New Supra? Toyota And BMW To Join Forces On New Midsized Sports Car

BRZ handling with M3 engine, that would be great!

BMW driving-pleasure with Toyota reliability - I WANT!

Toyota reliability, despite them having the most recalls of any manufacturer... They aren't bullet proof anymore, they lost that reputation when they overlooked quality in order to sell the most cars of any manufacturer... Things change

why do you keep associating recalls with reliability issues? Reliability = ones ability to depend on critical components of their cars to last or outlast their own or the markets expectations of their life cycle, thus resulting in a vehicle you can "trust" or rely on to function when you need it to.

Recalls equate to an automaker identifying a defect in a component of vehicle, finding a fix and issuing it free to all those who own the vehicle to ensure both safety and continued operation of the vehicle. It's a pro-active approach to ensuring it continues to function as it should. When you consider a vehicle to be "un-reliable", in most cases it means that there is a malfunction that would be expected in all vehicles, however in the vehicle in question experiences it earlier in its life or more frequently.

"why do you keep associating recalls with reliability issues?" because until a few years ago, the auto industry was reluctant to call for major recalls since they are huge expenses that hurt the bottom line. Most auto companies were aware of the "defects" like you called them but kept quiet about them at the expense of the consumers. This cars will then go to the shop and be labeled as unreliable since the customer had to fix the issues at their own expense and not at the manufacturers. Nowadays due to pressures from the government and consumer groups, auto manufacturers are obligated to identify and fix all these "recalls/defects" as soon as possible in order to avoid legal actions.
It's the same thing but hidden in words written by attorneys so people like you don't see them as "unreliable". Keep drinking the kool aid!

...Wow, That sports car would be wicked!!! A Frankenstein sports car so to speak, even though I dont think Toyota would actually need help building a new Supra because they've already demonstated their ability to build the LFA. I do think this will be one super bad sports car with hybrid tech and other advanced developments iside and out. We all just have to wait and see what the Yen and the Euro produces, so to speak.

Please tell me this isn't so. What if there was a joint sports car badged a BMW and a Lexus…

The (new) head of Toyota is slowly, step by step transforming his company into an aspirational performance badge. In 15 years Toyota will be a stronger brand thought of with the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

I will say it will happen in less than five. :)

You're absolutely see the light -PUGPROUD! More so, I think Lexus will have made a Rolls Royce rival and a $800K LFA replacement by then. They have in fact said they will build a model that will exceed the Rolls Royce and Bentley and will build a Super Car with a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $800K to a Cool Million. It's not If or Can they build them, but WHEN! So, this BMW/Toyota venture is just the begining!!!

Or will they implode just like GM did? I guess we will wait and see but I got my behind handed to me today with my shares of AAPL. For the last 3 years the company was untouchable, couldn't do no wrong, biggest market cap in the world and look at it today. Trading below $450, 35% off it all time high and most of every analyst in Wall Street is reducing its targets. How quick things change in the markets.

One can either look at this as a cost cutting measure or Toyota signaling that it either does not believe the sports car market($30k+ market) is large enough to justify going it alone or that they(Toyota) does not have believe that it can build a competent sports car on their own.

Unless the motor is as bulletproof as the 2JZ, I'm not interested; I'll hang on to my 91 NSX. She has 225k miles on the original motor; over 160k miles being supercharged, all without burning any oil or other issues. I've owned the Mk2 & Mk3...would have bought a Mk4, but I loved the shape of the X more.

.02

What Toyota is doing is five fold...1) sharing development costs, 2) broadening its line, 3) learning the strengths of other manufactures,
4) piggybacking on those strengths and other's reputation in the marketplace, and 5) strngthening and polishing its performance image.
Brillant. I've said it before and I'll say it again "Companies run by founders/family have unchallegeable authority and can by the their pure will, passion and determination drive an organization to greatness." Think Jobs (Apple), think Piech (VW/Porsche), Ouandt (BMW), and now think Toyoda (Toyota)!!!!!

They can use this to establish themselves in new markets. Most of the Japanese car makers did this to get established in the US market. This will bolster the Toyota brand in Europe which has been slow going for the Japanese. The Supra will be a premium price and not sell in great numbers, though likely will sell more than the BMW version. BMW should gain manufacturing and reliability know-how(though not apparent that GM learned much with their Toyota venture).