The Mk4 Toyota Supra used to like torturing German and Italian sports cars, especially the expensive ones. They even made a documentary about it called The Fast and the Furious. And it seems the 2021 Toyota Supra continues its predecessor’s worth by playing around with a Mercedes-AMG E53.
Mercedes really is doing some strange stuff with its AMG cars. Everybody knows about the outrageous downsizing of the next-gen C63, which will use a 2.0-liter turbo. But the E53’s existence is equally offensive.
The E-Class comes from a lineage of great cars, and you could argue that the E63 AMG has been the most important Mercedes competitor in the German arena. With a powerful twin-charged V8 and bonus AWD, it’s held off BMW, Audi, and Porsche. But for some reason, you can’t get an E63 AMG Coupe.
What you can get is this E53 Coupe, which some say is not a true AMG. It’s a little late in the game to argue about its six-cylinder engine since it’s also used by the AMG GT. The powertrain was introduced back in 2018 and consists of a 3-liter twin-turbo inline-6 which is helped by a 22 hp “EQ Boost” electric motor to deliver 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.
The Mercedes coupes also have AWD and their own AMG-tuned auto gearbox. But as you’d expect, all these features add a lot of weight.
Meanwhile, the Supra uses a BMW-sourced B58 engine. It’s got the same number of cylinders, displacement and layout. However, there’s no EV tech, and only one turbo pushes the output to 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.
The weight gap
The Supra is nothing like the lightweight JDM sports cars of the 1990s. It’s got all the comfort features of a modern car, not to mention safety equipment. Thus it has a curb weight of 3,346 pounds, but the E53 Coupe is much worse. At 4,429 lbs, it’s over 1,000 lbs heavier, and we’re curious how this impacts the race.
Naturally, the fact that it’s a four-seater is a factory, which also reminds me of that Supra vs BMW M240i comparison. But the EQ Boost system also contributes to the bulk, and together with the AWD may actually have a positive impact on the game.
The two contenders have been lined up on a runway in Canada by YouTuber Sam CarLegion. Obviously, these conditions will have an impact, since they’re not perfect for drag racing. However, it’s the Supra that’s supposed to be at a traction disadvantage.
The Supra doesn’t have a good launch in the first race, but for the second one, all the stars align and it manages to convincingly defeat the E53. And before you argue that this is a fake result, just check out the rolling race. It clearly shows that the B58 has lots of power, maybe as much as its AMG rival.