GR Supra 35th Anniversary model, in 3.0L RZ and 2.0L SZ-R variants. The RZ 35th Anniversary is offered in Matte Storm Grey metallic color, red leather seats, and a wireless charger. The SZ-R 35th Anniversary, meanwhile, features red brake calipers, matte black side mirrors, a choice of Alcantara and leather seats, sports pedals, and a choice of five exterior colors with the addition of the variant exclusive Lightning Yellow. Both models feature 19-inch forged aluminum wheels in matte black color and a carbon-fiber trim with the GR Supra 35th Anniversary banner on it.

The 35th Anniversary GR Supra special starts at 6,535,000 Yen for the SZ-R and 7,835,000 Yen for the RZ. Both are limited to 35 units and customers require to sign up for the lottery for the chance to become an eligible buyer of the special model.

Happy 35th anniversary to the Toyota Supra! From the A70 to the speedo boy-favorite A80, to the BMW-derived GR Supra that signaled the beginning of the Reiwa era JDM sports cars, it will always be The Sports of Toyota known the world over.

Project CARS 3: Heisei Supra vs. Reiwa Supra

The Toyota Supra has been by no means one of the most iconic Toyota sports cars ever made since the twilight of the Showa era. From the racetracks to the streets, there's no telling why the Supra is a legend in its own right and why it remains one of the most coveted sports cars in ages.

The Supra of today gave speedo boys quite a mixed reaction since its launch. Yes, it's based on today's BMW Z4, it's built in the same factory as the BMW Z4, and overall, it's basically a BMW Z4 with a different body and Toyota badging on it. Yes, it's all true about the BMW connection but despite the controversial BMW connection that got speedo boys laughing at it, it's a proper sports car that ticks almost all of the boxes of what a real sports car should be; fast on the corners, making drivers hooked for more, and overall, a real fun-to-drive car.

Although impressed by how much fun the GR Supra is, some speedo boys still prefer the performance and street cred the Toyota Supra JZA80 has. As a matter of fact, this iconic Heisei-era Toyota sportscar is one of the all-time greats that speedo boys are hunting for.

Launched in 1993, the A80 Toyota Supra comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. Apart from that, the A80 Supra features a double-wishbone suspension setup which makes it one of the best-handling sports cars in its class. Although the A80 Supra has a racing pedigree courtesy of the JGTC (now Super GT), it gained a massive reputation for being a street racer thanks to Paul Walker's antics with it on The Fast and the Furious. 

This is exactly why speedo boys from across the globe are hunting for one of these and although some markets officially sold one in the past, an A80 Supra sold in Japan is a must-have for speedo boys too many.

To see how much the Supra matured from the street racer born in the early Heisei era to a Reiwa era Euro-trash too hard to explain, I went to Willow Springs for a little experiment and find out which Supra came up on top.

Right, with their day at Willow Springs done, here are the results;

GR Supra - 1:35.365

Supra MkIV - 1:39.067

A near-five-second gap between the two Supras really explains a lot when you talk about how much the Supra has evolved from the Heisei street hero forged from the fires of Mt. Fuji to a Reiwa knight guarding a nice castle somewhere in Germany.

It's hard to choose which Supra is the best because, while credit's due for the GR Supra, it's the A80 Supra that takes the cake because it is the real Japanese sports car the world knows. Whether you wield a katana or a cavalier, a Supra is a Supra and no judgment can take a toll on Toyota's iconic sportscar. That is the bottom line.

Project CARS 3: Beyond and Revival

By some unexpected twist of fate, the all-new Toyota GR Supra managed to make its way to the Project CARS 3 car roster, surprising fans of Japanese sports cars many. So, what is it you want to know about the revival of Japan's most iconic sportscar?

Toyota unveiled the long-awaited GR Supra at the 2019 North American International Auto Show after a 17-year absence from the lineup and by shock, this new car is 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. Built on the same factory where the said BMW is made as well.

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.

The recent update gave the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant has been boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS power output. In addition, the GR Supra 2020 Model features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning. The EPS, AVS, VSC, and Active Differential have been reprogrammed in time with the hardware changes to make it more stable through quick transitions.

The GR Supra, despite having the BMW connection that caused a lot of speedo boys to tease and taunt this car a lot, is one of the best sportscars ever made because of the dynamics this car values over performance. It wasn't made to take down the NSX and the GT-R like its predecessor but as a real sports car, it's all about getting the job done. I've spent countless hours getting to know more about the GR Supra's dynamics in this game and it never fails to impress me.

Because the GR Supra's dynamics are big business, it's time to head back to Fuji Speedway to do some more.

This place takes me back because a long time ago, I conducted a little experiment with this improved GR Supra at this place to see if the added power proves it better than it was first launched at the start of the Reiwa era. It was but since we're in a Project CARS game, it's time to recreate the little experiment I did a while ago without explanations. Roll the tape.

