[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Toyota Joint Sports Car Clears Feasibility Study and Moves Into Concept Phase

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According to Bloomberg, development of the BMW-Toyota joint sports car project has moved beyond the technical feasibility study stage and is now in the concept design phase:

BMW, Toyota Push Development of Midsize Sports Car

November 6, 2014

Cooperation on the underpinnings of the vehicles “has moved on to the concept phase and is running according to plan,” Munich-based BMW said in a statement to Bloomberg News. A technical feasibility study that began in January 2013 has been “successfully completed.”

The midsize model is the most visible project within a broader partnership the manufacturers have said will last until at least 2020. The two companies have been tight-lipped about details, including the targeted introduction date, after announcing the plan early last year. Toyota today confirmed that the project has moved beyond the feasibility stage, which was initially due to be completed by the end of 2013.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, needs sports cars “to put that energy back into the brand,” Europe Executive Vice President Karl Schlicht said last month at the Paris Motor Show when asked about the cooperation with BMW, which this year started selling the racy $135,700 i8 plug-in hybrid.

In addition to the sports car, Toyota and the world’s biggest maker of luxury vehicles are cooperating on research into fuel cells, lightweight technology and lithium-air batteries. The two companies agreed to work together on lithium-ion batteries in 2012. Both companies declined to comment further on the new sports cars.

Automakers tend to look for partners to limit costs of developing new technology and small-scale vehicles. Other tie-ups include Daimler AG’s cooperation with the Renault SA-Nissan Motor Co. alliance, which has been gradually expanding beyond projects such as new versions of Daimler’s urban Smart cars and Renault’s Twingo subcompact.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-1...ports-car.html

[nicknaz]

I keep crossing my fingers from the carbon fiber body tech from the i series to merge with F8X powertrain and suspension parts. That would be an amazing return to form for the Z4M.

[///BMW (+)]

@nicknaz that would be awesome but rumors are it will have a turbo i4 and hybrid tech

[kevinlevrone]

Something seems wrong to me about this. I can understand Toyota & Subaru common car, but BMW chassis technology was always something special and should have remained like this.

[Diver]

Soaring R&D costs are behind partnerships and products like the ZF 8 speed AT that is used by many brands.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I keep crossing my fingers from the carbon fiber body tech from the i series to merge with F8X powertrain and suspension parts. That would be an amazing return to form for the Z4M.

Jeez. Leave some stuff for Toyota to do...

[3M TAPE]

BMW needs to bring this car back, hopefully with Toyota's joint venture.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by Double Bubble

BMW needs to bring this car back, hopefully with Toyota's joint venture.

Yeah mon and w/ a Double Bubble!

[Black Flagged]

Something like this please.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I keep crossing my fingers from the carbon fiber body tech from the i series to merge with F8X powertrain and suspension parts. That would be an amazing return to form for the Z4M.

Z5M please

[Black Flagged]

Hope it looks like this...

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by Gangsta D

Hope looks like this...

[FogCityM3]

Really hoping some of these renderings and concepts come to fruition. Will help reinvigorate both brands.

[vladberca]

So we'll see the concept in two years?

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by Double Bubble

BMW needs to bring this car back, hopefully with Toyota's joint venture.

pass on the clown shoe.

[VMRWheels]

Hmm, this could be very interesting

[Manbnda]

I think BMW needs inspiration.

This joint venture is technical, on many levels, but technical.
People buy cars they fall in love with. And to create such things, you need inspiration.

[Dalko43]

Originally Posted by Gangsta D

Hope looks like this...

That with an engine similar to the current M4's S55 would be awesome...a real dedicated sports car.

[BMW269]

Well this car be as good as the AMG GT, meaning dry sump mid-front engine and transaxle transmission?

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

With this partnership centered around Toyota bringing hybrid technology know how (and BMW bringing performance), I suspect a hybrid gas-electric drivetrain.

[mikal7]

What's pricing for this to be set at?

I can't see BMW creating a car that competes with the m3 so I imagine it would have to cost less while being in that sweet spot between a 2m and 235m.

And for Toyota, if the car reaches cayman/m3 territory in pricing that's got to be one very special car to compete.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by mikal7

What's pricing for this to be set at?

I can't see BMW creating a car that competes with the m3 so I imagine it would have to cost less while being in that sweet spot between a 2m and 235m.

And for Toyota, if the car reaches cayman/m3 territory in pricing that's got to be one very special car to compete.

Compete? M3 E46 and Z4 M Coupé were rivals? C 63 AMG and AMG GT are rivals?

This car would, or SHOULD compete against AMG GT, the M3 competes against C 63 AMG.

Would a hypothetical BMW supercar compete against M6?