By the end of 2025, Toyota will have all-new and enhanced products competing at the heart of the key B, C and D-SUV segments, the principal categories of the European automotive market. All benefit from core Toyota BEV DNA qualities: genuine SUV character and practicality; distinctive contemporary design; energy-efficient performance; and the availability of true all-wheel drive performance.

Quality, Durability and Reliability are the hallmarks of all Toyota products, BEVs included. There is perhaps no better illustration of this than the Battery Care Program covering the battery each year for up to 10 years of vehicle age or up to one million kilometres driven, subject to an annual battery health check**.

The new Toyota bZ4X

The bZ4X was the first battery-electric model to be developed based on the Toyota New Global Architecture philosophy dedicated to BEVs, eTNGA. It is a D-segment car that stands out in its class for offering authentic SUV performance as well as styling, with optional XMODE all-wheel drive. Having first been introduced in 2022, the bZ4X will undergo significant visual and technical enhancements in 2025. The new model will offer customers the choice of two lithium-ion battery packs with different power capacities (57.7 and 73.1 kWh gross capacity) and new stronger electric motors with output of up to 343 DIN hp / 252 kW. A new (optional) 22 kW onboard-charger, a battery pre-conditioning function for faster charging and software updates to provide intelligent BEV-focused route planning, will also be delivered.

All-new Urban Cruiser

The Urban Cruiser is an all-new compact SUV developed from the Urban SUV Concept presented in 2023. It stands out in its class with powerful styling that gives it a strong road presence. While its compact exterior dimensions give it urban-friendly manoeuvrability, the cabin maximises passenger space with a slide-adjustable rear seat system. This allows for a generous leg room to rival larger competitors. Customers have two battery pack options (49 and 61 kWh gross capacity), both using lithium-iron phosphate technology that has the benefit of durability, safety and reduced cost, and the choice of front or all-wheel drive.

All-new Toyota C-HR+

The all-new Toyota C-HR+ has been developed from the Compact SUV concept presented in 2022. It is an all-new, all-electric C-segment SUV, set to compete in the most important part of the BEV market.

It is infused with the qualities that have made the Toyota C-HR such a popular success – more than one million units have been sold since its introduction in 2016 – but is a model in its own right. While the styling draws on the coupe lines that have distinguished the Toyota C-HR, the body is unique to the BEV with a more mature and sophisticated feeling. Inside, passenger space is on a par with higher class models and there is 416 litre of load space.

The electric powertrain technology is shared with the new bZ4X, including the option of two different battery capacities (57.7 and 77 kWh gross capacity) and drivetrains with power output between 167 and 343 DIN hp. However, the vehicle’s style and dynamic performance are very different, designed to appeal to a different type of customer. All-wheel drive can be specified for extra grip and rewarding control of the high power that is characteristic of an electric powertrain.

2026 and beyond

Toyota will continue to grow its BEV range and deliver on its ambition to reveal 6 new BEV models by the end of 2026. Following the example set by the new Urban Cruiser and Toyota C-HR+, these will adopt a traditional naming strategy to make them familiar and instantly recognisable to customers.

In parallel, Toyota will look to introduce the technology in other vehicle types. An example of its breadth of ambition is the Land Cruiser Se concept, revealed at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023. This explores how a BEV powertrain might be applied to the most iconic model in the Toyota range.

Further into the future, Toyota will roll out next generation BEV technologies, including the advanced batteries previewed in 2023. These include units tailored for low-cost, performance and high performance, together with the launch of the first Toyota solid state batteries with the potential to transform EV performance.

Technical adjustments have been made to the battery heating system to reduce battery charging times in cold climates using a DC fast-charging power supply. A new water-to-water heat exchanger and a heating adjustment valve have been added to the heating circuit to help increase battery temperature.

Toyota expects these changes to reduce the 10%-80% DC fast-charging times, especially in cold temperatures and below freezing point.

If the weather is cold outside, the cabin climate can be quickly warmed up with new radiant heater, provided as standard on the High grade bZ4X. Installed below the steering column and instrument panel, this provides rapid warmth around the driver and front passenger’s lower legs and feet – occupants will feel the benefit quickly from start-up.

