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Originally Posted by ninjan00dles
If BMW weren't involved it would probably be different because it would have a Toyota drivetrain, be made in Japan, and not have BMW door chimes?
I'm not going to sit here and tell you whether a Toyota made Supra would have been more commercially successful because no one knows that. But I do ask, what would you think if Chevy had a Ford motor in the new C8 Corvette because it would have been cheaper that way? Would it be forgivable because its a V8 anyways?
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You have to remember for some these companies, it's not a choice between developing everything from the ground up themselves or partnering up with another company to put out a sports car. It's more a choice between partnering to co develop a sports car or not releasing a sports car at all. The 86/brz would have never happened if Toyota was unable finally convince Subaru to get on board with its development.
You made a poor analogy with whether Chevy using a Ford motor in the C8 Corvette would be forgivable or not. In the case with to the twins or the zupra the appropriate question to ask is:
"Would prospective sports cars owners rather have the option of a C8 Corvette produced using a Ford motor over the C8 even existing at all, what would they choose?"
I'd rather have more options on the market to choose from. Would I have preferred the 86 been 100% Toyota? Heck yeah. But I'd take the co developed twin over being limited to the Miata as the only choice for an affordable lightweight rwd sports car that I can buy brand new
The twins and supra were more passion projects of Toyota that were never expected to be a huge profit generating star on their lineup. To make it affordable for prospective buyers and practical for their own bottom line, shared development was necessary for these cars to existed.
Toyota has been away from the sports car scene for so long this could be their low risk way of getting their toes wet. Who knows what it'll be like in a few years, if the big wigs in Toyota feel it's practical to develop a sports car from their ground up, we may see it in the future. I am not holding my breath, however. There are higher chances of a 100% Toyota sports car in electrical form before we see a 100% Toyota made 86 or supra in ICE form