BMW And Toyota Confirm Plans For Joint Sports Car Platform: Report

Early in 2013, BMW and Toyota announced a new partnership on the sharing of existing systems and the development of new technologies for future models.

The plan included new green drivetrains and battery technologies, but of most interest to enthusiasts was the news of a feasibility study into a jointly developed sports platform. 

Reports in recent months had suggested that Toyota would reveal a new sports concept in Tokyo, and then later at next month's Detroit Auto Show. 

While fans must wait until January 17 to discover if those latest rumours will ring true, a new report out of Germany appears to confirm that the feasability study is now complete.

The outcome? A green light, according to German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

"We have agreed on a joint architecture for a sports car. What is important is that there will be two different vehicles that are authentic to the two brands," BMW development chief Herbert Diess reportedly told the paper. 

If accurate, the report gives hope to Toyota's long-suffering sports fans (although the 86 coupe has helped), who have waited on news of a powerful new coupe since the last Supra's retirement more than 10 years ago. 

The German report is just the latest to offer promise of a Supra successor, with top Toyota executives - including CEO Akio Toyoda - known to be pushing for a rival to Nissan's GT-R and Honda's upcoming new NSX.

For now, though... we wait. 

• Supra | Toyota | Sports Cars