Photo: Autozeitung
A while back we were saying that if BMW and Toyota are working on a proper sportscar and that it will most likely be a hybrid one, using a chassis and internal combustion engine from the Germans and the electric technology from the Japanese.
Furthermore, the car sold under the Bavarian brand will also have a CFRP body with aluminum underpinnings to keep the weight down. However, more recent rumors not only confirm out suppositions but also take them further, saying that Toyota will bring supercapacitors onboard too.
The reason for using this new tech is pretty obvious. First of all, in the search for lighter vehicles, hybrids aren’t exactly perfect. Traditional hybrid cars use heavy batteries and electric motors, both of them adding a hefty amount of extra weight. Supercapacitors are lighter and deliver power faster than lithium-ion batteries on top of being capable of storing short-term kinetic energy better.
In this regard, Toyota’s Le Mans technology will definitely come in handy, helping out in various areas like compensating for turbo lag that might be a problem since the internal combustion unit used will most likely be a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine pushed to the limit, probably making around 300 HP or more.
Of course, the transmission will, most likely, be all-wheel-drive, in a similar way as on the i8 after which the chassis and body will be inspired with a manual sequential gearbox with torque vectoring.
As for the Toyota version, expect it to be a Supra revival using BMW’s internal combustion engine, marking a new age for the Japanese company and a return of the iconic model. The recently launched FT-1 Concept will most likely be the basis for the new model, of course with some changes here and there.
The reason for using this new tech is pretty obvious. First of all, in the search for lighter vehicles, hybrids aren’t exactly perfect. Traditional hybrid cars use heavy batteries and electric motors, both of them adding a hefty amount of extra weight. Supercapacitors are lighter and deliver power faster than lithium-ion batteries on top of being capable of storing short-term kinetic energy better.
In this regard, Toyota’s Le Mans technology will definitely come in handy, helping out in various areas like compensating for turbo lag that might be a problem since the internal combustion unit used will most likely be a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine pushed to the limit, probably making around 300 HP or more.
Of course, the transmission will, most likely, be all-wheel-drive, in a similar way as on the i8 after which the chassis and body will be inspired with a manual sequential gearbox with torque vectoring.
As for the Toyota version, expect it to be a Supra revival using BMW’s internal combustion engine, marking a new age for the Japanese company and a return of the iconic model. The recently launched FT-1 Concept will most likely be the basis for the new model, of course with some changes here and there.
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