The most interesting thing about covering global car culture is seeing where people draw their inspiration from. Over the many years I’ve lived in Japan, I’ve seen firsthand how enthusiasts here look to other countries to see what’s happening. I mention this because, almost everywhere I’ve been around the world, it’s Japan that has consistently been one of the strongest sources of inspiration. Call it automotive cultural exchange. And that exchange is at the heart of what keeps collective passion evolving. What started slowly with tuning magazines back in the day is now happening at an incredible pace, thanks to our digitally connected world.
So, when Alec and I were at MotorPark Romania a couple of months back for Saisho Fest 2026, we couldn’t help but notice the small but well-executed JDM-inspired side of the local car culture. While older German cars and European style are the go-to starting point for builds and getting into subcultures like drifting and time attack in Romania, Saisho Fest introduced us to a dedicated group of local enthusiasts who are instead looking to Japan.
With that in mind, we arranged for an A90 GR Supra and a GR86 – both rolling on RAYS wheels – to meet us in the heart of Bucharest a few days after the event for a shoot.
Let’s start with the 86 – a street car first and foremost, but one that can be driven hard on track.
The Toyota benefits from a complete Verus Engineering aero upgrade, including a huge rear GT-style wing, but it’s the RAYS Volk Racing TE37 SAGA SL wheels that perfectly finish the track-focused look and feel. The ‘Super Lap’ spec TE37s in Pressed Graphite measure 17×9.5J +45 (Face 4) at both ends of the car and are wrapped in 255/40ZR17 Nankang Sportnex AR-1 semi-slick tires.
Through the front wheels’ six iconic spokes, you can easily spot the Brembo BM4 4-pot BBK, while the KW V4 Clubsport coilovers are visible at all four corners. While these handling and braking upgrades would be a nice upgrade for a stock-engined GR86, they’re more of a necessity here, because this one is most definitely not.
A Harrop TVS 1320 is the first thing you spot when you pop the vented hood. Bolted onto the FA24 engine, the massive Roots-type positive displacement supercharger is unlike anything you’d see from tuning outfits like HKS or Trust, which prefer turbocharging or centrifugal compressors. The 2.4L boxer is still being set up, but power has already eclipsed the 300hp mark with the blower and HKS Spec-L exhaust system, giving the car plenty of performance to match its looks.
The Supra is a little more understated by comparison, but there’s still plenty to set it apart from other A90s.
Visually, it benefits from a Verus Engineering carbon hood louver, while an OLM A91 Style carbon lip extender on the stock ducktail spoiler adds a touch of extra aggression.
Wheel-wise, RAYS Volk Racing G025s got the nod, and in Matte Gunblack, they look absolutely superb on the Supra. This is a staggered setup with 19×9.0J +27 (Face 3) wheels up front, and 19x10J +33 (Face 4) wheels out back, all shod in Continental SportContact 7 rubber. The wheels may be larger than standard, but thanks to their forged construction, there’s no extra unsprung weight.
Under the hood, the A90’s BMW-derived B58 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six engine has been upgraded with an Armaspeed dry carbon intake and GW titanium charge pipe to help it breathe more freely, while an AMS cat-less downpipe and full HKS Super Turbo Muffler exhaust system unleash the roar.
As the car is daily driven, the owner didn’t want to jeopardize comfort or compliance, but at the same time, wanted to make full use of the chassis’ hidden potential. That’s why you’ll find HKS Hipermax Touring lowering springs, along with Millway camber plates, Eibach sway bars, and a host of Hardrace arms and braces to fine-tune the setup.
After driving through the streets of Bucharest, we wrapped up our evening shoot in front of the Palace of the Parliament, a monumental reminder of Romania’s communist past and, apparently, the heaviest building in the world. Parked in the square below, I couldn’t help but reflect on the contrast between the country’s past and the future being built around it. Romania’s car scene is a great representation of that contrast, showing how a passion for the things we love can fuel us in so many different ways.
