BMW and Toyota joining forces to collaborate on a future mid-size sports car and technology exchange including lightweight materials and batteries

[whoosh]

I guess if it's good enough for Subaru, it's good enough for BMW.

http://wot.motortrend.com/official-b...#axzz2IvvC1BbI

BMW and Toyota will collaborate on a midsize sports car, the automakers revealed today. As part of a larger long-term collaboration, the two automakers will jointly develop a midsizesports vehicle, fuel cell system, research lightweight technology, and even lithium-air batteries that are said to provide a much greater energy density than lithium-ion batteries.With the new agreement, the automakers will work together to develop a fundamental fuel-cell vehicle system, including a fuel cell stack, hydrogen tank, motor and battery. The automakers hope to have the project completed by 2020, with a prototype as early as 2015. Also part of the plan, Toyota and BMW will attempt to streamline hydrogen refueling infrastructure codes and standards. Future Toyota and BMW hybrids may use a lithium-air battery – development of which is one element in the four-part collaborative effort.The “mid-size sports vehicle” would be just the first to benefit from BMW-Toyota research into lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies, including reinforced composites. While the lightweight rear-drive Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ triplets were a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, some speculate that the new BMW-Toyota midsize sports car could yield a new Supra. Expect to see a concept giving us an idea of what to expect from the platform by the end of 2013.For the sports car platform, Toyota will help by sharing its knowledge on environmentally friendly, hybrid, and fuel-cell technology while BMW likely contributing its expertise engineering “highly dynamic” vehicles.The collaboration builds on previous agreements such as a December 2011 deal to work together on lithium-ion battery development for hybrid and PHEVs, which included a provision for BMW to supply Toyota 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines for Euro-market cars beginning in 2014. As for the midsize sports vehicle, we’ll be seeing and hearing more on that enticing project before the end of this year.Source: BMW

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[nafoo]

This looks sexy!

http://wot.motortrend.com/official-bmw-and-toyota-to-collaborate-on-midsize-sports-car-319667.html#axzz2Iw8QC5AD



BMW and Toyota will collaborate on a midsize sports car, the automakers revealed today. As part of a larger long-term collaboration, the two automakers will jointly develop a midsize sports vehicle, fuel cell system, research lightweight technology, and even lithium-air batteries that are said to provide a much greater energy density than lithium-ion batteries.

With the new agreement, the automakers will work together to develop a fundamental fuel-cell vehicle system, including a fuel cell stack, hydrogen tank, motor and battery. The automakers hope to have the project completed by 2020, with a prototype as early as 2015. Also part of the plan, Toyota and BMW will attempt to streamline hydrogen refueling infrastructure codes and standards. Future Toyota and BMW hybrids may use a lithium-air battery – development of which is one element in the four-part collaborative effort.



The “mid-size sports vehicle” would be just the first to benefit from BMW-Toyota research into lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies, including reinforced composites. While the lightweight rear-drive Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ triplets were a joint project between Toyota and Subaru, some speculate that the new BMW-Toyota midsize sports car could yield a new Supra. Expect to see a concept giving us an idea of what to expect from the platform by the end of 2013.

For the sports car platform, Toyota will help by sharing its knowledge on environmentally friendly, hybrid, and fuel-cell technology while BMW likely contributing its expertise engineering “highly dynamic” vehicles.

The collaboration builds on previous agreements such as a December 2011 deal to work together on lithium-ion battery development for hybrid and PHEVs, which included a provision for BMW to supply Toyota 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines for Euro-market cars beginning in 2014. As for the midsize sports vehicle, we’ll be seeing and hearing more on that enticing project before the end of this year.

Source: BMW

[Sticky]

Interesting development here in the automotive world with BMW and Toyota signing a formal agreement for collaboration. This seems some what similar to agreement between Toyota and Subaru in the development of the BRZ sports coupe. BMW and Toyota will develop a mid-size sports car and will jointly research the technologies to be used. These include a fuel cell system, lightweight materials, and lithium-ion battery technology.

