It was never a popular choice for Toyota to collaborate with BMW on the development of the Supra. When it was first announced in, it wasn’t.
In This Article...
The new Z4 roadster’s increased hardware will be used by the fifth-generation Supra.
When it was announced several years ago, Toyota’s desire to collaborate with BMW on the Supra/Z4 joint project raised quite a few eyebrows. We are only a few weeks away from the A90’s premiere in Detroit after a painstakingly long path to the official unveiling of the vehicle. The fifth-generation Supra will have a BMW engine under the hood when it shows up at NAIAS. Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada gave an interview to Automotive News Europe in which he outlined the justification for choosing to get the Supra’s engine from a different automaker.
The BMW-Toyota Partnership is Only Now Beginning
BMW and Toyota first announced their technological alliance in 2013, but things are just getting started now in 2020. According to Reuters, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse is in favor of not only extending the partnership until 2025 but also forging a closer connection.
At the Automobilwoche Kongress last week, Zipse added, “We would do well to strengthen ties in the coming decades.”
The alliance has so far produced two vehicles that share a common base and powertrain: a new BMW Z4 convertible and a Toyota Supra sports coupe. As demonstrated by vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 Miata/Fiat 124 Spider and the Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86, this kind of cost-sharing is becoming increasingly prevalent in the industry.
The agreement also covers hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, a field in which Toyota has deep expertise thanks to the Toyota Mirai, one of the first mass-produced fuel-cell cars on the market. At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW debuted its own I Hydrogen NEXT crossover concept; however, the carmaker doesn’t plan to release a hydrogen vehicle in regular production until 2025 or later.
BMW’s CEO also said at Automobilwoche Kongress that if politicians started to push for increased hydrogen production globally, fuel cell vehicles would gain immensely.
However, there may be fewer resources available for enthusiast items like sports cars as BMW and other automakers move toward alternative power systems and various nations implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last Monday, Zipse addressed that directly, first stating that BMW is considering how to save expenses by scaling back its portfolio before making the following foreboding declaration:
That seems to imply that, with or without a Toyota cooperation, vehicles like the Z4 might potentially end up on the scrap heap in the future.
Together, BMW and Toyota will create the vehicles of the future.
Together with Toyota, the leading manufacturer in Japan, BMW, the largest luxury automaker in the world, is concentrating on the next generation of vehicles. More specifically, they’ll be working on fuel cell technologies, electric drivetrains, and novel approaches to build lighter cars.
“We are joining to produce ever better cars,” Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda stated when announcing the new agreement.
Although joint ventures between manufacturers are nothing new, this arrangement has the special ability to succeed where others have fallen short.
Both businesses are adamant about incorporating their combined drivetrain technology expertise into new cars (Toyota with electric vehicles, BMW with race cars).
Norbert Reithofer, CEO of BMW, refers to it as a “win-win” situation for both businesses. Reithofer stated that Toyota and BMW “have the same strategic objective of sustainable individual future transportation.”
BMW and Toyota decided to collaborate on the creation of lithium-ion battery cells just six months ago. This will result in BMW giving Toyota diesel engines for vehicles sold in Europe. They first discussed prolonging their partnership in March.
Mr. Toyoda stated, “I think this shows that we respect each other by taking the next step barely six months after the signing of our initial agreement.
All manufacturers are under increased pressure to reduce expenses, especially in the area of powertrain and fuel-saving technology R&D.
Could BMW and Toyota make advancements in drivetrain technology that fundamentally alter the market? In Reithofer’s opinion. Reithofer stated that the transition from the typewriter to the iPad is the future of automotive technology after announcing the transaction in Germany.
How come Toyota chose BMW?
The head of Toyota’s performance division claims that BMW’s cooperation was forced upon it in part because it had the components required for the Supra, namely Bimmer’s roaring 3.0-liter inline-six engine.
Do Toyota and BMW collaborate?
Over ten years have passed since BMW and Toyota first collaborated. Although they would jointly develop the Supra and Z4, their relationships go beyond their sports automobile. As early as 2025, the two will begin mass-producing and marketing the hydrogen fuel cell automobiles they designed together. The information was revealed in an interview with Nikkei Asia by Pieter Nota, head of sales at BMW.
Nota told the publication that BMW sees hydrogen as “especially suitable for larger SUVs,” however he did not disclose any other information about these upcoming fuel cell cars. According to old reports, BMW once considered equipping the X7 with hydrogen power.
Does Toyota utilize BMW motors?
16 valve DOHC inline-4 turbodiesel engines with common rail injection make up the Toyota WW engine family. Based on the BMW N47 and adapted for use in Toyota automobiles, these engines. According to whom?, Toyota improved the engine’s smoothness, quietness, efficiency, and refinement by redesigning the Stop & Start system, developing a new ECU, adding more insulator engine mounts, installing its own DPF filters, and installing a new dual-mass flywheel. The 2.0 liter (143 PS, 320 Nm) and 1.6 liter (112 PS, 270 Nm) variants of the WW engine are both available.
