The A70TTR Dedication Thread!

[SS900]

Shouldn’t this be addressed in a way that BMW executives don’t underplay toyota’s Involvement ?

At the end of the day.. market perception is everything when it comes to a model being a success or failure.

Besides the few of us here no one will know or care.

The ball is in Toyota’s court and they don’t seem to care too much one way or another. Let’s wait and see...

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[Spilner]

Shouldn’t this be addressed in a way that BMW executives don’t underplay toyota’s Involvement ?

At the end of the day.. market perception is everything when it comes to a model being a success or failure.

Why does it feel like if either car is successful, Andreas would say "i always knew it would be successful"

 

[SS900]

Why does it feel like if either car is successful, Andreas would say "i always knew it would be successful"

It will be successful. It’s a no brainer for BMW and Toyota. Even with the decline in that segment each company got a car for half the price it would normally cost them (if it is to be believed they shared the costs 50/50). They can’t fail.

This is also why neither company truly cares about the hardcore fans, they are going for the mainstream customers.

 

[Jdmuscle]

It will be successful. It’s a no brainer for BMW and Toyota. Even with the decline in that segment each company got a car for half the price it would normally cost them (if it is to be believed they shared the costs 50/50). They can’t fail.

This is also why neither company truly cares about the hardcore fans, they are going for the mainstream customers.

Agreed. In the end we got a meh product that was built for name sake.

 

[Spilner]

Agreed. In the end we got a meh product that was built for name sake.

At least it will handle like a dream

 

[KahnBB6]

I have been following many of these threads for the last few months and first off I would like to thank you A70TTR chiming in with what you have. You did not have to do any of this but I know your presence and comments here have been both enlightening and exciting for all of us and very much appreciated. I do hope you stick around if at the very least just for the good and positive company.

Now while I have been reading here for some time I only just got my account so I don't know if I'm really in a position to ask a question yet (or really just to put up something interesting). It may be something you really can't or would prefer not to comment on.

That said, I hope it's okay so here goes.

I found this year-old article detailing a spy shot of the BMW Z4's interior which mercifully shows there is a manual transmission! I think we knew the Z4 would likely have a manual but with the partial USA-spec Z4 reveal the other day there isn't any display or positive mention of their being a manual on offer at all which is disappointing.

And yet here's one in a Z4 during the testing phase:

https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/05/23/2019-bmw-z4-spyshots-confirm-manual-gearbox/

So my open question/wondering is (and again... I totally get it if you can't comment on this), despite the fact that we have no current new info to tell us whether the availability of a manual MKV will be sold, alternatively what is the likelihood that if BMW does offer one on the Z4 we could just order all the physical pedal, clutch master, slave, etc. parts from one of their dealers and even the (hypothetical) Z4 manual gearbox and crossmember mount and fit them right into the MKV chassis? These parts would, in theory, bolt into either chassis, correct?

I realize the non-manual coded ECU would be a major issue in and of itself that probably makes this very moot but that aside... what do you think? I can also see this same approach of swapping in BMW Z4 manual pedal and hydraulic parts being applied to a 2JZ-GTE manual drivetrain swap into a base model as Tada himself suggested.

 

[A70TTR]

My understanding is that neither car will be available manual at this point, but I do believe the parts would be easily adaptable if not a bolt in affair. That said, if those parts don't make it to production in either car then all you have is prototypes sitting somewhere and with them dies the modularity.

As said however, the ECU is likely the huge challenge anyways.

 

[MA617M]

Sadly it's not as simple as bridging the neutral start switch any more is it?

 

[Viselord]

@A70TTR Sorry if I am asking the same question, but based on your sources the possibility of a manual down the road is nil? I recall Tada san kind of/ sort of implying that a manual may be possible just not right now.

 

[A70TTR]

Basically it was tested and killed off, and given some newer info it seems that may have been a BMW decision more than anything else which is surprising until you realize they're starting to do that to all their cars.

I think if a manual is to ever come along at this point, it would have to be specially requested/paid for/etc by Toyota specifically for the Supra.

But yes, as Tada said it's not impossible...

 

[Spilner]

@Jdmuscle it's BMW's fault,not Toyota's!

 

[A70TTR]

This thread isnt the place for that, @Spilner.

You guys are free to do that elsewhere, but as my last area of refuge I'd prefer you take that elsewhere.

Gonna keep this on topic and more towards Q&A vs endless discussions of nonsense.

 

[Spilner]

This thread isnt the place for that, @Spilner.

You guys are free to do that elsewhere, but as my last area of refuge I'd prefer you take that elsewhere.

Gotcha, oh yeah did BMW offer anything in exchange for using the CGI motor?

 

[A70TTR]

I don't think the project is really about give and take at that level as much as overall.

Both companies are partners and as such are expected to help each other as necessary. There was a time when I could have given more detail on that sort of thing (what was used specifically vs not), but at this point I'm on the other side and everyone is quieter and quieter by the day as we approach launch.

 

[Jeff Lange]

Still hoping for some sort of manual LHD Z4 somewhere in the world. Even if it's an N/A 4-cylinder, having the pedals and hydraulics would be nice.

Still, not the end of the world either way.

Jeff

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