The update programme also introduces a new feature to help prevent rear-end collisions, for example in a highway traffic tailback. Provided on Mid+ and High grade models, this uses the Blind Spot Monitor radars to detect when there is a risk of a collision with a vehicle approaching from the rear, automatically activating the rear hazard lights to alert the other driver.

The High grade bZ4X will be available with a new digital key. Compatible with both Apple and Android systems, this allows users to open and start the vehicle simply by having their smartphone on their person.  The key can be shared between up to five people at any one time, making it simple to give access to family members or business colleagues, or vehicle maintenance and rescue technicians.

The updated Toyota bZ4X range will be introduced in European markets during 2024. 

The bZ4X’s quality and performance are founded on Toyota’s world-leading experience in electrified vehicle technology, a heritage that spans more than a quarter of a century. The company has also worked with Subaru as its development partner for bZ4X, benefiting from the manufacturer’s renowned expertise in areas such as all-wheel drive engineering.

The bZ4X is not an adaptation of an existing model. Instead, it is wholly original and the first of what will be a series of different bZ vehicles to be constructed on a new Toyota platform dedicated to BEVs. eTNGA integrates the battery unit into the chassis, entirely beneath the vehicle floor. The result is a strong and highly rigid framework and a low centre of gravity, defining factors in the bZ4X’s stable and rewarding dynamic performance. The modular design allows it to be easily adapted for use in a wide range of different vehicle types, spanning from small to larger segments.

The bZ4X is available in both front and all-wheel drive versions. The FWD model features a 150-kW front-mounted eAxle that produces 204 DIN hp and 265 Nm maximum torque. The AWD model, uses front and rear 80 kW eAxles with a combined output of up to 218 DIN hp and 337 Nm of torque. Class-leading off-road performance is enabled by the AWD system, with X-MODE to give secure and stable performance through mud and snow.

The lithium-ion battery unit has a 71.4 kWh capacity and comprises 96 cells which are water-cooled and constantly monitored individually for any signs of abnormality or degradation. Toyota’s confidence in the quality of the battery is reflected in a guarantee it will retain at least 70 per cent of its capacity up to 10 years, covered by the original EV Manufacturing Warranty until 8 years or 160.000 kilometres, and with the additional Extended Battery Care up to 10 years or 1 million kilometres driven that is activated by an annual EV Health Check (T&C apply).

The bZ4X has an official driving range (WLTP standard) of up to 516 km for the FWD version and up to 470 km for the AWD model. Fast-charging to 80% capacity can be accomplished in around 30 minutes, in normal temperature conditions. At launch, the vehicle has a 6.6 kW on-board charger. Cars being produced towards the end of 2022 will be built with an 11 kW unit for faster charging performance.

BEYOND ZERO: A NEW TOYOTA SUB-BRAND

• bZ4X expresses Toyota’s “Beyond Zero” human-centred philosophy for delivering benefits beyond zero carbon
• First in a series of bZ products due for launch in Europe
• Technology draws on a quarter of a century of Toyota leadership in electrified vehicles

The bZ4X introduces bZ – Beyond Zero – Toyota’s new sub-brand focused on how battery electric vehicles can do much more than deliver zero emissions on the journey to carbon neutrality. Going “beyond zero”, Toyota sees BEVs as key contributors to better mobility for all, helping improve people’s lives with freedom of movement, safety and peace of mind.

The bZ4X is the first in what will be a series of bZ products to be launched globally. Its name references the size of the car – 4 for mid-size – and the vehicle type, in this case X for crossover SUV.

Beyond Zero reinforces the environmental leadership Toyota has achieved since making zero emissions its ultimate goal with the introduction of Prius, the world’s first mass-market hybrid electric car, 25 years ago. Since then, the company has constantly developed and improved its hybrid technology to develop a multi-path approach to reducing and eventually eliminating carbon emissions, with hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and zero emission battery electric and fuel cell electric models.

