Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

That's a fair assessment.

Just to play devils advocate. The I3 in the BMW i8 is derived from the same family of I3's on current Mini's. What say you?

MattyG

Well that's an interesting question. The i8 is a tech showcase and seems aimed at the techy Silicon Valley crowd more than anyone else, so it's sort of a "fun and frolic-y" greeny mobile. Minis sort of have that same sort fun image and are marketed as such (same reason Fiat has the 500), so it's possible that's why they stuck the hamster motor from the Mini family into the i8. I suppose what they're saying is that the electrics do the bulk of the peforming until they run out of juice and then you're down to the moped motor. But the i8 looks cool enough .

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

You get a pass with 'hamster motor'. Still dying rofl!

UDel

They did not care about performance/hp positioning between Lexus and Toyota in the 90's, I don't think people are really hung up on that kind of stuff as lower/higher brands do and have had overlap in the past to now. The Supra had 320hp while the LS430 had 290, they even let the GS430 have more power and acceleration then the LS and it did not effect Lexus sales or perception at all, actually it was the Supra that did not sell all that well. The tt V6 in the LS500 is supposed to be the entry level engine too so I don't see any issue using that engine in the new Supra or even using a smaller disp turbo V8 in the Supra as the Supra outperformed Lexus vehicles in the past and would still be expected to outperform Lexus vehicles. The GTR has more power and performance then any Infiniti and costs more, Corvette has 8 cyl and more hp then any Caddy while most Caddy's only have 6 cylinders, Ford GT more expensive and more power then any Lincoln, etc.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

ya, too old and way too much work. the mechanical engineering design files may have been in a version that dates back to Windows 95 and Windows 3.1. The ECU's were most likely coded in assembly. Plus, there's the development in the things that you mentioned to get today's technology, the power and fuel efficiency. I hate to admit, but IMO, sourcing the BMW I6 was the best choice from an engineering and business perspective. The E46 M3 engine from the early 2000's was a beast and it was NA.

I'm also curious to know how the 3.5L TT holds us. I'm also curious where they go with it. They could make revisions of it with a 3L block or 4.0L block, and different tunes for more power of efficiency.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

That's what i'm hoping for. A family of bespoke turbo engines in several Lexus models. Sort of how Ford is doing it with the 2.7, 3.0, and 3.5 EcoBoosts

jadu

iTrader: (42)

ah i see your point. in the past previous engines, they have not put the LS engine in a toyota and remained unique to Lexus. It is interesting how Toyota was set on using an I6

MattyG

Well it looks like the test mule is using a BMW shifter and steering wheel.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/02/16/...ype-spy-shots/

Sheddy

TF109B

That beak/bump is really a turn off imo. If they add a little Toyota grille there or something it will be nicer but it looks useless and ruins the flow.

Sheddy

http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49750
Lots of potential from the B58 motor.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

it's the bmwupra!

MattyG

Lol. Or Bupra.

UDel

Man I wish they went in these directions instead, especially the purple 4000GT illustration.

Sheddy

IMO this thing is a beauty! (yes i do know these are still renderings)