The electric crossover will come with a dual-motor setup and an all-wheel-drive system
by Sidd Dhimaan, on LISTEN 03:34Toyota has revealed the bZ4X electric crossover concept. Kicking off the new ‘Beyond Zero’ series for the Japanese automaker, this concept looks to be a spiritual successor to the RAV4. More than the product itself, this reveal was all about the bZ series of vehicles, a prefix that will be used on the company’s upcoming electric vehicles. The bZ4X is based on a BEV platform that Toyota has co-developed with Subaru, and it will feature an all-wheel-drive system.
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2021 Toyota BZ4X BEV Concept
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Toyota bZ4X Exterior
The bZ4X looks very similar to the RAV4. It looks even sharper and bolder, courtesy of the cuts and creases all around. The production version could be slightly toned down, but not very much different than what we see here. It has a long wheelbase with short overhangs which will result in a spacious cabin. The concept also rides on large wheels here. Overall, there seems to be a lot of Lexus-design touches here and we will wait to see how the production-spec model will look like.
Toyota bZ4X Interior
The cabin follows an open-concept theme. It doesn’t look as minimalistic as the pure-bred EVs you see today. There are a lot of buttons all around, even on the touchscreen, in fact. The instrument panel has a sweet setting here and unique to all the screens that sit right in your face. Again, since it’s a concept we don’t want to delve into details as it could be quite different from the production-spec bZ4X. That said, we are sure the cabin will be mighty spacious and there will be a lot of sustainable material used all around.
Toyota bZ4X Powertrain, Battery and Range
The bZ4x will be based on a BEV-dedicated e-TNGA platform that Toyota has co-developed with Subaru.
Since it’s just a concept at this moment, there’s not a lot of information available at this point. But, we do know that the bZ4X will come with a dual-motor setup and an all-wheel-drive system.
As for the range, anything around 300 miles should be fine. The higher the better, though. The Model Y comes with an EPA-estimated range of 326 miles whereas the best the Ford Mustang Mach-E has to offer is 305 miles. Since the car has a long wheelbase and it rides on a dedicated BEV platform, you can expect even larger battery packs and smart packaging of the modules underneath the floor.
Toyota bZ4X Pricing
The bZ4X will go up against the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Tesla Model Y; so, even though we don’t have much information on the bZ4X yet, we speculate a starting price of around $40,000.
Conclusion
Toyota is coming up with 15 new EVs in the future and seven of them will carry the bZ prefix. The automaker filed trademarks for BZ1, BZ2, BZ2X, BZ3, BZ4, BZ4X, and BZ5. The models with the ‘X’ will come with a dual-motor setup and an all-wheel-drive system. Toyota plans to produce the bZ4X in Japan and China, to start with, and soon expand the sales worldwide by mid-2022.
Since it looks to be an electric RAV4 at the onset and the RAV4 was the best-selling Toyota product in the States last year, it goes unsaid the bZ4X will hit the U.S. shores sooner than later.
Toyota bZ4X BEV concept includes new AWD system packaged in a sleek SUV design
Solidifies Toyota’s global commitment towards carbon neutrality by 2050
Electrified product portfolio to expand to around 70 models globally by 2025; including 15 new battery electric vehicles, of which, seven will be Toyota bZ models
Toyota plans on bringing electrification to its truck lineup, including hybrid and BEV powertrains
PLANO, Texas (April 18, 2021) – Toyota envisions a future in which carbon neutrality is achieved through the practical marketization of a portfolio of products with advanced, alternative-fuel and zero-emission powertrain technologies. Already a leader in electrification, the company took a major step forward today with the introduction of the Toyota bZ4X Concept, a vision for the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the “Toyota bZ” brand umbrella.
The Toyota bZ4X Concept joins a full lineup of electrified vehicles – a lineup that, in total, accounts for more than 40% of all alternative powertrain vehicles sold in the U.S. These alternative powertrains include battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Toyota plans to expand to around 70 electrified models globally by 2025. This future lineup will feature 15 dedicated BEVs, including seven carrying the bZ (Beyond Zero) brand moniker. In addition, Toyota intends to bring electrification to its pickup truck lineup in the near future, including hybrid and BEV powertrains. This diverse portfolio of electrified products will help propel Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
“The Toyota bZ4X concept points to yet another option in our already robust electrified portfolio” said Bob Carter, TMNA executive vice president of sales. “At Toyota, we are a human-centered company – the customer is our CEO and will ultimately decide which technologies will carry us toward a carbon neutral future. With investments and product offerings across the spectrum of electrification, we intend to be there with products and technologies that meet the diverse needs of customers around the world.”
Jointly developed with Subaru, the Toyota bZ4X SUV Concept is built on the new e-TNGA BEV- dedicated platform. The concept conveys Toyota’s legendary quality, durability and long-term reliability (QDR) in combination with Subaru’s AWD capabilities to achieve a driving experience that is both comfortable and engaging.
The Toyota bZ4X SUV concept features a long wheelbase with short overhangs, resulting in a distinctive design with ample interior space. The open-concept interior is designed to enhance driver comfort and confidence on the road. With every detail purposefully engineered, the low position of the instrument panel and the location of the meters above the steering wheel not only help expand the vehicle’s sense of space, but also help increase visibility to aid in safe and secure driving.
Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China; it hopes to begin worldwide sales of the model by the middle of 2022. U.S. product details will be shared at a later date.