Beyond Zero is a wholly human-centred philosophy and will bring new products and services with strong customer appeal that will enhance the pleasure of driving, improving safety for all road users and helping build better societies around the world. It has four core values:

You and Others – the bZ4X has an open and spacious cabin with home-like comfort. There’s generous leg room for rear seat passengers and the atmosphere is calm and quiet thanks not just to the quieter electric powertrain but also to effective measures to block out road and wind noise.

You and Your Car – developing the car from a means of transport into an intelligent partner. The bZ4X is designed for smooth, intuitive driving and has authentic SUV off-road performance. The BEV driving experience informs both the new driver’s cockpit layout and the car’s sleek and powerful exterior design. The latest multimedia technologies provide seamless connectivity and multiple methods for communicating with the car, for information, entertainment and comfort.

You and the Environment – going beyond reducing emissions to actively improve the environment. Going beyond its zero emission performance, bZ4X can generate its own power using an optional solar roof panel.

You and Society – vehicles that can make a positive contribution to society. With its comprehensive Toyota T-Mate preventive safety and advanced driver assistance systems, the bZ4X improves safety for all road users. In addition to the safeguards provided by Toyota Safety Sense, special measures are in place to monitor the battery’s performance and protect it in the event of an impact.

Toyota’s multi-tech route to zero carbon

Toyota is a “full line-up” manufacturer of vehicles that can help everyone reduce their carbon footprint in all parts of the world. This includes hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles – the latter range set to grow with the roll-out of new bZ “Beyond Zero” models, starting with the bZ4X SUV. Toyota calls this multi-tech approach “the power of and.”

Since the introduction of the original Prius in 1997, the company has put more than 20 million electrified vehicles on the road. Throughout, it has recognised that environmentally efficient vehicles can only be effective through widespread use: they must be accessible and desirable for customers, meeting their mobility needs.

As the pace of electrification accelerates, Toyota expects to sell 5.5 million electrified vehicles a year worldwide by 2025, with a line-up of 70 models, including 15 zero emission vehicles.

In Europe, its forecast is for 90% of its Western European sales to be electrified vehicles by 2025, of which at least 10% will be ZEVs. This figure will increase to 100% electrified by the end of the decade, with at least 50% ZEVs (a greater proportion if market demand and infrastructure development permit). And by 2035 the target is a full 100% reduction in new vehicle CO₂ emissions – potentially earlier in some individual national markets.

This ambition was voiced by Matt Harrison, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe (TME) at Toyota’s Kenshiki (“insight”) media event in December 2021. He said: “Moving beyond 2030, we expect to see further ZEV demand acceleration and Toyota will be ready to achieve 100% CO₂ reduction in all new vehicles by 2035 in Western Europe, assuming that sufficient electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructures are in place by then, together with the renewable energy capacity increases that will be required”

Carbon neutrality and the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050

The elimination of carbon emissions figures strongly in Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050, a series of six environmental targets set by the company in 2015. Toyota’s global ambition is to eliminate CO₂ from its new vehicles, all its business operations, and the full vehicle lifecycle, including the manufacture of parts and materials, logistics and the processes for end-of-life recycling and disposing of vehicles.

By 2050, Toyota aims to reduce CO₂ emissions from its vehicles by 90% compared to 2010 levels. Its production centres will see carbon emissions cut to zero, helped by the development of new manufacturing technologies and the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources.

The Environmental Challenge also focuses on how Toyota’s water usage can be minimised and optimised; how the company can help establish a recycling-based society and systems; and how a future society that lives in harmony with nature can be achieved. More information about the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 and interim targets set for 2030 can be found at (weblink).

Event venue: CopenHill, Copenhagen

CopenHill, more formally known as Amager Bakke, is a new landmark on the Copenhagen skyline, an energy plant that converts the city’s waste into heating and electricity for 150,000 households in the local area. It is one of the most efficient waste-to-energy plants in the world and its carbon storage system makes at a key element in Copenhagen’s mission to become a carbon neutral city.

