Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the management board of BMW AG, characterized the contract to supply Toyota with the diesels as "another important step in the planned expansion of our sales activities for engines and powertrain systems".
The company recently doubled down on its automotive specialty with the acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor Ltd., an Austin, Texas, firm that made chips for engine control and powertrains.
Recent years have witnessed increased output power, particularly with modern diesel engines and reduced powertrain inertia.
The companies said the alliance would develop, manufacture, market and distribute medium-duty engines, fuel systems and powertrain components for other vehicle builders and for use in their own products.
Lincoln expects to forge class-leading fuel economy with the base model's 2-liter, 240-horsepower EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain adopted from the Ford Fusion.
More efficient engines and electric powertrains can't carry the whole load, so carmakers and the federal government are pouring resources into "lightweighting" auto platforms to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards.
Wagoner's comment followed his announcement of plans to cut 30,000 manufacturing jobs and close nine North American assembly, stamping and Powertrain engine-maker facilities in a restructuring drive that aims to vivify the company and get production in line with demand.
How about a Kia Optima with a turbocharged engine and a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty?
The new Forester might sit on the Subaru Global Platform, which underpins the Impreza and XV, and incorporate the brand's signature boxer engine and all-wheel-drive powertrain, but it loses the gutsy turbo engine option on the flagship model as well as its 6-speed manual transmission fitted to lower trim models.
