We reported in detail when BMW and Toyota confirmed getting into a four-part joint venture earlier this year. This joint venture is largely focussed on improving efficiency of the vehicles using fuel cells, lightweight materials and better battery technology. However, also a part of the JV was a “feasibility study” for development of a shared platform that will underpin an upcoming midsize “sports vehicle.”
It has now emerged that the upcoming “sports vehicle” project is running smoothly and has now entered the conceptual stage from conceptual stage. It won’t be unsafe to assume that BMW-Toyota could come up with a pair of new sportscars at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. Details about the two upcoming cars aren’t available as of now but what we do know is that there are good chances that the cars would be all-wheel drive hybrids, with the front wheels being powered by electric motors and the rear being powered by an IC engine. It will be really nice to see Toyota-BMW joint venture coming up with something as exciting as what came from the Toyota-Subaru tie up.