Drifting a car involves deliberately oversteering the rear wheels while maintaining control and sustaining a slide. It requires a perfect balance of throttle control, weight transfer, suspension setup, and tire grip. So can the Toyota Supra drift? Let’s take a closer look at what makes the Supra driftable.
The History of the Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra debuted in 1978 as an upgraded version of the Celica. Over its 4 generations, the Supra gained more power and performance capabilities. The Mk4 Supra (1993-2002) became an iconic drift machine due to its turbo inline-6 engine producing over 320 horsepower and rear-wheel drive configuration. The lighter weight and 50/50 weight distribution allowed for easy initiation of drifts. After a 17 year hiatus, Toyota revived the Supra in 2019 with the Mk5 generation. This new Supra kept the same formula – an inline-6 engine, rear-wheel drive, and a focus on delivering a pure sports car experience.
How a Car Drifts
For a car to drift, the rear tires need to lose traction while the front tires maintain grip to steer the vehicle through the slide. Initiating and holding a drift requires a few key factors:
- Power – Enough power to spin the rear wheels
- Weight balance – Ideal is 50/50 front/rear
- Suspension – Adjustable components for fine tuning handling
- Tires – Rear tires need less grip than front
- Throttle control – Regulating oversteer with the gas pedal
Additionally, rear-wheel drive allows easier drifting since power is only going to the rear. All-wheel drive cars can drift but require added techniques like left-foot braking.
Does the Mk5 Supra Have What it Takes?
Now looking specifically at the new Mk5 Supra, how does it stack up for drifting?
Power and Engine
All Supra models are powered by a 3.0L turbo inline-6 (B58B30M1) engine producing 335 horsepower and 365 lb-ft torque. While not as powerful as the 2JZ engines of the Mk4, this new motor has plenty of torque from low RPMs to break the rear wheels loose and sustain drifts.
Weight Distribution
The Mk5 Supra has an ideal 50/50 front/rear weight distribution when empty. This even balance makes it easier to transition weight between the front and rear when initiating and controlling drifts.
| Configuration | Front Weight % | Rear Weight % |
|---|---|---|
| Empty | 50% | 50% |
| With driver | 51% | 49% |
Suspension
The Supra has an adaptive variable suspension system that lets you switch between Normal and Sport modes. Sport mode stiffens the dampers and reduces body roll for improved handling and driftability. The car also comes with an active differential that helps control oversteer coming out of drifts.
Tires
All models come with staggered width Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires – 255/35R19 front and 275/35R19 rear. This wider rear tire setup is ideal for initiating oversteer while the front tires provide grip for steering. The run-flat tires may take more abuse but an aftermarket set with softer rubber compounds can improve grip balance.
Throttle Control
The Mk5 Supra uses a drive-by-wire electronic throttle so there is no direct cable connection to the pedal. While this allows flexibility in tuning throttle response, some drivers feel it’s harder to modulate wheel spin compared to a mechanical throttle. Traction and stability control systems also intervene if you get too aggressive with the throttle, but these can be disabled fully for uninhibited oversteer.
How Does it Compare to Other Models?
The Mk5 Supra drifts well with some caveats, but how does it compare against the competition and its predecessor?
Vs. Mk4 Supra
The Mk4 Supra Turbo is often considered the definitive drift Supra due to its 2JZ engine’s incredible tuning potential. With stronger internals, you can extract up to 1000 horsepower from the 2JZ – more than enough to vaporize rear tires. The Mk5’s B58 motor doesn’t have quite that power ceiling, but still makes great torque for drifting in stock form. And with some mods, you can reliably achieve over 500 horsepower.
Vs. Nissan Z
The Nissan 370Z and new Z are front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupes often compared to the Supra. Their naturally aspirated V6 engines require more revving to achieve maximum drift tire spin compared to the Supra’s low-end turbo torque. The Z cars are also heavier at over 3300 lbs versus the Supra’s 3400 lbs. Overall the Supra has the power advantage for big smoky drifts.
Vs. Ford Mustang
With its V8 power and muscle car heritage, the Ford Mustang seems built for drifting. The 5.0L Coyote V8 offers gobs of torque and rear-drive burnouts. But the Mustang’s live rear axle suspension is less nimble than the Supra’s independent rear suspension when initiating transitions. Weight balance favors the Supra 51/49 compared to the Mustang’s 54/46 distribution.
Mods That Improve Driftability
While great for drifting in stock form, there are some modifications that can make the Mk5 Supra even better suited for getting sideways:
- Coilover suspension – Lower ride height and customized dampers
- Wider rear tires – Increase rear grip balance
- Limited slip differential – Improves power delivery to rear
- Aftermarket ECU tuning – Adds power and tweaks throttle mapping
- Short shifter – Quicker gear changes
- Handbrake – Aids in initiating rotation
Conclusion
With its turbo inline-6 power, ideal weight balance, and rear-wheel drive performance, the latest Mk5 Toyota Supra has all the ingredients needed to be an epic drift machine right off the production line. While not quite the 1000+ HP monster that a built Mk4 Supra can become, the new Supra still has plenty of torque to break traction and sustain smoky sideways slides. With some modifications to the suspension, tires, and drivetrain, you can transform the stock Supra into a fully capable drift slayer.