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BMW and Toyota to Develop New Sports Car Jointly

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BMW and Toyota have announced plans to jointly develop a new sports car and other technologies. The two companies have announced today the signing of a memorandum of understanding at BMW's HQ in Munich.

The companies plan to expand their already existing cooperation initiated in December of last year, which will now include joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

Toyota's recent success on collaborating with Subaru to develop the highly acclaimed Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ gives us hope of an exciting sports car from BMW and Toyota.

Below is the full press release announcing this news:

PRESS RELEASE + Expand

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to further strengthen collaboration

29.06.2012

Tokyo/Munich. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), met today with Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at BMW Group headquarters in Munich to announce the planned expansion of their existing cooperation initiated in December last year. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

Also today, Norbert Reithofer and Akio Toyoda of TMC both signed a Joint Statement to reconfirm their companies’ shared intention to strengthen the long-term, strategic collaboration between them.

Reithofer said: “We aim to further strengthen our competitive position in sustainable future technologies. We signed an MoU to this effect today. Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation.”

Toyoda added: “BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. We respect each other. And I think this is shown by our taking the next step only six months since the signing of our initial agreement. Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. On the other hand, I believe BMW’s strength is in developing sports cars. I am excited to think of the cars that will result from this relationship.”

In March 2012, the BMW Group and TMC signed a binding agreement on collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells. In addition, the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Europe entered into a contract under which the BMW Group will supply highly-efficient 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe, starting in 2014.

Today’s MoU represents the companies’ agreement in December last year to identify and discuss other possible collaborative projects.

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[nichojo]

BMW looks with Toyota reliability might be okay...

[mkoesel]

So I wonder if we are talking supercar, like an LF-A successor with BMW styling cues.

Or maybe Toyota wants their own Z2 or Z4 - something to replace the now departed MR2.

[alex2364]

Yes, give us a Z2!

[Erhan]

So we can hope to get a 3500lb BRZ with 3 turbos? Because that's what we need.

[blackE90]

Both companies will no doubt benefit from this exchange, win-win. Anyone who thinks Toyota has nothing to offer BMW is fooling themselves

[tony20009]

Sounds like a good thing to me. BMW engineering and Toyota reliability sounds like something I'd buy. Maybe they can even pull it off with Toyota pricing too!!!

Lightweight technologies, hugh? Hmmmm....carbon fiber is lightweight. It still strikes me as odd that carbon, the most abundant non-gaseous element on Earth is still more costly than other things, yet is is stronger as well being lighter in weight. And why stuff is still made from derivatives of iron and aluminum is a mystery to me.

[rk5rk5rk5]

Hmmmm.... Rebirth of Supra with bmw engine???? lol i dunno....

[Levi]

Nothing official is said about together developed sports cars. That was just some of my thoughts on a possibility of building sportscar thanks to such a collaboration. I posted that on some other forums.

[BMWPower06]

Everyone mentions "Toyota reliability" but fails to realize the communications systems in a Camry are completely different than anything found in a BMW. BMWs use fiber optic bus systems, which are faster, but also more expensive and less reliable. BMW has no issues with engine reliability, it is their electronics. Seeing as how Toyota doesn't have anywhere near the advanced electronics that BMW does, I doubt they will be able to improve reliability...

[RL530xit]

Hmmm....

[tmurphy2]

Does seem odd BUT BMW wouldn't do it if Toyota had nothing to offer, I think a bigger concern about "the brand" is the number of models they are coming out with, too wide, and if everyone and their mother is driving a BMW it loses it's exclusivity or premiumness

[reiss91]

No! No no no no no! Please god no.

[Zed2004]

The thought of a Toyota Z2 :

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by BMWPower06

Everyone mentions "Toyota reliability" but fails to realize the communications systems in a Camry are completely different than anything found in a BMW. BMWs use fiber optic bus systems, which are faster, but also more expensive and less reliable. BMW has no issues with engine reliability, it is their electronics. Seeing as how Toyota doesn't have anywhere near the advanced electronics that BMW does, I doubt they will be able to improve reliability...

Speed doesn't equate reliability. sometimes the most robust products are conceptually simpler

Toyota reliability is amazing. every single one my family or friends have owned has gone 100k, 200k+ without any issues

our bmw's on the other hand... 40 out of ordinary maint visits 745li, 10 dealer visits e38 740iL, several on the X5, a couple on the M3's... the simpler 6mt M3's have been the most reliable

[speedM]

Originally Posted by BMWPower06

Everyone mentions "Toyota reliability" but fails to realize the communications systems in a Camry are completely different than anything found in a BMW. BMWs use fiber optic bus systems, which are faster, but also more expensive and less reliable. BMW has no issues with engine reliability, it is their electronics. Seeing as how Toyota doesn't have anywhere near the advanced electronics that BMW does, I doubt they will be able to improve reliability...

BMW has no issues with engine reliability? Lol.

[Chaddy808]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Sounds like a good thing to me. BMW engineering and Toyota reliability sounds like something I'd buy. Maybe they can even pull it off with Toyota pricing too!!!

Lightweight technologies, hugh? Hmmmm....carbon fiber is lightweight. It still strikes me as odd that carbon, the most abundant non-gaseous element on Earth is still more costly than other things, yet is is stronger as well being lighter in weight. And why stuff is still made from derivatives of iron and aluminum is a mystery to me.

Yeah, also something I'd like to buy. Definitely a thought of consideration. Although with a Toyota pricing is something I highly doubt. Anything and everything branded with BMW is far from cheap. Hopefully though, they'll be willing enough to take the collaboration between the two companies into consideration and find a compromise between prices.

[flightz71]

Fantastic news, this will be great for both companies! My two favorite brands automotive brands... M3 for my DD and my Supra Turbo for the weekends. With our powers combined...

Captain Planet motherfuc*ers!

[dencoop]

Are you efin kidding me...let's see where all of this goes... I may have to move on.....

[BMWPower06]

Originally Posted by speedM

BMW has no issues with engine reliability? Lol.

Not sure how many BMWs you've owned, but I've had almost a dozen throughout the family, some with 180k+ miles on them and the worst thing to happen engine-wise was the radiator broke on a couple of them. Almost all of the issues I've ever had with any of the BMWs are electronics related. I should mention that I am speaking more so about their NA engines.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by BMWI6

Wow, really? I can't believe this. All of this bragging on how BMW is independant and what not. This brand is going down the drain.

That's a reasonable reaction...

[carl_d]

Looks like a tech swap! I bet we will see UK built BMW 4-Cyl diesel engines in UK built Toyota's - factories are very close to each other - and BMW gets high tech battries for project i.

"In March 2012, the BMW Group and TMC signed a binding agreement on collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells. In addition, the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Europe entered into a contract under which the BMW Group will supply highly-efficient 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe, starting in 2014."