More details about the 2017 Toyota Z4 or BMW Supra - Hybrid four-cylinder, 3085 curb weight

[Sticky]

You know by now that BMW and Toyota announced a technology sharing agreement. You should also know that BMW and Toyota are collaborating on a new sports car. For BMW, that means the next generation Z4 and for Toyota that means a possible return of the Supra nameplate. There are a lot of rumors about what exactly is going to happen but a new report from MotorTrend sheds some light on the subject.

The car obviously will be a hybrid which is why the collaboration happened in the first place. Toyota has some great electric motors and hybrid technology which they have experience with from the Prius and BMW does as well with the 'i' brand now. We will see some mixing and matching as BMW's lightweight technology is paired with Toyota's electronic designs that BMW will produce.

The expected result is a lightweight 3085 pound car. This is a great weight target for a sports car and especially one with a hybrid drivetrain. Power is expected to come from a direct injected 2.0 liter four-cylinder motor. Let's hope that the motor is BMW's as the N20 is a very strong candidate.

This motor of course will be paired with an electric motor or two and the output should be in the 350+ horsepower range. That sounds pretty good with the 3085 pound curb weight making for a car that is fun to drive and toss into the corners.

The car may not be rear wheel drive as the electric motor will be front mounted. That means the next generation Z4 and Supra likely will have all wheel drive.

So what is the target date for these two cars? 2017. The end result is going to be very interesting to see.

Source

[richpike]

Sweet - I'm excited for this car. In general, Toyota doesn't scream "driving passion" to me, but one of the last Toyotas I got excited about was the Supra, so it is wise of them to rekindle that nameplate.

-Rich

[bobS]

Since the car is being release in 2017 I'm guessing the n20 will be long gone by then. Maybe the the 4 cylinder used will be the next gen m3 motor?

Either way I bet the motor comes from BMW

[Sticky]

I'm guessing the n20 will be long gone by then

Why?

[bobS]

Why?

The advancement will continue. Look at the life cycle of a engine in bmw's line up...typically 3-4 years.

[klipseracer]

Okay, its cool, but don't call it the supra... Please?

Put a turbocharged inline 6 in the next supra. What the heck else would you put in there that wouldn't be a disgrace to the supra brand?

[BlackJetE90OC]

I really hope they make a RWD version. I have absolutely no interest in owning a light weight sports car that I would track on a consistent basis, if it is AWD. A non-hybrid powerplant would be nice too, but I guess this is the direction all cars will be going. It just seems odd to make a small light weight agile sports car and ruin it with AWD.

Put the S55 in, make it RWD...call it a f*ckin day.

[Sticky]

The advancement will continue. Look at the life cycle of a engine in bmw's line up...typically 3-4 years.

No, not really. The N55 is basically an N54 with a single turbo and Valvetronic. The N63TU is just an N63 with Valvetronic. The M50 engine family was around for over a decade.

The N20 will still be here. Maybe an N20TU but it will still be the basic architecture.

[Sticky]

I really hope they make a RWD version. I have absolutely no interest in owning a light weight sports car that I would track on a consistent basis, if it is AWD. A non-hybrid powerplant would be nice too, but I guess this is the direction all cars will be going. It just seems odd to make a small light weight agile sports car and ruin it with AWD.

Put the S55 in, make it RWD...call it a f*ckin day.

It just won't happen. This whole partnership is all about electric technology and the most logical place for the electric motor is up front.

[-335i-]

So eventually this will be like Toyota FT86 / Subaru BRZ - same car a bit of differencies... where's the beef? What's happening to BMW? PSA engines, Front wheel drive, now this. Hopefully this is really just a technology sharing and a path for BMW to make kind of hybrid concept like Mclaren P1, Porsche 918 or LaFerrari.

[BlackJetE90OC]

It just won't happen. This whole partnership is all about electric technology and the most logical place for the electric motor is up front.

Does it really have to be awd? P1 and LaFerrari are not.

Why can't BMW just make a f*cking car for track enthusiasts?

[Sticky]

Does it really have to be awd? P1 and LaFerrari are not.

I think so because Toyota's design is to go over the front axle.

[Sticky]

Why can't BMW just make a f*cking car for track enthusiasts?

Because they don't care.

[bobS]

Why can't BMW just make a f*cking car for track enthusiasts?

It's called the m2, nice suspension, wide fenders, big brakes, great trans, 380hp n55.....perfect

[BlackJetE90OC]

It's called the m2, nice suspension, wide fenders, big brakes, great trans, 380hp n55.....perfect

Just hurts a little when they tease a two seat sports car barely over 3,000lbs. But then you read it will be a hybrid and awd. So much potential.

[bobS]

Very true! Plus to be a track car they need to work on cooling for the n55 in the m2

[Kommodore]

Thought the N20 was being phased out in lieu of the new B-series motors, starting with the 3-Series facelift?

[Sticky]

Which B-Series motors?

[Covfefe]

My guess is it will have the B48 new turbo 4. Since the N55 is being replaced by the B58.

[Covfefe]

No, not really. The N55 is basically an N54 with a single turbo and Valvetronic. The N63TU is just an N63 with Valvetronic. The M50 engine family was around for over a decade.

The N20 will still be here. Maybe an N20TU but it will still be the basic architecture.

Don't forget the fully weighted crank on the n54 thats not on the n55

[DFM]

My guess is it will have the B48 new turbo 4. Since the N55 is being replaced by the B58.

I know about the B48. I highly doubt bmw would share powertrains with MINI cars. Then again, they have been making some poor choices lately.

I havnt heard of the B58.

[leveraged sellout]

This is interesting, as the next S2000 will be a 2900 pound rear-drive aluminum and CF turbo 4 roadster with about 365 hp, basically a baby NSX without the hybrid stuff, built in the same factory. I kind of feel the Supra name belongs only on something that will have over 500 hp, but I guess this is the future.

[M5 253]

the prius battery has a Tesla stamp on it, so why not go straight to Tesla?

[bobS]

Which B-Series motors?

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/05/21/bm...7-b38-b47-b48/

The new b series motors replace the n's.

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/fa...ily-78524.html

The 335 will have more power as well...

[Stevenh]

A hybrid with two electric motors and batteries coming in under 3,100 lbs? Not believing it. Sorry.