Toyota Supra A90 Exhaust Upgrade: Everything You Need to Know

The A90 Supra runs a BMW B58 engine. This is both its advantage and the source of its identity crisis. The good news for Supra owners: BMW's tuning aftermarket expertise transfers directly. The exhaust options are plentiful and the quality ceiling is high.

The Stock Supra Exhaust Problem

Toyota and BMW tuned the A90 exhaust to sound like neither a sports car nor a luxury car. It's competent and forgettable. At idle: nearly silent. At wide open throttle: a muffled straight-six sound that doesn't match what the drivetrain can produce. This is one of the most universally criticized aspects of the A90 and the most commonly upgraded.

Understanding the B58 in the Supra Context

The B58 is a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six shared with the G20 330i, G21, and various other BMW applications. In the Supra, Toyota tuned it to 335hp (2020-2021) and 382hp (2023+). The engine itself makes excellent exhaust sounds when the muffling is removed. Inline-six turbocharged cars have a distinctive sound: a lower-pitched thrum at lower RPM, transitioning to a sharper note above 4,000 RPM with turbo spool audible on hard acceleration.

Catback Options

Catback exhausts for the A90 Supra come in three main configurations: axleback (from the axle back, keeping factory mid-pipe), catback (replaces mid-pipe and mufflers), and full exhaust (includes downpipe).

Axleback is the cheapest option. It changes the tip look and gives some sound improvement but leaves the factory mid-pipe resonator in place. Budget $400-$900. The sound improvement is real but limited.

True catback replaces everything from the catalytic converters back. This is where the substantial sound change happens. Budget $1,400-$3,200 for quality stainless, $2,200-$4,000 for titanium.

Valved vs Non-Valved

The Supra's stock exhaust valve system is not as sophisticated as BMW's OEM valved systems on M cars. Aftermarket valved catbacks for the A90 typically use electric butterfly valves that open via a switch or phone app. The mechanism adds cost but gives you legitimate daily-drivability: close the valves for neighborhood driving, open them for the highway or a back road.

Non-valved catbacks are lighter and less expensive. If you're primarily a weekend or track driver, the constant-open configuration is fine.

Sound Character by Configuration

Stock: Quiet. Too quiet for a sports car. Acceptable for a daily driver.

Axleback: Slightly more aggressive. Tips look better. Not a dramatic change.

Full catback, non-valved: The B58 straight-six sound fully expressed. Turbo flutter on deceleration. Rich burble at idle. Loud enough to be exciting, not obnoxious with a quality mid-range option.

Full catback plus downpipe, tuned: Maximum volume and performance. The B58 makes 420-460whp on a proper tune with supporting mods. The exhaust note at that power level is genuinely impressive.

Installation Notes

The A90 Supra exhaust swap is accessible for a competent DIYer. The factory hardware uses standard metric fasteners. Budget 3-4 hours for a catback swap with basic jack stands. A full exhaust including downpipe is a 5-6 hour job and requires exhaust hangers repositioned in a few spots.

Browse the complete Supra A90 collection for available options. For questions on fitment between 2020-2021 and 2022+ models (they share the same exhaust routing but have minor differences), contact us directly before ordering.