Watch this Toyota Supra drift autonomously in the name of research

We love drifting, and we love the 2021 Toyota GR Supra too. A video featuring those two things is sure to please a crowd, and that’s before we mention the best part: the car drifted from it- even.

It is not a farce either. The Toyota Research Institute has implemented the stuntman, with the aim of better linking the relationship between acute driving reflexes and autonomous systems. Or, as their website says:

“Engineers are researching how to combine the instinct of professional drivers with automated driving technology. Their goal is to engineer a new level of active safety technology and share it widely so that Toyota and other automakers can deploy it on the road. “

And while this was done for scientific purposes, there’s no denying that it’s totally awesome. Watch the video to see a highly modified Supra, complete with an ultra-wide body kit and huge rear spoiler, tackle a closed course and immediately spin in a huge smoky drift. Although there is a driver in the seat, onboard cameras show the stand-alone computers operating on the handbrake and steering wheel. Once things are really on the move, the driver even puts their hand out the window, offering a peace sign to all who are looking on.

Besides the obvious fun factor, this robot drift could very well lead to better autonomous technology. It’s not hard to see how the keen dinghy instinct could be a worthwhile addition to any car that needs to avoid collisions or change course quickly on its own. The reality of self-driving cars draws closer every year, so expect to see more videos like this in the not-so-distant future. And who knows, maybe an autonomous drift mode will soon be part of Toyota’s active safety suite.