The new Toyota bZ4X is technically not the brand's first 100% electric — this honor went to the RAV4 EV, still in the 90s, with limited availability, and there was even a second generation, in the past decade, with Tesla technology —, but it is the first to be derived from a specific platform for trams and to be produced in volume.
Toyota's resistance to 100% battery-powered electrics has been strong — Akio Toyoda, its president, has been particularly vocal about this accelerated and forced transition — despite being one of the first to massively electrify the car with the Prius , in 1997.
But the new 100% battery-powered family bZ (Beyond Zero or “beyond zero”) promises to put Toyota on par with the rest of the industry: by 2025 it is planned to launch 15 100% electric vehicles, seven of which will be part of the bZ family.
bZ4X, the first
The first of them all is this bZ4X, an SUV with exterior dimensions close to that of the RAV4. However, its e-TNGA electrical architecture, half-developed with Subaru, guarantees it a distinct set of proportions.
The front and rear overhangs of the bZ4X are shorter, as a result of the wheelbase being 160 mm longer (2850 mm in total) than that of the RAV4, but coupled with a length just 90 mm longer (4690 mm). It is also 85mm lower than the RAV4, standing at 1600mm.
Another consequence of using the e-TNGA, which “tidy up” the batteries on the platform's floor, is the offer of space, which promises to be ample for its five occupants.
Toyota says the legroom in the second row of seats on the bZ4X is comparable to that of the vast Lexus LS, the Japanese brand's biggest saloon. The trunk, on the other hand, advertises a reasonable capacity of 452 l, with adjustable bottom.
Also in the interior, the brand wanted to look like a living room on board, an effect achieved by the use of smooth textures and finishes, and satin details.
The instrument panel is digital (7″ TFT screen) and is placed lower than usual, for greater visibility and a feeling of space. The bZ4X will also feature a new multimedia system that already allows remote updates (over the air).
More than 450 km
The Toyota bZ4X comes equipped with a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery that should guarantee, according to Toyota, more than 450 km of autonomy — a provisional value, pending certification.
The battery itself also promises to be reliable and durable — Toyota has a quarter century of experience in the development of high-capacity batteries — with the Japanese brand predicting only a 10% reduction in its performance over a 10-year period. or 240,000 kilometers (whichever comes first).
The thermal management of batteries is always particularly important in electric ones and the bZ4X is no exception. It will be Toyota's first electrified model with liquid cooling, and it also comes equipped with a standard heat pump. According to the brand, these are features that allow the reduction of autonomy at temperatures below zero to be more modest, when compared to some competitors.
The new bZ4X will also be compatible with quick charges of 150 kW (CCS2), without compromising the safety or battery life. 30 minutes is enough to charge from 0 to 80%.
In Portugal, only with front wheel drive
The arrival of the new Toyota bZ4X on the market will be made with two versions: one of front-wheel drive and the other of all-wheel drive, simply called AWD.
The first has an electric motor positioned at the front, with a maximum power of 150 kW (204 hp) and 265 Nm. It allows the bZ4X to reach 100 km/h in just 8.4s and reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h ( limited).
The AWD version has two electric motors, one per shaft, each with 80 kW (109 hp) totaling 218 hp of maximum power and 336 Nm of torque. The same exercise from 0-100 km/h is reduced to 7.7s while maintaining maximum speed.
Four-wheel drive allows greater versatility of use, making use of the XMODE system, which allows you to select different driving modes depending on the type of surface (for example, snow and mud) and access the Grip Control function for more demanding off-road journeys (below 10 km/h).
As with autonomy, the performance figures announced are still provisional, but what we can already confirm is that Portugal will only have access, for now, to the front-wheel drive bZ4X.
Pricing has not yet been announced, but it will be possible to pre-book the new Toyota bZ4X a few days after the European presentation on December 2nd.