On the heels of confirmation that the long-gestating BMW/Toyota joint sports-car project is still, well, gestating, we now have an idea of where the Toyota version will play in the sports-car segment. According to information we’ve received from an inside source, the mid-size sports car—which Toyota is said to be discussing in terms of the FT-1 concept pictured above—is likely to cost more than a base Chevrolet Corvette, which currently starts at $54,995.
If Toyota plans to play in the Corvette’s league, one should expect output in excess of 400 horsepower, likely from a turbocharged and/or possibly hybridized V-6. Rear-wheel drive is a given, but the car’s name—FT-1 or Supra or something else—remains to be seen. And then there’s this interesting question: If the Toyota ends up costing more than a Vette, how much might the BMW version cost? If the Bimmer commands a premium, it may be too pricey to be a direct replacement for the Z4, as has been rumored.
If the two cars are priced commensurately, they’ll need to be suitably differentiated for the existence of both to make sense, such as offering the Toyota only as a coupe and the BMW only as a convertible. And then there’s the tantalizing possibility that the BMW may wind up being both more expensive and more powerful—and maybe lean heavily on that brand’s newfound carbon-fiber expertise—which means we’d have a Jaguar F-type and Porsche 911 fighter on our hands.
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