From a planned mid-sized Toyota Supra-esque sports car to intense cooperation on hybrid technology and carbon-fiber expertise, much good may spring from the increasingly cozy relationship between Toyota and BMW. Unless, that is, you hope to see the perky little Subaru BRZ live to see another generation.
Australia’s Drive asked Tetsuya Tada, Toyota’s chief engineer responsible for both the mid-size sports-car project as well as the GT 86 (which we know as the Scion FR-S), whether Subaru will again be a strategic partner as Big T develops its next-gen 86. His response: “Maybe, but this is not decided at the moment.” Moving forward with BMW as its partner for both of the Toyota sports cars “is one possibility,” he added.
If Subaru is indeed written out of the equation, the BRZ could be a one-hit wonder. We can’t imagine Subaru developing a next-generation BRZ on its own, and minor face lifts and special editions aren’t likely going to be enough to keep the sports coupe afloat.
Tada further said that his engineering team is exploring different powertrain solutions for its next GT 86, including inline engines in place of the boxer four-cylinders Subaru currently contributes to the shared sports-car program. Inline engines? BMW FTW! Well, not so fast: Tada is also quoted as saying that while “the trend of powertrains is of course downsizing and turbocharging . . . my opinion is to retain natural aspiration in the future.”
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This could cast some doubt on the use of BMW engines, since the German company’s entire engine lineup is now turbocharged. One possible scenario might then be BMW leading platform and chassis development, with Toyota chipping in naturally aspirated inline-fours. In any case, the future isn’t looking particularly bright for the BRZ in light of this report and despite the fact that Toyota owns 20 percent of Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries.
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