NEWS
BMW Z4 replacement goes hybrid
BMW's i8 hybrid supercar isn't even on sale yet and it's already being out-tech'ed by an internal rivalBMW will shun fast-discharge battery technology in favour of radical, high-performance supercapacitors for an upcoming Z4-sized sports car.
Developed as the first fruit of the Bavarian marque's joint venture with Toyota, the unnamed sports car will be the first production car in the world to use the rapid-discharge supercapacitors, developed by Panasonic for Toyota's Le Mans outright title bid.
While the sports car's development program was confirmed last year by BMW Chairman, Norbert Reithofer, and Toyota family scion, Akio Toyoda, they both studiously avoided mentioning their ambitions for the radical supercapacitor technology.
The front-engined, two-door, two-seater will replace the struggling Z4 (pictured) from BMW, while Toyoda hopes it will give Toyota a spiritual successor to the well-regarded Supra.
BMW is unlikely to reproduce the Z4's folding hardtop roof on its version, though, with BMW insiders insisting the market for convertibles in Europe has shrunk by 50 per cent since 2008.
Both companies will use a turbo-charged, direct-injection petrol engine up front with a pair of electric motors positioned to drive the front wheels, providing what's being touted as 'Performance Hybrid all-wheel drive'.
And it's here that the supercapacitor program kicks in, being much lighter and easier to package than even the most effective lithium-ion batteries, while also able to discharge energy at a much faster rate. The supercapacitors, developed jointly, can also be charged more quickly.
And despite the performance focus, the sports car twins are also certain to be plug-in hybrids with the ability to drive on pure-electric power.
Both Toyota and BMW have dabbled in supercapacitor concepts before, with Toyota's Yaris Hybrid R demonstrating its system at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, while BMW showed its earliest supercapacitor work with an X3 concept as far back as 2005.
The job roles have been split for the project, with BMW taking the lead on the 2.0-litre, direct-injection petrol engine (though a high-powered 1.5-litre triple may be used later) and the body architecture, with Toyota taking on the electronics work.
The electric motors will be built by BMW, though designed by Toyota, while BMW will also apply its carbon-fibre lessons from the i3 and i8 programs to pull the car's weight down to below 1400kg.
Share this article
Written byMichael Taylor
See all articlesOur team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Related articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Contact
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Download the carsales app
