BMW Doesn’t Seem to be Getting Much out of its Toyota Deal
We know that the BMW/Toyota relationship will spawn a few cars at least. We already know that one of the first will be a new Z4 and possibly the new Supra that will, at the very least, take design cues from the FT-1 concept. But we didn’t know what other cars we were going to get from this relationship … until now, it seems.
According to LeftLaneNews, a new report states that the joint venture will spawn a new smaller sports car to slot underneath the Toyobaru twins and will be based on the BMW 1 Series. The new car will use the same architecture as the BMW, but will scrap the body in favor of something directly linked to Toyota’s new design language. Honestly, that’s a good thing because the new 1 Series isn’t that handsome of a car.
The two-door coupe will use a Toyota-sourced 1.5L four-cylinder, but the engine will be tuned by Yamaha to give it a better performance figure. Toyota did the same when it came to the Lexus LFA.
It’s interesting to note that BMW really doesn’t get anything out of this part of their venture. Sure, they are getting some hybrid tech, but BMW’s technology is already leaps and bounds ahead of Toyota’s very stagnant hybrid tech. I can see why BMW would forgo doing a similar situation with the 86 twins, but I would think they would want to get a little something more out of the deal.
What isn’t said in the report is whether the companies are tinkering with putting the engine in the middle. I bring this up for two reasons. First, BMW is trying to make leaps and bounds into the hybrid and EV market with the i3 and i8, which both have their engines in the middle. Being able to adapt previous architecture would make it much easier for BMW to design all-new models and not have to create a new chassis.
And second, one name: MR2. Toyota has been without a new MR2 since the failure of the third-generation MR2 almost a decade ago. Think about it: a sports car under the 86 twins, rear-wheel drive, manual and under 2,200 lbs. That sounds like a recipe for a great MR2.
The car is still a few years away, but if the report rings true, we might be in store to see some concepts soon.