Carmaker1
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I am just a human my friend
Following Toyota for past 18 years and working for them for quite few of those, I dont see those deep integrations that we would sometimes think normal or expected, and they really do not move fast.
Understandable from your perspective indeed, because yes sometimes we do get ahead of ourselves.
But when it comes logistics like this and tangible evidence, isn't reasonable to always write off such possibilities.
I can believe it's very possible (not guaranteed yet) that's the reason such rumors have been coming about regarding Toyota and Mazda since 2017, collaborating on a RWD platform.
Is this platform going to be from scratch and only utilized on Lexus models below a certain threshold? Sometimes where there is smoke, there is fire.
Some things about Jaguar when I worked there, would leak out to the press and one could tell that some of them were tidbits, that were no longer going to come to fruition or had no business being spilled out in the first place so soon.
Is it possible that actual discussions between BMW and Toyota did happen regarding sharing on IS and someone decided to make a little money off of telling the media things that were only being studied?
A lot of people said they would never make a car with BMW by the name of the Supra and look what happened.
Back to Mazda, I tried not to think much of it, but the timing fits very well.
Mazda has delayed their RWD plans by 2Q into 2022 from 2021. By now they would've been forced to make commitments to firm product plans in model program, in 2 years away from launch.
If Lexus updates IS on New N in Q4, a minimum of 36-48 months is required for ROI. That all points to 2023-24 EOP. The first RWD Mazda vehicles are in 2022(excl MX-5).