Photo: Automobile Magazine
Ever since BMW and Toyota publicly admitted they are working together, the internet’s rumor mill didn’t stop churning out all sorts of suppositions about what the two giants will bring forward in the end.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the ‘Silk Road’ codename surfaced for the first time, being quoted as the basis for the upcoming Z4 or its replacement (if BMW will go that way) and a possible Toyota Supra revival (or, once again, something of that sort).
Now, Motor Trend claims that one of their insiders confirmed that all these rumors are true and that the Toyota FT-1 Concept is actually previewing the new cars. Yeah, both of them.
While that sound fishy to us, things are bound to happen in the next few years. It does seem likely that the two will be sharing a platform and the powertrains but they will be separate entities.
BMW’s Moses Lake investment will pay off and the new roadster will be using plenty of CFRP in its construction. The Germans will, most likely, be also responsible for the chassis of the two, as they are master crafters at this sort of stuff, thanks to their Motorsport division.
On the other hand, Toyota will be supplying the batteries and electric motors. Oh, didn’t we mention it? They will probably be hybrids or, if we’re to venture even further into suppositions, they could be using fuel-cell technology but that’s still a long shot.
Even so, the powertrains of the final design of the two products are still in development and there’s a really small chance that they will be shared. Most likely, the two companies will release cars that will have similar specs but they won’t be identical.
Since Toyota will be looking to revive the Supra and BMW will need a Roadster, the differences between them will be more than skin deep.
Speaking of body styles, Motor Trend claims that the Bimmer will be using a hardtop, in a similar fashion to the current Z4. Furthermore, an M version could very well show up, to follow in the footsteps of the Z3 and previous-gen Z4.
With the current roadster turning 7 in 2016 and going out of production, if there’s a replacement or new model in the works as we speak, it should show up by then, at least in the shape of a Concept.
Now, Motor Trend claims that one of their insiders confirmed that all these rumors are true and that the Toyota FT-1 Concept is actually previewing the new cars. Yeah, both of them.
While that sound fishy to us, things are bound to happen in the next few years. It does seem likely that the two will be sharing a platform and the powertrains but they will be separate entities.
BMW’s Moses Lake investment will pay off and the new roadster will be using plenty of CFRP in its construction. The Germans will, most likely, be also responsible for the chassis of the two, as they are master crafters at this sort of stuff, thanks to their Motorsport division.
On the other hand, Toyota will be supplying the batteries and electric motors. Oh, didn’t we mention it? They will probably be hybrids or, if we’re to venture even further into suppositions, they could be using fuel-cell technology but that’s still a long shot.
Even so, the powertrains of the final design of the two products are still in development and there’s a really small chance that they will be shared. Most likely, the two companies will release cars that will have similar specs but they won’t be identical.
Since Toyota will be looking to revive the Supra and BMW will need a Roadster, the differences between them will be more than skin deep.
Speaking of body styles, Motor Trend claims that the Bimmer will be using a hardtop, in a similar fashion to the current Z4. Furthermore, an M version could very well show up, to follow in the footsteps of the Z3 and previous-gen Z4.
With the current roadster turning 7 in 2016 and going out of production, if there’s a replacement or new model in the works as we speak, it should show up by then, at least in the shape of a Concept.
Google News