The Toyota and BMW sports car partnership will result in two hybrid models with different targets, a new Z4 and new Supra respectively

[Sticky]

The BMW and Toyota technology sharing agreement has been a bit confusing its application. We know Toyota and BMW agreed to partner up on certain things and share technology back in 2013. Since then there has been a lot of speculation on what this agreement would bring.

That speculation has been all over the place. MotorTrend stated the cars would have carbon technology from the 'i' series and be very small and expensive hybrids with the BMW version coming in at around $70,000.

Car Magazine then reported we would get mid-engine hybrid sports car with $100k price tags to take on the 911. Maybe they were just pulling things out of thin air to sell magazines, who knows.

Now Autocar who is not exactly a bastion of solid automotive reporting states the partnership will spawn two all wheel drive hybrid sports cars that are different sizes targeting different demographics. This is supposed to result in a next generation Z4 as well as a Toyota Supra revival.

BMW's Ian Robertson stated, “The one thing we’re clear on now is that a platform for both companies can work. The cars in themselves don’t actually need to be positioned the same. The platform can spawn two positionings. The concept works, the platform can deliver and now we have two proud sets of engineers - one group German, one group Japanese - who are each fighting and arguing for the car they want.”

That is about all we have to go on. That the platform can be used to create two cars that are different enough from each other to not simply be the same car with a Toyota or BMW badge being the main point of differentiation.

Beyond that everything is still speculation and who knows what the result will be. We only know they are still working on it and that hybrid technology is a certainty.

Source

[klipseracer]

I am not thrilled by the new supra. Really disappointed actually. Thats me personally.

[Sticky]

I am not thrilled by the new supra. Really disappointed actually. Thats me personally.

But we don't even have the specs...

[maxnix]

Well, this certainly should be interesting!

I can't see how it will work out. I don't think Toyota wants to take a backseat to BMW in performance. No cast iron blocks for either, I will bet.

[Sticky]

No cast iron blocks for either, I will bet.

Heh. We have a better chance of plastic blocks.

[maxnix]

Still waiting for the carbon fiber composite blocks.