In the fast-developing and rapidly accelerating world of car manufacturing — and sports cars in particular —borders and national aspects of carmakers give place to various collaborations in spite of any geographical barriers. Another example of such partnership between the Japanese and German engineers is going to be a BMW Z4 — a sports car of the new generation. The work on this project started last year.
BMW and Toyota agreed on building a joint platform for the production of supercars at the end of the previous year. Predictions were made that the new joint model was going to be a successor of either Toyota Supra or Lexus LFA. However, according to Motoring magazine, German engineers do not take part in building the new Supra. But the all-new BMW Z4 is going to be the result of collaboration between two companies.
The design of the sports car has not been approved yet but they plan to use the stylistic concept developed by the Japanese designers. Moreover, the final version of body outline will be developed by both BMW and Toyota independently of each other.
The car will have a front-engine layout and rear-wheel drive. Composite materials — including aluminium and materials tested on i3 electric car and i8 sports hybrid — will be widely used in different body parts.
Toyota will be supplying the hybrid powertrain. According to preliminary information, it will comprise a 2-litre petrol-fuelled engine, plug-in system and capacitors instead of the traditional batteries. The new roadster is expected to appear on the market in 2017.
The agreement between BMW and Toyota includes mutual cooperation on developing fuel cell powertrains and also creating new batteries and light composite materials.
According to auto.newsru.com and motoring.com