That little experiment re-enactment I did in Project CARS 3 turned out to be even better than I expected! I managed to pull a 1:59.147 lap time as well, which is a big surprise for me because...who would have thought that the people who made the GR Supra made it even better? It's a secret.

The phrase "Beyond and Revival" truly fits the GR Supra mantra rather well because despite being made in the same factory as its BMW relative, the new model is by no means one of the best sports cars to emerge at the end of the decade. As the birthright sportscar of the Reiwa era, the GR Supra sure knows how to pen the first page with a smoky thrill fans are looking for after almost two decades of disappearance.

The GR Supra is getting a lot of attention since it made headlines at the 2020 Super GT season as well as being used as Han's car for the upcoming F9 film (yes, really). This comeback kid deserves the sonorous respect it needs.

GT SPORT: Supra is back for more

The Toyota GR Supra, the first JDM sportscar of the Reiwa era, has been on the road for a year now since it went on sale days after the official start of the Reiwa era, and although not a proper rival against the JDM supercars like the GT-R and the NSX, it still impresses speedo boys with legendary Supra performance and the BMW connection lurking through its DNA. European blood aside, the Supra is still a JDM masterpiece and it behaves just as the speedo boys want.



The big question to this JDM hero of the Reiwa generation is how do you make it even better than before? Simple, really. Make it better, of course!



The Toyota GR Supra is now improved for the year 2020 and compared to the previous model, you can really feel the improvements when you get inside the updated GR Supra.





Updated for 2020, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant has been boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS power output. This means the 0-100kph time has been improved from the previous model's 4.3 to 4.1 seconds. In addition to the added power, the GR Supra 2020 Model features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning. The EPS, AVS, VSC, and Active Differential have been reprogrammed in time with the hardware changes to make it more stable through quick transitions.

The GR Supra 2020 Model gained new colors including the special Horizon Blue exterior paint, which is offered as a special model.

Although slightly heavier than the previous GR Supra, the added power, revised chassis, and lowered suspension really mean that this Supra has the urge to keep drivers driving for more until they are fully satisfied. I know I tried, and speaking of trying, I come back to Fuji Speedway to see how much the 2020 model has improved compared to the last one.







Moments ago, I conducted a little experiment using the previous GR Supra against the Lexus LC, and to my amazement, the GR Supra is almost a second slower than the Lexus LC, making it a close alternative to the expensive latter. What? They're both machines used for Super GT duty and now that the Lexus LC's days as a Super GT racer are done, the GR Supra takes the cake but sadly, our dream of watching the Super GT GR Supra battling against GT-R and NSX racers have been put on hold due to the coronavirus.

Anyway, long story short, we have the updated GR Supra ready to roll and it's time to see how much the new model has improved from last time. Ready, go!

After my little experiment, the updated GR Supra did it in 2:00.190, meaning not only it's quicker than last time, but it's also quicker than the LC by a long shot!



This calls for donuts!



The added power and improved dynamics are what really sum the latest GR Supra update up but despite improvements, Toyota will never stop improving the GR Supra because by next year and onwards, they will keep perfecting the GR Supra for more until they have enough. They will keep improving as far as they go so the next time they are fully satisfied with the recent update, they will swap out to the next update and see if it's even better than before.

The GR Supra will never stop improving and expect more to come for Toyota's reborn sportscar anytime soon.

Forza Horizon 4: A70 Supra

Having obtained from the Series 21 Horizon Autumn Playlist, the A70 Toyota Supra makes a comeback in the world of Forza and although this is a step backward from the A80 Supra that we got a while back, it's good to have another Toyota making a return to the franchise after a few years.



Launched in 1986, the Supra replaced the Celica XX as their newest sports car that uses the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the Soarer. Known in the commercials as "Toyota 3000GT" because it's basically the spiritual successor to the legendary 2000GT, the Supra is powered by a choice of a 3.0L turbocharged engine, a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (seen here), and NA versions. A 2.5L Twin Turbo version replaced the 3.0L in 1990, producing 280PS of power which is the maximum allowed for Japanese cars at that time.



Now that I got to know about one of the coolest Japanese sportscars emerged from the twilight of the Showa era, let's give the Supra a quick whirl to see what's what. Let's get it!

Job well done. There's nothing else I can say it.

Enjoy your new ride!

Forza Horizon 4: The Sports of Toyota

Well, it had to happen. After years of void and lament from the motoring world, the world of Forza welcomes back Toyota and as part of welcoming Toyota back in the world of Forza, only one iconic Toyota sports car came back and it's the JZA80 Toyota Supra RZ, the last Supra Toyota made and one of the early Heisei era greats.