BMW produces Toyota Supra, right?
A J29/DB The Toyota Supra is a sports automobile that Toyota has been manufacturing since 2019. It is primarily sold as the Toyota GR Supra. It succeeded the preceding model, the A80, whose production ceased in 2002, and is marketed under the Gazoo Racing (GR) name. The G29 BMW Z4 and the GR Supra were built on the same platform and were jointly developed by GR and BMW. The Magna Steyr facility in Graz, Austria, makes both automobiles.
The fifth-generation Supra is identified as a J29 series with DB model codes and adheres to BMW model code norms. To retain continuity with other Supra models, Toyota used the “A90” and “A91” codes in promotional and marketing materials for the fifth generation Supra.
A Toyota Supra is it a BMW?
In case you somehow didn’t know, the new Supra is essentially a BMW Z4 on the inside. It has a BMW drivetrain, interior, and parts. It is propelled by a B58 twin-turbo straight-six engine from BMW. The M440i xDrive also has the same straight-six engine. In a drag race, even though both cars have the same engine, they are not very evenly matched.
To see which car would be faster, the Carwow Youtube channel recently decided to drag race the two vehicles on a closed runway. Given that it’s a 2020 model, the Supra only has 340 horsepower (it was retuned to 382 hp for 2021). On the other hand, the M440i is producing all 382 horsepower. It also has all-wheel drive, giving it tremendous starting grip.
Although the Supra may have less torque and traction, it does have one advantage: weight. It is significantly lighter than the 4-Series because it just has two seats and does not require an AWD system. Unfortunately, in a straight-up drag race, that wouldn’t be enough to win. The Supra falls short in each of the three races. The only time it can compete is in a roll race, where it finishes neck and neck with the M440i.
This information was imported. At their website, you might be able to discover the same material in a different format or more details.
Who will be Toyota’s main rival in 2021?
Honda, a well-known brand in the automotive industry, has its headquarters in Japan and produces motorcycles, aviation, and power equipment. It leads the globe in the production of powerful automobiles. Honda not only designs, manufactures, and sells the vehicles, but also offers fantastic after-sales support to their clients.
About 14 million internal combustion engines are produced by the company annually; Honda is the largest internal combustion engine manufacturer. One of the company’s greatest achievements is the Research and Development division of Honda, which is exceptional and constantly working to produce fantastic vehicles. The designs are a huge hit with consumers.
To keep up with the demands of technology, each of their vehicles is likewise equipped with cutting-edge equipment. About 100 different car models are included in their extensive product line, along with other vehicles like bikes and scooters. Honda is regarded as one of the main rivals to Toyota because of their reputation and significant market share.
Why is BMW called Supra?
Working together between various automakers is not uncommon. Cost and production time savings, as well as the utilization of shared technologies and resources, are frequent advantages of collaboration. Ford has already partnered with Mazda, Toyota has done it with Subaru, and BMW is currently collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover on electrification technology. Toyota and BMW have a long-standing cooperation that recently gave rise to the most recent version of the revered Supra, Toyota’s illustrious mid-sized sports car.
The new Supra, which is now in its fifth generation, doesn’t resemble the BMW Z4 with which it shares parts at all. It has fascinating shapes and pointed-looking headlights, whilst the Z4 has a curvier, more rounder style. The Supra’s bold dimensions can look a little off-putting from certain perspectives. It also sports a distinctive front fascia, as opposed to the safer, more traditional BMW look of the Z4’s.
Even though both vehicles are two-door sports cars, the Supra has a hardtop while the Z4 is only available as a convertible.
However, the new Supra contains a sizable amount of components with BMW stamps underneath. For instance, the inline-six engine came from BMW, but Toyota’s engineers tweaked it especially for the Supra. The chassis is identical to the Z4’s, and BMW likewise provides the eight-speed automatic transmission. The Magna Steyr facility in Graz, Austria, produces both vehicles.
The cooperation makes sense both economically and culturally. Toyota understood it had to offer the new Supra a straight-six engine in order to maintain the tradition set by earlier iterations of the Supra.
So instead of spending the time and money necessary to design and construct its own new straight-six, Toyota opted to use BMW’s.
According to Motor Trend, BMW decided against building a new version of a low-volume convertible because the costs associated with doing so would have been too high. BMW was able to release the new Z4 and the new Supra last year thanks in part to financial support from Toyota.
Who manufactures Toyota motors?
Toyota Industries produces the engines used in Toyota cars that are sold all over the world. We design and produce environmentally friendly clean diesel engines that balance power output with environmental impact, as well as turbochargers that are crucial to boosting engine output. By doing this, we meet emissions regulations while also enhancing fuel economy, low speed torque, quiet operation, and reliability.