There’s been more speculation around what exactly will arise from the much-vaunted BMW/Toyota partnership. The latest word is that it will be the third generation Z4, with Toyota producing their own coupe version.
This is according to the Bimmerpost website – given their ability to provide accurate info, clearly a bunch who have an inside track to developments in Munich – and it puts paid to the rumour mill pushing the next Toyota Supra as the first progeny.
Speculation suggests the car will take its design cues from the Vision ConnectedDrive concept first seen at the 2011 Geneva show and, interestingly, the car might be designated a Z3 and not a Z4, with a lot of the focus on weight reduction. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) will feature prominently thanks to trickle down tech from the i3 and i8. And that could mean a BMW-developed carbon fibre tub with key elements such as suspension arms, as well as bonnet and boot lid fabricated from CFRP, with an aluminium A structure and chassis section.
Like the current Z4, the new car will have a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration with the folding hard top ditched in favour of a soft top. Under that bonnet will be a variety of four- and six-cylinder BMW engines and Toyota’s second-generation plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
As mentioned in the intro, BMW will sell the Z3 as a roadster while Toyota will launch a coupe version. And in case you’re worried that could mean another set of Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ look-a-likes, each car will have individual styling.
