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For years manufacturers have shared ‘bits; in order to keep costs down. Many vans have the same platform and various parts and until fairly recently you would see several makes of van coming off the same production lines in Southampton. Well now you are going to see the same sharing thing happening with sports cars.

Z4 Sdrive35i (Photo credit: kenjonbro)

Our dodgy weather in the UK means that sports cars will never sell in big numbers but as a nation of motor sports lovers we don’t like giving up sports cars altogether so we are seeing a few manufacturers joining forces to make sure the tradition continues. The first twins were the Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ. Subaru supplied Toyota with its 2.0L Boxer engine as well as a modified version of its WRX platform.

When the new Mazda MX5 and Alfa Romeo Spider are launched later this year, whilst they will look wildly different they will share several common bits. Even further down the line Renault will be re-inventing its famous Alpine whilst Caterham will be producing its own version based on the same platform.

Both are likely to have the same powertrain and even be made at Renaultsport’s facility in France. But the really big news is that the new BMW Z4 is being developed with Toyota. And that Toyota will be bringing out its own version based on the same platform, powertrain and materials. I’m all for it if it keeps the sports car tradition going in this country.

It wouldn’t be Britain if you weren’t cruising around the M25 in the middle of January with the sun shining but minus 10 degrees centigrade and a little old couple in an MGB, muffled up to the nostrils comes racing past you with the hood down doing 95mph. Long may it continue for the nutters out there! By Graham Hill

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