BMW and Toyota’s engine collaboration
Friday, 2 December 2011 2:31 PM
The 2012 BMW M5 engine won't end up in any eco-Toyotas, it'll be the super-efficient diesel units. But this fire-breathing twin-turbo BMW thumper does make for a cool picture
The Toyotas of the future may well be powered by BMW engines after the two automakers signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to share new eco-friendly technologies.
Under the MOU - which we hear carries a little more weight than an IOU - one of the big projects will be joint research on lithium-ion battery technology. The combined effort of the Toyota and BMW boffins will hopefully lead to lighter batteries, faster charging times and extended range.
As well as working together on better electric cars, from 2014, BMW will supply Toyota Motor Europe with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines. This is part of Toyota’s plans to expand the range of models sold in Europe with a strong focus on efficient, low-emission diesels.
In return, BMW is hoping to benefit from Toyota’s long history of producing environmentally sound cars with such models as the hybrid Prius, while Toyota continue to expand their own hybrid range into other models, and to their premium Lexus line-up.
It looks like it could be a clean, green win-win for both badges as well as expanding the options for responsible motorists across Europe.
By Georgia Lewis
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