This latest iteration of the BMW Z4 was revealed to the public back in August, during the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. However, we’re still waiting for its Japanese counterpart, the Toyota Supra, to show its face. You’d think since both cars were developed from the same chassis and use such similar components that they’d debut together. However, the development teams for both cars actually haven’t been communicating with one another, never mind coordinating launches together, for years now.
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The joint project between both brands began in 2012, which shows just how long the development of the Z4/Supra actually took. However, the last time both teams spoke about the car was 2014, according to Supra Assistant Chief Engineer Masayuki Kai, who spoke with CNET at the Supra prototype’s drive in Spain.
“We agreed on the packaging,” said Kai, “like where is the hip-point of the driver, what’s the wheelbase, the width, where’s the fuel tank, where’s the A-pillar, this was around the middle of 2014… After that we completely separated our team. After that, no communication with each other.”
According to Kai, the two cars will also feel quite a bit different. While they share the same engine and transmission, the Toyota Supra has been specifically tuned to feel different from the Z4. “Tuning of the shifting, some of the shift-shock, shift-speed, all if this is specifically designed for our Supra.” said Kai. “For the engine, we tuned the engine for throttle response and a little more sport.”
As far as chassis and suspension components, we’re not so sure how different the cars are from each other, as we really haven’t been given a ton of info on the Toyota Supra. So, with its engine and transmission being tuned differently, along with the possibility of different suspension components, it’s possible that the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra feel like very different cars.
[Source: CNET]
Tschuus or Sayonara done long ago !
I highly doubt that!
I remember a comment from a BMW engineer who basically said “Toyota ordered a sportscar and we made it”. No where in the world would it make sense to use different axles, suspensions etc. for such low volume cars. They are only possible because they are in the same platform!
Yup, and if they split-up 4 years ago – how come the Supra & Z4 prototypes were very often photographed together leaving Munich?
They might drive differently but I think (like you) they were developed by one team.
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/lexus/toyota-and-bmw-project-silk-road-2-new-supra-z7/
BMW would never drop its pride and associate itself with the peasant brand so called ‘Toyota’.
Better that than selling rebadged (as an X!) Nissan pick-up, Mercedes couldn’t even come up with an original name – who do they think they are, Tesla? The Toyota tie-in is genius, if one of the biggest manufacturers, with a known reputation for reliability, is willing to buy Bavarian, it’s the perfect rebuttal for those who slag BMW quality control.
While they share the same engine and transmission, the Toyota Supra has
been specifically tuned to feel different from the Z4. “Tuning of the
shifting, some of the shift-shock, shift-speed, all if this is
specifically designed for our Supra.” said Kai. “For the engine, we
tuned the engine for throttle response and a little more spor
so how would they know if it’s different if they didn’t communicate ?
Silkroad2 = Sushi meets Weisswurst. Toyota pays, Bmw develops, that was the deal 6 years ago. No talks, no negotition since then?…. Strange.
Yeah, because BMW did all the work anyway :D
Don’t know what impression he is trying to make with these statements. Wants to get credit for BMWs work?!
Bollocks!