Legendary cars BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra look different but are the same underneath with advanced tech and high-powered engines

WE are taught from an early age that “sharing is caring”.

It starts with toys, sweets and bath water — then, later in life, it eventually leads to wife-swapping.

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Well, that’s what I read on Dear Deidre.

What you may not know is that sharing is pretty commonplace in the car world too.

And by that I mean equipment, not throwing your keys in a bowl. Many cars and vans have the same bones to keep costs down.

The Citroen C1 is a Toyota Aygo is a Peugeot 108, much like the Vauxhall Vivaro is a Renault Trafic and the Fiat Fullback is a Mitsubishi L200.

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As for little sports cars, the Toyota GT86 is a Subaru BRZ and the Fiat 124 Spider is a Mazda MX-5 in drag.

Now let’s applaud BMW and Toyota for playing nicely together because 2019 will see the return of two legends . . . the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra.

The Z4 is a drop-top, the Supra isn’t, so they’ll look quite different. But under the skin they will use identical BMW engines and hardware.

I haven’t got near a Supra yet — it’s not unveiled until January — but I can tell you the third-gen Z4 is an absolute peach.

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Faster than a standard M2, dripping in tech, lush, loud — and all the while, you’re roof-down juicing up on vitamin D.

This isn’t a car you really need, my friend, but you’ll want one all the same.

For the record, the turbocharged 3-litre straight-six in the M40i sends 340hp to the rear wheels via an eight-speed paddle-shift gearbox and bangs out 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. That’s Porsche Boxster S territory but six grand cheaper. In truth, speed is the easy bit. What impresses most is the balance.

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BMW has widened the front track, shortened the wheelbase, lowered the centre of gravity, reduced weight, given it perfect 50:50 weight distribution and added adaptive M Sport suspension to smooth body-roll and pitching and sharpened turn-in.

There is also a Traction mode that widens the wheel slip in low and mid-speed corners. In other words, oversteer. That’s a lot of fun. You can play with it without getting punished.

Or you can switch everything off, as in crashy-slidey-off, if you’ve got the cojones.

Tip. You could always save yourself nine grand and get the 2-litre, four-cylinder sDrive30i at £40,000. That has more than enough power at 258hp and, being lighter, will be even more nimble on a twisty road. That’s just physics. But it hasn’t got the M Sport kit.

Last observation. The Z4 cabin has the same advanced tech as the new 8 Series — at half the price.

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That means head-up display, digital instrument display, stop-go adaptive cruise control, reverse assist, over-the-air software updates and so on.

As for looks, that’s your department. But I promise you one thing.

Put the keys in the bowl on Friday night and you’ll be the first one upstairs.

DON’T KNOCK IT ON THE Z YET

NISSAN introduced the 370Z in 2009. Ten years ago. Enough time, then, for little Yoshihiko to start primary school and finish secondary school.

Which means the next Z car is long overdue.

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Will Nissan finally indulge us next year, 50 years on from the very first Z car, the Datsun 240Z?

Let’s hope so.

Because we’re not ready to drown in a dreary vat of eco-porridge just yet.

No, sir. Balls to that. We demand one last simple, naturally-aspirated, tail-happy, rear-drive, manual sports coupe for the people.

Just like the 240Z from all those years ago and continued by the 260Z, 280Z, 300Z, 350Z and 370Z.

The six-cylinder 240Z you see here cost £2,000 new in 1971. That’s £29,000 in today’s money, the same price as a 370Z.

It’s fast, handsome and extremely rare – mostly because the others were eaten by tin worm (rust).

There’s only 226 UK survivors and they’re fetching up to £35,000 on the t’interweb.

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Give it a bit of choke from cold (ask your parents) but once it is warmed up it is a joy to behold. And that skinny steering wheel. Oh yes.

As for the 370Z, that is also fast and rorty and has just been updated with a sports clutch and Nismo wheels. But it is getting long in the tooth now. It needs to be pensioned off and replaced by a new Z.

Come on, Nissan. We buy the Leaf. Play fair.

Key facts:

1971 DATSUN 240Z

Price new: £2,000

Engine: 2.4-litre 6cyl

Power: 160hp

0-62mph: 8 secs

Top speed: 125mph

MIGHTY MUSSO’S PULLING POWER

YOU might have seen the ad with a rhino squaring up to a pick-up truck.

It has the tagline: “The new Musso. Korean for rhino.”

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Which it is.

But what SsangYong should have done is show a Musso pulling one, two, THREE fully grown rhinos on a trailer. With a FOURTH sat in the load bed.

Because that’s how strong this thing is.

It is the only pick-up that can tow 3.5 tonnes and carry a one-tonne payload at the same time. That’s a 6.75 gross train weight.

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Now, that’s sure to impress Britain’s grafters. Almost as much as the price.

The Musso starts at a bargain-bucket £19,995 excluding VAT and all versions are powered by a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with selectable 4x4, high/low ratios, good clearance and hill descent control.

The double cab is big, surprisingly comfy and loaded with kit. This mid-spec Rebel had phone-mirroring touchscreen, hot/cold ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. Yes, really. You big softies.

It’s basically the front half of a Rexton SUV and the back end of a pick-up truck.

Now, there is a problem. The ride quality is crude – and SsangYong knows it.

That’s why it arrived with ten bags of sand in the back to calm the rear-axle hop.

Other irritations. No footrest. No third brake light. Naff cupholder ashtray.

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But all that’s low-priority for a pick-up, it must be said.

If you are looking for strength, value and a seven-year warranty, start here.

Marketing gold for Audi and Deals at Halfords

AUDI has designed an electric supercar for animated movie Spies In Disguise, starring Will Smith as super-agent Lance Sterling. Does it hint at the next R8? Let’s hope so. One thing is for sure, it’s more marketing gold for Audi after Transformers, Iron Man . . . and Fifty Shades.

HALFORDS has started its Black Friday deals early. A 36-piece socket set is £20 (was £60) and a 250-litre roof box is half-price at £64.50.

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Win

NOW Bonfire Night has been and gone, I’ll happily mention the C-word. Christmas.

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Put this £225 Tamiya R/C car on your Santa list. Better still, WIN it. To enter my free draw for this Toyota Yaris WRC self-assembly kit, and tag a friend by 6pm on Sunday. Note: This is proper. It’s 4WD and can do 20mph.

For ages 10+. Winner chosen at random.

Go

CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW – tomorrow until Sunday, Birmingham NEC.

More than 3,000 classic cars, autojumble, auction, dream rides, live restoration. Day tickets from £26.50.