The Toyota bZ4x crossover, Toyota’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV), is revealed and heading for showrooms early next year.
Two variants will be offered: the front-driven entry car with a single motor producing 201bhp and 195lb ft cracks the 0-62mph sprint in 8.4 seconds, while the twin-motor range-topper – which uses four-wheel drive technology developed by Subaru – boosts power to 214bhp, torque to 248bhp and cuts the 0-62mph time to 7.7 seconds.
Power comes from a 71.4kWh battery pack which promises a WLTP range of more than 280 miles, with an “efficient and effective” heating system ensuring only a ‘modest’ drop in range in sub-zero temperatures. It can be charged at speeds of up to 150kW, meaning an 80% top-up can be achieved in around 30 minutes.
The SUV’s range is optimised courtesy of an on-board solar charging system that helps to ensure colder weather has minimal impact on usability – a noted drawback of conventional battery tech.
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Toyota bZ4X sales are set to begin in mid-2022 in Japan, North America, China, and Europe, according to the manufacturer.
Toyota currently does not offer any BEV in its model lineup, anywhere in the world. They do offer a variety of hybrids as well as the hydrogen-powered Mirai. The manufacturer plans to launch a new electric vehicle range with 15 models by 2025. The first model in this line will be the Toyota bZ4X.
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