November’s Tokyo motor show will reportedly host the unveiling of at least one half of the mid-sized sports car collaboration between Toyota and BMW.
US publication Motor Trend reports a concept of the new sports car – most likely Toyota’s version – will be revealed at the Japanese brand’s local show, giving the world its first look at the fruits of the highly anticipated partnership.
Unlike the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ collaboration that bore two near-identical compact sports cars, the partnership between Toyota and BMW is expected to yield two very distinct models with unique sheet metal and styling reflective of the brand’s design philosophies.
A source revealed to Motor Trend that development of the mid-sized sports car project has been underway since 2011, more than six months before the duo officially confirmed the joint program in July 2012.
The man spearheading the development from Toyota’s side is Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer for the Toyota 86 program.
In March Tada told Toyota UK’s official blog the new mid-sized sports car needed to reach a new level for the brand.
“I am hoping for a synergy effect with BMW that will result in a product that none of us could have imagined; something more than anyone expects,” he said.
“I would even go so far as to say that for the collaboration to work we have to bring a product which exceeds all these expectations.”
Reports refer to Toyota’s version as a successor to the Supra, while for BMW, it is less clear where the new model will sit in relation to the Z4 and upcoming 4 Series coupe.
The Toyota/BMW sports car collaboration is part of a larger partnership between the duo, in which they are working together on electric drivetrains, hydrogen fuel cells and lightweight technologies.
