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BMW-Toyota collaboration

BMW and Toyota announce plans to share hybrid technology and work together on a future sports car

Toyota GMRN

BMW and Toyota have announced a partnership that will see them working closely on a new fuel cell system, electric powertrains, lightweight technologies and joint development of a future sports car.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota said: “BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells … I believe BMW’s strength is developing sports cars.  I get so excited thinking about the cars that will result from this relationship.”

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Little is known about precisely what shape or size the sports car will be, but all the signs point towards it using a hybrid powertrain. The Toyota GRMN sports hybrid, revealed in 2011, used a mid-mounted V6 petrol engine driving the rear wheels and an electric motor turning the front axle - and it could point towards what Toyota has in mind. The BMW-badged version could sit in the 'i' range somewhere between the i3 and i8.

Back in March, BMW and Toyota signed an official agreement to work on lithium-ion battery technology together. BMW has also agreed to supply Toyota Europe with fuel-efficient diesel engines from 2014.

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