Toyota plan to bring a pair GR Supras built for drag races through 2022 SEMA Show. However, the drawback is that each has to be a “10 second car”. Further complicating the construction is the fact that the budget per Supra is only $10,000, a small sum for those SEMA build.
Now, if the title of “10-second car” is an allusion to one of the most memorable scenes from “Fast and furious” franchise, Toyota did not say. In the climax of the first movie – now over 20 years old, get out of our lawn – By Paul Walker The undercover cop figure brought to life by Vin Diesel’s street racing hero of 1994 Toyota Supra so later can escape the law after charging dock destroyed. “I owe you a car 10 seconds“, he said as he handed over the keys, alluding to a bet made at the beginning of the film.
In a movie full of silly quotes, this quote has become immortal for fans who are not necessarily car enthusiasts. Strictly speaking, a car that runs 10 seconds is a car that can run a quarter mile in 10 seconds. That means any time below 11.0 seconds is not, as many movie buffs mistakenly believe, less than 10.0. Toyota builders are targeting times between 10.0 and 10.5 seconds.
Like they did with the Supra in the movie, Toyota hopes to do this with a small budget and a little grease. To achieve that goal, they will need to add about 30%-40% more horsepower to the six-cylinder in the 382 series. However, there are some evidence to suggest that Toyota may have underestimated the actual output of the GR Supra.
Toyota engineers are installing a larger radiator, an HKS suspension, welded towing wheels with Mickey Thompson radius bars, a after-sales exhaust pipe and racing harness. Use some of the back of a napkin calculate, that puts them at the $10,000 mark, if not exceeding it already. However, isn’t that the case for any project car?
Obviously, being Toyota has some advantages. They have an entire crafting shop ready to make coil cages and belt bars. They might know a little more about reprogramming ECU more than a shadetree mechanic. These vehicles were also previously safe vehicles for NASCAR The Xfinity series, so it’s unclear if the modifications made to the speed quest are part of the $10,000 grant.
The goal, says Marty Schwerter, manager of the SEMA construction team, is to show that for about $10 you can turn a 3-year-old car into a competitive drag racer. More details will be revealed during the run to the SEMA Show on November 1.