How to unlock the Toyota Supra RZ, you may ask? It's simple, play The Eliminator, regardless of your result, to unlock it. What? You don't know The Eliminator? It's Forza Horizon 4's newest battle royale game where the last car standing wins, like every battle royale game you are familiar with. Drivers start with an old and small Mini and as they are trying to survive through an ever-shrinking arena, they can switch to powerful cars by either finding one or defeat an opponent and when the final showdown comes, it's a mad dash to the finish point where only one will be the winner. Simple as that.



Anyway, the Supra, just what is it? Dubbed from the TV ads as "The Sports of Toyota", the A80-spec Toyota Supra was launched in 1993 and comes with two engine choices; a naturally aspirated and turbocharged version of the 3.0L 2JZ straight-six engine. The turbocharged variant produces 276HP of power and aside from that, Toyota says that this Supra is the best handling in its class because of its double-wishbone suspension setup. Despite being discontinued in 2002, it remains popular among speedo boys thanks to The Fast and the Furious franchise.



It's great to have Toyota back in the world of Forza, albeit in the form of the JZA80 Supra RZ, and with the JZA80 on the paddock of Horizon UK monarchs, they are free to turn the Supra whatever they want, be it a 10-second car like what Brian O'Connor had in The Fast and the Furious. Whether if it's for drags, street, circuit, or for drifting, this JZA80 Supra RZ is a free-for-all streetcar for speedo boys who have given free rein to make it as fast and loud as hell.

As a celebration, it's time to put the JZA80 Supra to the natural habitat it was born to do. Roll it.

Let's hope this isn't the only Toyota the world of Forza brought back due to inconsistent public demand but in the meantime, let's enjoy The Sports of Toyota anytime we want. Anyway, I'm delighted for them to welcome Toyota back.

GT SPORT: LC vs. GR Supra

With the final SUPER GT race bids farewell to Lexus after 13 years and welcomes Toyota back for next season, it might be the ideal time to compare the the outgoing and the incoming, in normal road-going forms of course, as the Lexus LC500, their current luxury sports coupe, battles against the Toyota GR Supra, the reborn sportscar and the first representative of the Reiwa era cars to see who is worthy of taking its place on SUPER GT duty.



It's hard to believe that the LC500 will be the last Lexus to race at the GT500 class of the Super GT after 13 years since the SC430 went on service and followed by the RC F and the Concept LF-LC, but with Toyota's triumphant return to the GT500 class starting next year with the controversial but long-awaited GR Supra, the new decade will be a heck of a welcoming back party for the Toyota emblem as well as the revived Supra. Although welcoming, I still demonize these two Toyotas for being classified as Gran Turismo exclusives, but never mind all that, let's compare these two Toyota sports cars.



Although this is the first Japanese sports car of the Reiwa era, the Toyota GR Supra isn't exactly Japanese or so because while it says Toyota, it's surprisingly engineered by BMW and built in Austria, meaning that this fully-imported GR Supra has some Eurasian flair on the global stage. Born in Europe but raised in Asia, the GR Supra really is a world-class sportscar that tickles the fancies of every car enthusiast who wished for Toyota to bring back the Supra. In the range-topping RZ form, it comes with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque while mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.



"You have a GR Supra? That's cute," so says someone who drove a Lexus LC because while the powertrain isn't as sophisticated as the Supra's, the TNGA platform lurking through the LC really means business on the go. The 477PS 2UR-GSE 4.0L V8 engine that powers it may not be capable enough to outsmart the Europeans but the soundtrack is definitely music to their ears and the best thing about the LC is that while it's not as fast as today's European luxury coupes, it's still a blast to drive and you can't stop driving one until you are fully satisfied.









Having a blast driving these two at their natural home track, the Fuji Speedway, the Lexus LC and the Toyota GR Supra are starting to show their true colors. The LC is challenging but enjoyable while the GR Supra feels so accessible to drive even with the BMW connection lurking through its skin. They maybe road cars but they are starting to feel like proper SUPER GT racers and as I had fun driving them, the LC and the GR Supra went for a timed lap to see which one is worthy of being part of the SUPER GT story.

After timed laps, here are the results;

LC500 - 2:02.645
GR Supra - 2:03.614

What a surprising result! These two Toyota sports cars bear a near one-second difference and by such result, looks like the GR Supra is nearly a second slower compared to the Lexus LC500, which is surprisingly impressive because while the LC packs more power than the Supra, the Supra is surprisingly lighter than the LC, making it a stalemate comparison between the two. It's too close to call for these two Toyotas.



Although a second slower compared to the LC500, the GR Supra has got what it takes to replace the LC500 in next year's Super GT and carry on with the tradition of Toyota's motorsport history that has been in their mantra for generations. It really is a bargain sports car that can be as enjoyable to drive as the heavyweights and after a close call with the LC500, I believe it's ready.



Although I still demonize this car, the GR Supra never fails to surprise me and I can't wait to see what's next for the world-class sports car that has the heart of a true Toyota despite being born in Europe by Bimmer people. The more you know.