I see BMW link up with Toyota as a long term protection. They are a small company, in global terms, that has a great name and image. BMW wish to remain that and not get taken over by VW or another multinational. There link up with Rover was about this in part, we know how that ended.

What does Toyota get, read the item. As to a new sports car, a Toyota/BMW MX5 type car would be good. If it's a hybrid as well not for the low MPG, but the very quick acceleration it will be good.

It will be interesting to see if they link up for racing at Le Man's. Both once had a F1 program.

The modularisation is a way to keep escalating costs down, not to lower the final car prize. Thats just not possible. R&D costs (And the parts you need) have exploded compared to early 90s for example, cars need to be hugely more complex to live up to emission/crash/consumption/interiorstds etc etc. It might be hard for an "outsider" to know. I work at with engine R&D at a swedish truck manufacturer, and the ammount of money that has gone into projects to make our engine comply with Euro6 laws are completely absurd (And still a small ammount compared to the bigger companies). Those costs has to be recouped in some way. Also material prices have risen alot.

Back to topic, will be interesting to see if this acutally will result in something. A bit sad when the only thing that seems to be important for future sports cars are MPG..

Why do Toyota need BMW to build sports cars anyway? Last time I checked they had just released the GT86 to huge praise...

LFA V10 ---> M6 V10 (though admittedly this is now dead, and the LFA V10 is something I'd consider superior on all points that matter)

iS-F V8 ---> E92 M3 V8

I don't think we'll ever see engines like these anymore


Hybrids are dull for now, I'm sure someone will come up with something that works for us soon...

Its all about the battery technology dear boy.

BMW mug toyota for their fuel cell technology, Toyota get the kudos of saying theyre working wit BMW (and access to the worlds best performance diesel engines, for a price)

One thing I missed off that post was that imo; the i8 as pictured looks like a pig on steroids taking a crap.

Sorry to the fans of the design.

Maybe learn how to make proper keys for their cars?
Better reliability?
Exemplary extended customer service?

Really, a part from the badge, I fail to see what BMW has to offer to Toyota.

Agree, and I see this as being the perfect soapbox for them to stand on - Toyota's already got the basic car ready - combine it with the engine tech (especially diesel) and manufacturing capabilities (in terms of construction techniques) BMW has and they should have a pretty impressive selection of stuff to build any kind of car they'd wish to. This will naturally translate to some sort of sports car, then on down to other more hybrid oriented platforms.

Makes a lot of sense, and they are sufficiently far apart in the market sectors they hold that the partnership wouldn't have any impact on their sales, and would probably improve them - they don't just get sold in the UK, so Toyota's profile will rise with association to BMW in the West, and the opposite will occur in the East (bit general, but you get my gist).

Honestly, I'm thinking something more along the lines of a CR-Z when it comes to whats going to be produced, as with the combination of both companies offerings, this isn't exactly had to conceive and produce. although I would love to see a supra update, the new NSX project hasn't finished yet has it? Maybe theres a little wiggle room when it comes to that, at least then it would bring the cost of production down if BMW's production techniques are that much cheaper.

Gt86 with a none turbo m3 engine anyone ?