If the Toyota-BMW joint sports-car project ever results in a new vehicle, chances are that it will cost more than the base $54,995 C7 Corvette, according to a recent story from Car and Driver. According to the report, the car will be in the mid-size sports car segment, like the Corvette and Porsche 911.
The Toyota-BMW joint partnership will likely result in two different cars coming to the market much like Toyota/Subaru partnership brought both the Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS. Looking at the segment, this car will most likely be turbocharged and produce more than 400 HP. Rear-wheel drive is all but assured.
It is also likely the BMW versions will be more upscale and could be a direct replacement of the Z4. There is also the thought that BMW will use its newfound carbon-fiber expertise to build a more powerful version.
Toyota may simply offer a more basic sports car and may even call it a Supra, which battled the Corvette in the 1990’s. This would give them an interesting portfolio with the entry-level Scion FRS and the premium Lexus RC-F providing both the low-end and top-end of the spectrum. A middle option would be ideal from a product lineup standpoint.
Comments
I doubt it will be as successful or as good as the corvette. The king of fuel sipping hybrids selling a sports car with its name on it? Pffft please. I’d take it more seriously of it were Lexus at the very least.
Interesting comment. Spoken like someone who is completely ignorant of the fact that the LFA & LF cars are struggling in sales because no one associates Lexus with performance – Especially overseas.
Nevermind the die hard following of cars like the Corolla AE86 (so hardcore a rep and following that the FR-s was created to answer the outcry for a modern version) original Supra, and inline 6 turbo charged Toyota RWD performance sedans like the MKII, Chaser, Cresta, and Celsior. Oh wait almost forgot about the Turbo, AWD, Celica 4 track rally titan too.
Toyota has a rich racing/performance history. I’d actually be scared if Toyota reintroduced a real Supra to compete alongside the Corvette.
Open up Japan this is a life changing event, again! Your money issue you all got will never be solved thanks to you and you know who and where. However if your brave enough you could build another plant in Freemont, CA.. We somehow have acquired plenty of people that would gladly go to work. And with your wages we all will do jumping jacks you know team effort. A special place like Bowling Green KY. would be cool in CA.
Oh great….more rice…..
Imagine a Toyota mid sized C7 fighter on the interstate one night…
“911 whats your emergency?”
Help! my car wont slow down! I was racing a Corvette and got my a$$ handed to me, and then i proceeded to give him a ricer flyby and now it wont slow down!
“Sir please calm down. Did you not get the special floormats?”
Toyota…moving forward…wether you want it to or not 🙂
I don’t mind the competition, and its great that Toyota will actually have a Supra-like successor at last.. I like to see how it will turn out. I know the Corvette will always be top dog. But the more competition the better the results are for team chevy.
On the other hand, if it will be around 50+ grand will it have a Lexus badge or Toyota? I know Scion is marketed toward the youth. It would be nice if they offer it as a Toyota because their cars are looking bland for the most part.