Will the sports car that apparently will be the child of these technologies be a Toyota re-badged as a BMW? Will this be the Supra successor? A lot of interesting questions are being raised but if the result is as good as the Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S but on a higher end scale the prospects are promising. What is somewhat amusing though is it is taking Toyota to finally have BMW deliver a true sports car. The same Toyota that it seems BMW is modeling itself after going for sales volume above all else. There is some irony in there somewhere for the company claiming to make the Ultimate Driving Machine especially with recent criticism of BMW just being the German Toyota.

Let's hope for the best, press release below.

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation Deepen Collaboration by Signing Binding Agreements

Fuel Cell System, Sports Vehicle, Lightweight Technology and Lithium-air Battery Collaboration to Commence

Munich - BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are pursuing their successful strategic long-term cooperation in the field of sustainable mobility today by signing binding agreements aimed at long-term collaboration between the two companies for the joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and joint research and development of lightweight technologies. These agreements follow a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2012.

Furthermore, BMW Group and TMC also today signed a binding agreement to commence collaborative research on lithium-air batteries, a post-lithium-battery solution. This agreement marks the second phase of collaborative research into next-generation lithium-ion battery cells that commenced in March 2012.

The main points of the agreements are:

1. Fuel cell system
The companies are convinced that fuel cell technology is one of the solutions necessary to achieve zero emissions. BMW Group and TMC are to share their technologies and to jointly develop a fundamental fuel-cell vehicle system, including not only a fuel cell stack and system, but also a hydrogen tank, motor and battery, aiming for completion in 2020.
- The companies are to collaborate in jointly developing codes and standards for the hydrogen infrastructure which are necessary for the popularization of fuel cell vehicles.

2. Sports vehicle
The companies agreed to set-up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle that is to be completed by the end of 2013. The two companies aim to combine each other's technology and knowledge at a high level to maximise customer satisfaction. Both companies are to share the vision to further collaborate in the field of sports vehicle development.

3. Lightweight technology
The companies are to jointly develop lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies using cutting-edge materials such as reinforced composites, with an eye to utilize these technologies in cooperation on the joint development of a sports-vehicle platform as well as other BMW and TMC vehicles.

4. Post-lithium-battery technology
The companies are to begin joint research with a goal to develop a lithium-air battery with energy density greatly exceeding that of current lithium-ion batteries.

Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG said: "TMC and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of future sustainable mobility. In light of the technological changes ahead, the entire automotive industry faces tremendous challenges, which we also regard as an opportunity. This collaboration is an important building block in keeping both companies on a successful course in the future."

Akio Toyoda, President of TMC said: "It is just over a year since we signed our collaborative MoU, and with each day as our relationship strengthens, we feel acutely that we are making steadfast progress. Now, we are entering the phase that promises the fruit. While placing importance on what we learn from the joint development, we will work hard together in reaching our common goal of making ever-better cars."

BMW Group and TMC first agreed to form a medium-to-long-term collaborative relationship for developing next-generation environment-friendly vehicles and technologies in December 2011, at which time the two companies also signed a contract under which BMW Group is to supply highly efficient diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe. BMW Group and TMC ― as long-term strategic partners ― have since continued their joint efforts to realize sustainable mobility for the future.

[Sorena]

Maybe they are going to use N54 in the next Supra?

[Sledgehammer]

I can see the synergies they could bring to the table... Considering Subaru did all the chassis tuning for the FRS/BRZ twins it should be interesting what BMW could offer to Toyota in terms of chassis engineering. Germaneseboost.com site to follow LOL

[rezin23]

All I care about is a NEW inline-6 Supra.

[Eleventeen]

Wait, I remember something like this happening before. Oh $#@!...

[Sticky]

Wait, I remember something like this happening before. Oh $#@!...

Explain?

[Sered]

Agreed. This is really cool. Maybe the M3/M4 motor ends up in a Supra as well

[crypticc]

Sierra Cosworth? Lotus Carlton? Mini Cooper S (original)? Great things happen with partnerships. BMW MR2 / Z4 / Supra? Now all we need is Honda to share some of their engine love. Lol

[sammy_0559]

lol as long as toyota handles the fueling.... I'm happy.

[bobS]

I can't see this being a bad thing. I wonder what price range the car will be? I would assume BMW will be careful not to make a m3/m4 killer...