BMW's Decision to Axe the Z4 May Result in a Future Toyota Supra Engineered by Mazda

With BMW striving to cut its operating expenses, reports coming out suggest that they may be culling some of their niche products.

Citing anonymous sources, Automobile magazine says BMW is canceling several vehicles including the three-door 1 Series, 2 Series convertible and Gran Tourer, standard wheelbase 7 Series, coupe and convertible versions of the 8 Series, and the next-generation Z4.

In addition to these “dead cars rolling,” the automaker is also looking to reduce variants which are deemed unprofitable such as lower-trim 1, 2, and 3 Series models. Surprisingly, despite strong sales, the X2 may also get the axe. That said, BMW may add an X8 which will be a sporty full-sized SUV exclusively offered in M Performance and M forms.

Though the Z4 is expected to remain in BMW’s line-up up until 2024 (at the very least), Toyota might as well shop around for a new partner in case they want to engineer and develop an all-new Supra. The likely candidate? Mazda.

An article from Japan’s Best Car says that Toyota may use Mazda’s upcoming rear-wheel drive Skyactiv-Architecture and Skyactiv inline-6 engines starting with the Mark X sedan. This will be followed by a new Lexus sports coupe that will slot between the existing RC and LC models. Though the next-generation IS and RC will indeed use the TNGA chassis and V6 engine, the report says they’ll migrate also the Mazda platform after that.

With the first-generation Supra tracing its lineage as part of the Celica line, which in turn, is based off the Toyota Carina / Corona, it makes perfect sense for any possible Supra replacement to be based off the Mark X. This move still won’t result in an all-out Toyota designed and engineered product that purists would have gone gaga over, at least you could say that it’s 100 percent Japanese.

Source: Automobile, Best Car