Top Secret V12 Supra does 222 mph at Nardo
Smokey Nagata likes to smoke his tires on freeways all over the world. While his stunts may not be lawful or even sane, he continues to find new territory in which to get his thrills. After being arrested in England and New Zealand, he has finally taken his action off the streets and onto the Nardo Ring test track in Italy. Reportedly, the twin turbo V12 Top Secret Supra, driven by Smokey, achieved a top speed of 222 mph (358 km/h) at Nardo. While certainly a mind-numbing velocity, it falls just a tad short of the 248 mph (400 km/h) goal.
The Top Secret Supra project is intended to present the Supra as the kind of supercar some feel Toyota should be selling. Its V12 powerplant is sourced from a Toyota Century (a Japanese market luxury sedan), and extra power beyond its stock 276 horses, many airflow aids have been added. These range from custom plenums and piping to dual HKS GT2540 turbochargers. All in all, the engine's output has been tuned somewhere north of 1,000 hp. To learn more information on the car check out this feature from Super Street Magazine.
[Source: Bespoke Ventures]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Troy Knighten 8:15PM (4/13/2008)
BRING BACK THE SUPRA
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amdforever 8:20PM (4/13/2008)
Well, this is a pretty modest horsepower increase...
276 hp -> 1000+ hp.
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HotRodzNKustoms 8:35PM (4/13/2008)
You would think with all those stickers they'd have at least 4,000hp!
User 12:46AM (4/14/2008)
I have heard of 1200HP V6 Supras. What's the point of using a (at stock very slowly tuned) V12 instead of a V6 if the V12 gets 200 less HP and weighs more?
And that's a serious question, by the way. I'm wondering. Anyone out there know?
Franz 12:54AM (4/14/2008)
@ User:
The Supra's engine is a straight six, not a V6. Maybe they just wanted to do something different.
Stuka 1:32AM (4/14/2008)
User: The i6's that are tuned to 1000hp are worthless to drive. They are dyno queens. The HP comes on very suddenly making them very hard to drive. You basically end up with about 150hp until 5500rpm and then it jumps almost instantly up to about 600, then climbs sharply from there. With the V12 that they used, the torque and hp curves will be much more gradual, making it much easier to drive, and allows the engine to pull smoothly over a broader rpm range.
HotRodzNKustoms 1:50AM (4/14/2008)
User: It's better power, more reliable power, and smoother power a straight 6 Supra motor with 1200hp lasts just long enough for the you tube video then if it doesn't throw a rod, spin a bearing, or some other disastrous occurrence it's time for a rebuild before it's time to change the oil. Like I can get 1,000hp out of a bike motor, won't do it for very long or very well but it will do it right before shooting a rod into the side of your leg.
MKIV 10:49AM (4/14/2008)
@ Stuka,
All depends on how the engine is tuned and what turbo is used. Heavy engine work, change compression, and a well selected turbo can do wonders. Not the 1k HP but very close 920 at the crank.
http://www.t04r.com/media/mani_new_dyno.jpg
Hike15 8:20PM (4/13/2008)
toyota should selll that!!
compete with gt-r and new nsx
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HotRodzNKustoms 8:32PM (4/13/2008)
That is more than a tad short
Somebody needs to learn to under promise and over deliver so they look like heroes not losers
222mph is still very very very fast
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DomManganelli 6:25AM (4/14/2008)
that's exactly what i was thinking. those 20 mph require a ton more power... if they did a theoretical speed calculation i am wondering what they got horribly wrong.
HotRodzNKustoms 11:30AM (4/14/2008)
Air resistance is a b*tch
Theoretically my father's Cobra would do 250 but I think 170 is more realistic if you had a death wish.
SPF 8:33PM (4/13/2008)
Someone power slide it, please!!!!
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Franz 8:40PM (4/13/2008)
The supra is sorely missed...
As a side note, I read on motortrend.com that the LF-A supercar seems to have gone into hiding. (read: gone in for more development). Apparently MT sources say that after being seen running the 'Ring regularly for months now, since the GT-R V-Spec reared it's ugly head, Toyota's supercar seems to have vanished.
Obviously it's just speculation at this point, but I hope it means one of two things:
1: That Toyota has got one bad mofo and they don't want the wizzards over at Nissan getting wind of it's performance just yet. They're maybe waiting on the V-Spec's release so they can blow it out of the water.
2: The Lexus supercar needs more work in order to compete with the like of V-Spec and ZR-1 Corvette, so they've brought it in for an upgrade.
I'd be delighted with any of those outcomes to tell the truth. C'mon Toyota... join the fight already! ;)
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SPF 8:44PM (4/13/2008)
I'm leaning toward No.2.
hashiryu 9:23PM (4/13/2008)
Because of the way it has always been tested, I'd lean toward #1
Conor 10:12PM (4/13/2008)
Option 3:
They don't want to admit that the V-Spec will crush the LF-A. It's a valid theory.
Conor 10:14PM (4/13/2008)
EDIT: Oops. Misread #2.
Pouya 11:12PM (4/13/2008)
Actually the Lexus is plenty fast as, so far, the GT-R V-spec and the Corvette ZR-1 both have not matched its unofficial lap time around the Nurburgring so far:
Lexus LF-A: 7:24 (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/28/lexus-lf-a-unseats-porsche-gt2-as-king-of-the-ring/)
Nissan GT-R V-Spec: 7:25 (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/nissan-gt-r-v-spec-lap-times-stun-observers/)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1: "In the low 7:40s" (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/corvette-zr-1-ring-times-in-low-7-40s-gt-r-v-spec-amused/)
The reason it has been delayed is because:
"According to Winding Road's Japan correspondent, the reason for the dismal showing was a shakeup on the engineering side of Lexus' new halo. A number of "key engineers" have apparently been yanked off the project to work on other programs within Toyota, and that, partnered with problems providing power from both a V10 and a gas-electric hybrid V8, along with reaching the 218 MPH targeted top speed, has caused delays in development."
Franz 1:14AM (4/14/2008)
I didn't forget the fact that the LF-A mule ran the unofficial 7:24. I was just wondering about it's sudden absence. Thanks for the heads up. :)