Upcoming Toyota Supra To Be Packed With BMW Technology - Is That A Good Or Bad Thing?

The Toyota Supra is set to return as a plug-in hybrid sports car using BMW underpinnings, Auto Express can reveal. And our exclusive image shows how the radical styling will be influenced by the FT-1 supercar concept seen at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

The ‘BMW Supra’ has been born out of a technology-sharing deal announced by the two companies in 2011. At the time they confirmed a number of projects, including hydrogen fuel-cell development, shared battery tech and a joint sports car platform.

It’s understood that the underpinnings for the next-generation BMW Z4 will also form the basis of a new Supra. The new BMW roadster will use lightweight know-how gleaned from the i3 and i8 plug-in range, with extensive use of aluminium and carbon fibre aimed at reducing weight and upping the roadster’s stiffness.



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Yonder7 - 8/5/2014 2:50:11 PM

+3 Boost

If the reliability gets affected...then it will be bad...

Agent009 - 8/5/2014 3:18:26 PM

-2 Boost

And if reliability is not affected then the "reliability issues" of BMW was just a myth?

JDMUSMuscle - 8/5/2014 4:07:40 PM

+2 Boost

009, your logic does not make sense, seriously. You sound like a desperate house wife or some kind, honestly.... You are always being desperate to try to defend BMW in any way possible, but he is only saying that it would be a bad thing if this car has bad reliability due to using BMW tech.

And if it actually was reliable after all, then there are many things we could think of. It could be that BMW made a good, reliable tech for this Supra, or just Toyota tweaked it around to make it more reliable. You always jump to conclusions and try hard to defend Germany all the time, but really, try to be more logical next time.

carsnyc - 8/5/2014 3:08:57 PM

+2 Boost

This car was already a winner (the Supra name, looks, that red paint, and the Toyota trouble-free sense of ownership). Adding something BMW to it adds sassiness to the formula, so good move Toyota!

leej - 8/5/2014 4:39:27 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota's quality control will manage implementation of any BMW components.

Benzes1 - 8/5/2014 5:27:47 PM

+3 Boost

If they build this as is I will be buying one. Toyota name be damned, these are extenuating circumstances. BMW will make the engines, Toyota will make it all reliable and trouble free and either of them can do the chassis tuning. Interior should be done by BMW. I really don't care who does what long as it looks like that concept. Stunning vehicle. Toyota or BMW? When was the last time you had to choose between those two? Great times we're in.

skytop - 8/5/2014 6:37:59 PM

+3 Boost

Good to see superior technology being shared with two giant auto makers.

Vorana - 8/5/2014 6:43:03 PM

+4 Boost

Dunno if BMW can teach Toyota anything.
20 years ago, ok. But today?
Maybe this BMW/Toyota relationship is a backdoor way to
dump Lexus in Europe cuz they generally dont sell as well there
as in the States
And conversely, a backdoor way for BMW to get Hybrid tech without losing face

MattDarringer - 8/6/2014 9:49:18 AM

+2 Boost

If anything the BMW/Toyota tie up will give BMW the long-term insulation that it will desperately need.

mpls - 8/6/2014 12:18:54 PM

+2 Boost

The hybrid system will still be Toyota

''Toyota is thought to be employing drip-down tech from its Le Mans race cars, although unlike the TS040 Hybrid, the ‘new Supra’ will use twin electric motors on the front axle, together with an engine-supplementing e-motor at the rear, rather than purely rear-wheel drive.'