Top Gear has been testing the Toyota Supra against a lot of modern sports cars. It only makes sense as the Supra is one of the most storied names in sports car history. So to see if it’s a proper Supra, despite being based on a BMW, it needs to take on the best in the game. That includes other BMWs as well. In this latest test from Top Gear, the new Supra takes on the BMW M2 Competition, a half-sibling of sorts.

In the red corner is the new Toyota Supra. Despite its badge, the new Supra is based on the BMW Z4 M40i, as the two cars share the same chassis, engine, technology and some interior bits. However, the steering and suspension tuning were done by Toyota, so it does feel like a different car than its Z4 sibling.

The white corner is occupied by a BMW M2 Competition, a proper hardcore sports car from the M Division. While the Supra is built on a BMW, it’s not built on a BMW M car. So the M2 Competition has the advantage of being built by makers of some of the best sports cars in the world.

Under the hood of the Supra lies a 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine (BMW’s B58 engine), and it’s the same one powering the Z4 M40i. So it makes 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. While those numbers are more than enough for fun, they pale in comparison to the M2 Competition. The M Division product uses a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 (BMW’s S55 engine) and it makes 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. So quite a bit more.

The M2’s advantage strengthens in its gearbox. While it’s available with a six-speed manual, in this test it gets a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is significantly quicker than the admittedly quick eight-speed auto in the Supra. Not only is it faster, it’s snappier as well, so it feels more exciting.

That last bit is important. The Toyota Supra is a very fun car to drive, with great steering, a nimble chassis and a brilliant engine. However, the M2 Competition feels like the sharper, more exciting car to drive. It’s the one that thrills more and that feels more like a proper sports car. If you want to use the car daily, the Supra is probably the better choice, as it’s more comfortable. But if you want an all-out sports car, it’s the M2 Competition to buy.

[Source: Top Gear]