2014 Toyota Verso gets a BMW heart

Along with a slew of updates, Toyota has announced that the 2014 Verso will also be getting a new diesel mill, courtesy BMW. This engine is used to power the BMW 1 Series as well as the previous-generation Mini. The 1.6-litre D-4D turbodiesel will be offered alongside Toyota’s own 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines. Verso is a premium MPV sold in European market, similar to the Innova and Tata Aria sold in India.

Toyota has redesigned the electrical interfaces and a new dual-mass flywheel has been fitted to reduce NVH levels. The Euro 5-compliant engine has been tuned for better throttle response and develops 111bhp with 270Nm of torque, driven by Toyota’s own six-speed gearbox.The engine features a stop-start system to turn off the engine when the car is idle which saves fuel and reduces emissions.Also the engine mounts and spring settings have been redesigned for the variant.

The Verso will go on sale in the European market in February next year and will be pitted against the likes of Vauxhall ZafiraTourer and Renault Scenic.

BMW and Toyota had begun their collaboration earlier in 2011, starting with lithium-ion batteries and other fuel-saving projects. Toyota was primarily interested in BMW's expertise in performance and vehicle dynamics while BMW was keen on Toyota's technology on fuel cells and hybrids. There also was the need for the two companies to update their sports car line-up. Later in December 2011, BMW agreed to supply Toyota with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines for their vehicles, which has resulted in this 2014 Verso getting the diesel.