CopenHill is one example that reflects the Beyond Zero philosophy. As well as being functional, the site also serves as a centre for public recreation with an all-weather ski slope and green park.

THE bZ4X: TECHNICAL DETAIL

• First model to feature Toyota’s eTNGA philosophy, dedicated to electric vehicles
• Architecture central to achieving extensive cabin space and load capacity
• Front-wheel drive model uses front-mounted 150 kW motor; all-wheel drive model powered by 80 kW front and rear motors
• New AWD with X-MODE brings authentic off-road capability to the electric vehicle market
• Extensive measures to maintain battery performance, backed by the additional Extended Battery Care guaranteeing 70% of original capacity up to 10 years of use or one million kilometres driven (T&C apply).
• Fast charging to 80% capacity in around 30 minutes

eTNGA philosophy: a new modular architecture dedicated to BEVs

The bZ4X is the first car to be built on the company’s new BEV architecture, based on eTNGA philosophy and designed, optimised and dedicated to electric vehicles.

This completely new architecture has the flexibility to be used for potential future bZ models and is designed for production at scale. Critically, the slim battery unit is located fully beneath the vehicle floor and forms part of the chassis, helping achieve a low centre of gravity, ideal front/rear weight balance and high body rigidity.

The eTNGA’s modular design means it can be easily adapted for use in vehicles across a huge variety of vehicle types and sizes. It can accommodate batteries of different sizes and outputs and both (as in the case of bZ4X) front and all-wheel drive powertrains. The fixed elements are the position of the front and (if used) rear motors, the under-bonnet layout, the driver’s position relative to the front wheels and the width of the battery unit; the changeable elements include the wheelbase, the number of battery cells and the front and rear overhangs. Thus, variations can be applied to meet different customer or model design requirements, using different front, centre and rear modules.

The platform’s core qualities combine to give the bZ4X stable and responsive dynamic performance, both with front and all-wheel drive.

Its design allows the bZ4X to have a long wheelbase; at 2,850 mm, this is 160 mm longer than in the RAV4. The result is excellent interior space – both in the cabin and the load compartment. For rear seat passengers there is one-metre couple distance, a flat floor and generous leg room that’s on a par with larger vehicles.

The flexible load space features an adjustable, two-level deck board and an underfloor space that can add an extra 71 mm to the load height when taller items need to be carried. With the rear seats in place and the deck board in the lower position, there is up to 452 l (VDA) – room enough to carry three 82 l suitcases or two mountain bikes. The rear seats can be split-folded 60:40 and have a reclining function. The space beneath the deck holds a tool box and provides room for a warning triangle or the car’s charging cable; the folding tonneau cover can also be neatly stowed.

Powertrain: front and all-wheel drive

The front-wheel drive bZ4X is powered by a high-response, front-mounted 150 kW electric motor. It produces 204 DIN hp and 266 Nm of torque, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.

The AWD model features separate front and rear 80 kW motors driving the front and rear axles. Maximum power is 218 DIN hp, with 337 Nm of torque; the acceleration time from 0-100 km/h is reduced to 6.9 seconds. The use of power from the front and rear motors is optimised to achieve better overall power consumption. For example, only the front motor is used when only low drive torque is needed.

The bZ4X uses a new eAxle design that integrates the transaxle, motor and inverter in a single unit. The light and compact design helps achieve shorter overhangs and a low centre of gravity for the vehicle and more cabin and load space. This eAxle is being used for the first time in the bZ4X, but it benefits from the technical expertise Toyota has gained from more than 25 years’ designing electric motor-generators for its hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric models.

Numerous measures have been taken to reduce losses in the motor and inverter, including using a smaller stator and a high-speed/high-output rotor and adopting a low-viscosity oil for the transaxle. The transaxle geartrain has a simple three-axis design, while a pre-load differential and equal-length left and right driveshafts help ensure straight-line drivability.

The front eAxle includes an electricity supply unit (ESU) which brings together the power transformation functions in a single unit, bringing savings in size and weight. For example, components such as the branch box and DC relay which were contained in the battery pack in Toyota’s previous BEV models have now been brought into the ESU, allowing the battery pack to be flattened, in turn helping achieve a low, flat cabin floor.

