BMW is getting trounced in the PR war of words in Germany, with Audi saying that BMW does not have a supercar whereas Audi does, and now BMW wants to change this with the help of Toyota, teaming up for a supercar project with Lexus.
Both companies have jointly built a prototype with a mid-engine layout and all-wheel drive. The design features a carbon-fiber tub married to an aluminum space frame, and the all-wheel-drive system is said to be not unlike that of the new Acura NSX, with electric motors driving the front wheels.
BMW’s supercar will use a bespoke, M-developed twin-turbo straight-six paired with plug-in-hybrid technology courtesy of Toyota. Toyota is rumored to be testing a detuned version of its Le Mans TS040 race car’s 520-hp, 3.7-liter V-8 for the Lexus version of the supercar. And with the 480 horsepower produced by the front and rear motors, the total power output would reach the magic number of 1000.
