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BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra replacement spied in the snow

The new BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra will be the fruit of a marriage of convenience, born from the former's chassis and powertrain expertise and the latter's giant coffers full of money. The final product, spied testing in frigid temperatures in parts unknown, will have specific bodies depending on which brand it carries, so it won't be a simple rebadging exercise. This mule sports a softtop, rather than a retractable hardtop like the existing Z4. Whether this represents a final decision about what type of roof will be fitted to the production model is unclear. What we have heard, repeatedly, is that the chassis and the entire driveline will be pure BMW for both models, and that the main difference will be brand-specific sheetmetal. There are even rumors that an all-wheel-drive version will be available, or that the model will be available as a hybrid using Toyota's expertise in that arena. It's been a long wait since the memorandum of understanding that lead to the mule you see above was signed in 2012, and we had expected an announcement that the roadster would go into production by the end of 2015, but that time has come and gone. Perhaps we'll find out more at one of the upcoming auto shows. Geneva is coming up in March, after all.

2016 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab revealed along with more details

The Toyota Tacoma stepped behind the curtain for a makeover, and has emerged for 2016 with an appearance both chunky and menacing, plus lots of new tech and features. We've already seen its exterior, but some details we didn't get are that there will be a new locking tailgate that can lower itself slowly, without slamming, an available tri-fold hard tonneau, and four new wheel designs. Supporting that will be a stiffer frame with more high-strength steel and additional hot-stamped, ultra-high-strength steel in a lighter bodyshell. Engines will come in two flavors, either the carryover 2.7-liter four-cylinder or a brand new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 that utilizes both direct and port fuel injection. The four-pot only can only be had with a six-speed automatic transmission - one extra gear than before - with electronic shifting, the sixer can be specified with that or a six-speed manual. We haven't been given numbers yet, but Toyota says the new truck is "more powerful and fuel efficient," meaning we expect a raise on the 236 horsepower of the current 4.0-liter V6. The dash is laid out with a driver-focused "handlebar" theme, finished with soft materials and metallic accents. Tech options include push-button start, Qi wireless charging, a Multi-Terrain Select system, and blind-spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while luxury is attended to with a power moonroof and leather-trimmed seats. To aid the ambiance, engineers improved the seals, added an acoustic windshield, a sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer pad to make the cabin quieter. The suspension has also been retuned to deliver a smoother ride and provide more travel. One neat convenience touch: a GoPro mount next to the rear-view mirror. Five trims will be offered when it goes on sale: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. Before then, there's a press release below with more information, and we'll soon have live pictures from the Detroit Auto Show floor. DOMINATE DIRT...OR ROCKS...OR PAVEMENT IN THE ALL-NEW 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA - Toyota Tacoma Rebuilt Inside and Out - New Engine, Transmissions and Suspension Tuning - Legendary TRD Off-road Toughness - Best-selling Mid-Size Pickup for 10 Straight Years - Designed, Engineered and Assembled in North America DETROIT, January 12, 2015 - - Whatever the terrain, Tacoma is king of the hill.

Mazda rotary engine returning, in an autonomous Toyota delivery vehicle

With the return of the Toyota Supra, the Lotus Esprit and Mazda RX-7 probably share the trophy for hardcore sports cars we'd most like sequels for. The Esprit's too hopeless to consider. Mazda continues to speak in riddles about a new RX-7, but the company has confirmed that the RX-7's heart will return: The company's building a rotary-engined range-extender engine for an autonomous Toyota. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Toyota announced its e-Palette autonomous electric delivery vehicle. The e-Palette will come in bus, shuttle, and car versions to service the delivery needs of companies like Amazon, Pizza Hut, and Uber. They'll also be built in custom configurations such as mobile hotel rooms and emergency command centers. Toyota owns 5.25 percent of Mazda, the two automakers recently signed a deal to open a factory in Alabama, and Mazda's known for ace work with small engines. It's not surprising that Toyota chose Mazda for help with the e-Palette, but the rotary aspect is novel. Mazda U.S. president Masahiro Moro said, "This is a very suitable engine to run a generator because it's compact and lightweight, with no noise or vibration, and it has very good fuel economy." There have been rumors of this development previously, as far back as 2016, then again last October in reference to an electric architecture Mazda intended for release in 2019, but Toyota was never mentioned. As to pining for that RX-7 redux, Mazda's head of powertrain said the company's overcome the technical issues of a sports-car-sized rotary engine — the challenge is making a business case for such a sports car. We think the RX-VISION made the case three years ago, and it's already fitted with the Skyactiv-R rotary. Separately, a Toyota spokesman added that the two companies are looking into whether the rotary can be useful beyond the electric car. That's not much to go on when it comes to pining for another RX-7, but hope lives on a scanty diet. Related Video: