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Autocar reports that BMW is considering licensing Toyota’s iQ city car platform for its long–rumored neo-Isetta EV. In return, Toyota would reportedly get access to BMW’s MINI platform. It’s understandable that BMW would want to trade for a city car platform (they all look/drive the same anyway), but why would Toyota want a platform that could be mooted by improving the Yaris’s underpinnings? Also, is BMW not aware that Aston is doing its own iQ re-skin? How did the Bavarians not pick up on the scornful reception that news elicited? Meanwhile, Toyota is also in platform-sharing talks with Daimler. When did Toyota become the new Fiat?
15 Comments on “Toyota Oversharing Progresses Towards “Wanton”...”
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Please, please, please, NO! A BMW with all of the driving excitement of a Toyota would have absolutely zero appeal to anyone that actually respects and loves the brand for what it is. And to see Toyota find a way to blandify the Mini chassis would hurt. Just please, automotive Gods, don’t let this happen.
Toyota want a platform that could be mooted by improving the Yaris’s underpinnings
The Yaris isn’t a bad car, just not an exciting one. There’s really nothing wrong with it that a better set of tires can’t fix. Remember, it weighs a lot less, holds a lot more and actually goes faster than the base Mini.
Now, that said, the Yaris is a cheaper platform versus the Mini. The rear suspension isn’t bad, but it is cheaper. That same rear suspension (and the roof height) is the reason the Yaris’ rear seat isn’t the pathetic joke that the Mini’s is.
What surprises me is that they’re interested in the Mini when they have the Aygo, which is a premium small-car platform. That does seem odd. Are we sure it’s not a patent surrounding the Mini that they’re interested in?
A BMW with all of the driving excitement of a Toyota
And who says it would be such? A Toyota platform does not have to be dull by virtue of Toyota making it, not when BMW could do a lot by diddling with power steering assist, column design, suspension tuning and tire choice. None of those are “core” aspects of the platform.
Toyota, no matter what you may think of them, are very good at making high-quality economy cars. BMW would be smart to leverage their expertise, rather than try to do something they’re patently not good at.
If Toyota can make the Mini reliable/high quality, and strip away all of the retro and gimmicky nonsense (grocery scale speedometer pasted onto the center stack), it could be pretty cool.
psarjhinian: What surprises me is that they’re interested in the Mini when they have the Aygo, which is a premium small-car platform.
The Aygo is a cheaper, smaller car that slots in below the Yaris in the countries where it’s sold.
As it says above it’s likely that this would *not* be branded as a BMW. It would be an Isetta. I don’t think it would be a problem as such.
I think BMW needs this more then Toyota does. That said, I really don’t get it, is Bimmer worried it will lose that much money to the microcar market?
Dr Alex Moulton was commissioned by Toyota to work on future development of the iQ and the Yaris suspension. Interesting then that this is being connected to the BMW mini.
Everyone knows who Alex Moulton is I take it?
The Aygo is a cheaper, smaller car that slots in below the Yaris in the countries where it’s sold.
Is it? I thought the Aygo was a slightly nicer, slightly smaller car than the Yaris. Perhaps I’m confusing it with the iQ?
As it says above it’s likely that this would *not* be branded as a BMW. It would be an Isetta. I don’t think it would be a problem as such.
Is that what BMW is banking on to sell this thing? The people aren’t stupid.
No… the iQ is a slightly smaller, slightly nicer car than the Aygo. I think anything would be nicer than the Yaris.
Kidding aside, the Yaris’s problem has everything to do with suspension tuning. Toyota is good at building space-efficient, stiff body shells, but they often err on the side of newbie-friendly understeer when finalizing chassis dynamics on their mass-market cars.
I don’t know why Toyota would want the Mini platform… the rear suspension is a marvel, but I can’t imagine why they would want such a cramped little car…
Especially as nobody would buy a Toyota branded Mini… it’s all about the snob-appeal… (yes, the Mini is a terrific car… but still…)
Well, Isetta was never known for it’s driver appeal but more for space efficient, and cost efficient means of transportation. Which the IQ will provide in spades. BMW definitely profits from not having to reinvent the wheel there.
As for Toyota, it also makes some sense. However not as a replacement for the Yaris, more as a niche sports coupe, a 2 door thingy slotting in below the Toyobaru AE86 spiritual successor. Kind of what the Mini is planning itself. Using a different platform would be less of a cost concern in that case, as the platform has already been developed, the space inefficient design would be less of a problem for a sports car, while the advantages of Mini’s underpinnings would be a quite obvious draw here.
Plus BMW has been trying for a while to find a development partner for the next generaion Mini platform – potentially a joint development with Toyota could also be a good option here.
I think that it would be a mistake for Toyota to have anything to do with the BMW Mini, for its external size, the space inside is laughable; especially considering that Toyota already has 3 small cars in its range already. BMW likewise should be able to come up with its own design if they are going to build a new Isetta, (hopefully one with the door in the proper place this time).
The Aygo is very much the bargain basement entry-level Toyota, however, the Aygo is probably the best of the Euro Toyotas – £3000 cheaper than the IQ and a few kilos lighter, it’s faster and more roomy and IMHO better looking. The Yaris is a bit too “mumsy” for my tastes and the larger cars are all a bit boring since they stopped making the MR2 and Celica.
I really can’t say enough good things about the Aygo. I drove it from Aberdeen to London on a single 35l tank of fuel. On another occasion, I even managed to keep up with a Caterham 7 on a mountain road in Perthshire. I can fit 2 mountain bikes in if I fold the seats forward. The engine sounds like 1/4 of a Ferrari V12. It’s also far better looking than its Peugeot/Citroen counterparts and all three are among the slowest depreciating cars money can buy. BMW should take note!
I can’t wait when the iQ will be available here in the States.
The engine sounds like 1/4 of a Ferrari V12.
Every time I hear a three-pot driven in anger, I smile. I just love the warble of those quirky little engines!
Had $500 more been invested in the interior of the car, and the 90hp variation of the 1.4l diesel been made available on top of the 54hp version, I’d be much keener ;)