Toyota, BMW to team up on clean-engine technologies

The Detroit News

Toyota Motor Corp. and Germany's BMW plan to cooperate on clean-
engine technologies, according to Japanese newspaper reports.

Toyota would obtain diesel engines from BMW, while providing BMW
with hybrid technologies in an exchange that would capitalize on the
companies' respective technological strengths.

Such a deal also would help Toyota reduce the substantial impact of
unfavorable exchange rates on its earnings.

The companies declined to comment.

Financial analysts said the cooperation between the two carmakers
made sense.

"We see this as positive for Toyota in that it could lower costs by
boosting production of hybrid systems, enhance research and
development efficiency ... and boost European sales by expanding
Toyota's diesel-engine lineup," said Kohei Takahashi, Tokyo-based
analyst at J.P. Morgan.

SWAG: A Prius-worthy small BMW diesel?



This intercooled and turbocharged, 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre (1995cc) BMW
diesel engine produces 115kW of power @ 4000rpm and makes a
330Nm of torque @ 2000rpm. It features BMW's second-generation
common-rail technology with variable turbine geometry for improved
power delivery across the rev range and electronic engine noise control
systems and balancer shafts. BMW claims to have reduced engine
vibration and noise to a point that occupants will get the impression
that there is a conventional gas engine under the hood.

The new 4-cylinder diesel engine provides for greater fuel efficiency
and produces less harmful emissions.

Info extracted from: Web Wombat