BMW and Toyota’s Early Sports Car Collaboration: The Untold Story

Toyota and BMW‘s collaboration on the Toyota GR Supra in 2019 is one of the most well-known and controversial projects in recent automotive history. Yet, few people know that these two brands’ collaborative history goes much further back than that. Back in 2012, these two automotive giants signed a non-binding agreement to jointly develop a future sports vehicle.

Although the intent and desire were there, this project never materialized as its initial completion date was set for the end of 2013. That is, until everything changed about seven years later, when the Toyota GR Supra model officially debuted in 2019 as a spiritual successor. What exactly happened, and how did this eventual collaboration come to fruition after all those years? Let’s break it down.

What Almost Happened In 2012

In 2012, Toyota and BMW met in Munich to announce that they had plans for a long-term collaboration that included the development of a “future sports vehicle.” This was an extension of a deal that had already been in place in December 2011. Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, stated at the time, “I believe BMW’s strength is developing sports cars…we are joining hands because we want to make even better cars. I get so excited thinking about the cars that result from this relationship.”

Toyota’s Initial Interest In Partnership Was Sparked At The Nürburgring

Akio Toyoda, during the same announcement, explained how and why their strategic partnership with BMW came about. There was only one clear answer: the distinct performance capability of the brand’s cars at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Toyoda elaborated on how “roads make cars,” and no road is a more proven testing ground than the infamous “Green Hell.” This is why the automakers come from across the world to benchmark their latest creations at the iconic German racetrack. At the Nürburgring, Toyoda states that BMW demonstrates “how to make a car perform,” and for this reason, “BMW earns the utmost respect.” So if you ever wondered what convinced the president of Toyota that BMW would be a perfect pairing for them, now you know why.

Binding Agreements Got Signed, Then Silence

In late January 2013, BMW and Toyota took a further step in validating their partnership by signing binding agreements solidifying their long-term collaboration. After years of anticipation, the pen was finally put to paper as the two agreed on the joint development of a fuel cell system, a sports vehicle, lithium-air batteries, and lightweight technologies. The result was that the two brands agreed to a feasibility study for a mid-sized sports vehicle that was set to be completed by the end of 2013.

Their stated goal was to combine each other’s technology “at a high level” to maximize driving enjoyment, which was made possible by their shared vision in the field of sports vehicle development. They called their collaborative effort a car fit to be called “the sports car of the 21st century,” and its specifications and details were promised by the end of the year in 2013. Those details never came, and 2013 came and went without any further reveals, much to the disappointment of the fans of both brands.

What Happened Between 2013 And 2018

Yet, the silence about this collaborative sports car project wouldn’t be broken until 2014, when the Toyota FT-1 concept car debuted to the public for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show. Initially, the Toyota FT-1 was a concept car not directly connected to the two brands’ joint venture, but rather, a separate idea entirely. Yet, when Nobou Nakamura, Toyota’s chief designer in charge of the “sports car project”, saw the positive reaction to the FT-1 at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, the idea clicked.

Turning The Toyota FT-1 Concept Car Into The Toyota GR Supra

Initially, Nakamura was unsure if it would even be possible to shape the FT-1 into what would become the Toyota GR Supra. The Toyota concept was long and wide and had the proportions of a supercar with a massive V-12 engine at the helm. His future sports car was intended to be a mid-sized vehicle, not a flagship grand tourer or supercar like the Lexus LFA. His team first tried many different directions before conceding to the idea of utilizing the look of the FT-1 concept car. Yet, knowing how Toyota Supra fans had adored the aggressive style of the FT-1, Nakamura knew this would be the right move going forward.

Integrating The Toyota Sports Car Lineage

Yet, it wasn’t only the FT-1 concept car that would play a role in the overall shape and design of the eventual Toyota GR Supra. Although Nakamura kept the look of the FT-1 alive, he turned it into what he called a “condensed extreme” concept. He then added many stylistic details that he hand-picked from Toyota’s sports car lineage, such as the double-bubble roof shape found on the Toyota 2000 GT. The fenders and lighting elements follow the same inward-positioned design found in the shape of its predecessor, the MKIV Toyota Supra. When asked about his favorite design element of the car, Nakamura pointed out the rear fenders and their bulging, muscular design. Yet, after 2014, not many updates about the upcoming Supra came until its global reveal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2018.

What Finally Materialized In 2019

The first official reveal of the Toyota GR Supra was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2018. The July 2018 car was effectively the production model, only wearing prototype livery. This would be confirmed when the Toyota GR Supra made its full debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show a few months later.

The End Of A 17-Year Hiatus

The production Supra model debuted in 2019 at the Detroit Auto Show, marking the end of the Toyota Supra’s 17-year hiatus, which dated back to 2002. Along with the return of the Supra was the official launch of Toyota’s new Gazoo Racing (GR) brand, with the GR Supra being the first model in the line-up. The Toyota GR Supra retained the original front-engine, inline-six RWD lineage of the Supra nameplate and was set out to be a pure sports car for driving enjoyment. Over time, it was learned that the GR Supra was indeed more of a grand tourer than a pure sports car, but this fact actually paid dividends in making the car have broader appeal to a larger audience.

Sales Figures And The Legacy Of The GR Supra

While the Toyota GR Supra was not an all-out sales success, it still managed decent numbers considering its niche appeal. The best sales year of the GR Supra was 2021, when it sold 6,830 units during the calendar year. Sales peaked in 2021 at 6,830 units. Since then, they have fallen into the 2,000–3,000 range. As of Q3 2025, YTD sales are 2,009, down 13.4 percent year over year.However, the Supra’s platform sibling, the BMW Z4, sold far fewer units than its Japanese relative in the same time frame. Relative to its closer rival, the Porsche 718, the Toyota GR Supra sold about the same number of units within the same time frame, but in the last two years, the Porsche sports car has taken a significant lead in sales.

Yet, do sales mean everything? Not necessarily. One of the Toyota GR Supra’s most understated yet meaningful impacts was on the enthusiast and tuner market. This Japanese sports car effectively bridged a gap between the turbo BMW tuning world and the JDM sports car market, two segments that had never traditionally coincided. Toyota did this intentionally and hit the nail on the head by making the GR Supra have that real tuner car appeal.

The aftermarket support found for the GR Supra model is one of the largest of any modern sports car platform. Most people who buy a GR Supra have some interest in modifying it to a certain extent, and that’s because few sports cars have more appeal in this sense than the GR Supra. Even if you have no interest in any engine tuning or performance modifications, the GR Supra is the premier Japanese platform for cosmetic upgrades. Thus, even though sales may not have been record-breaking, the Toyota GR Supra reinvigorated the sports car and grand tourer market and will remain one of the greatest modern aftermarket platforms.

Sources: Toyota, BMW, Porsche