With the motor ECU located closer to the motor, there is quicker detection of any wheel-slip. The rapid application of precise drive torque control dramatically reduces initial wheel-slip for more stable driving.

Regeneration boost

The high responsiveness of the electric motor allows for a regeneration boost function. Coasting deceleration is increased to 0.15 G when the driver comes off the accelerator, operating with a natural feel and compensating for around 80% of deceleration when driving.

New all-wheel drive system with X-MODE

Toyota worked with its development partner Subaru in engineering a new all-wheel drive system that draws on the great AWD heritage of both companies. This new system creates an unprecedented new value for BEVs, giving the bZ4X a genuine, class-leading off-road driving capability – a market first for an all-electric SUV.

The driver can choose from different X-MODE settings which tailor performance for snow/mud; deep snow and mud (speeds below 20 km/h); and provide Grip Control for tougher off-road driving (speeds below 10 km/h).

Using X-MODE with Grip Control allows the driver to concentrate on accurate steering, with the system taking care of vehicle speed when travelling downhill, uphill or on the level. When travelling downhill, the driver can also use the car’s Downhill Assist Control for a similar level of assistance.

Battery technology

The high-density lithium-ion battery comprises 96 cells and has a 355.2 voltage rating. Its gross capacity is 71.4 kWh and it has an ambient temperature operating range of between -30 and +60°C.

Key to the battery’s quality and durability is multiple monitoring of the voltage, current and temperature, from individual cell level. If any abnormal heat generation is detected, controls are automatically triggered. Countermeasures have been put place to mitigate any material degradation, and there are safeguards in the manufacturing process to prevent foreign matter from entering the battery.

This is the first battery in a Toyota vehicle to adopt a water cooling system. This uses a refrigerant and helps maintain stable output with each cell individually cooled. The system is linked to the vehicle’s air conditioning system so there is power-efficient co-ordination of battery and cabin temperature control.

Thanks to an efficient and effective heating system, including a heat pump, reliability is also maintained in sub-zero temperatures.

Toyota’s confidence in the quality of the battery is reflected in a guarantee it will retain at least 70 per cent of its capacity up to 10 years, covered by the original EV Manufacturing Warranty until 8 years or 160.000 kilometres, and with the additional Extended Battery Care up to 10 years or 1 million kilometres driven that is activated by an annual EV Health Check (T&C apply).

Battery charging and driving range

European versions of the bZ4X use a battery suitable for reliable charging in very low temperatures. The battery can be fast-charged without compromising safety or service life: an 80% charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes with a 150 kW fast-charging system (CCS2); a full charge using a 230 V/32 A supply will take around 9.5 hours. From Q4 2022, an 11 kW three-phase on-board charger will replace the initial 6.6 kW unit.

The bZ4X’s official WLTP performance data confirms the vehicle will deliver a generous driving range. The front-wheel drive model will achieve up to 516 km on a fully charge battery, with an efficiency rating of 143.2 Wh/km (7 km/kW); the all-wheel drive version has an official range of up to 470 km with 158 Wh/km (6.3 km/kW) efficiency.

Solar panel roof

An optional solar panel roof is available for the bZ4X in selected markets. This allows renewable solar energy to be captured and used for charging the battery or operating auxiliary systems, via a solar ECU located under the rear seats. In a sunny climate, Toyota estimates sufficient power to travel 1,800 km could be obtained, or 11.7 km per day (equivalent to 140 smartphone charges).

When the car is parked with the ignition turned off, power from the solar panel is used to charge the main battery, ensuring a sufficient distance to empty and allowing power to be supplied for other purposes, such as electrical appliances. When the car is being driven, with the ignition on, the solar power is supplied to car’s auxiliary systems, reducing the draw on the main battery.

Driving range is an important consideration for EV customers and Toyota has brought to bear more than 25 years’ experience in high-capacity battery development to ensure that not only does the bZ4X offer peace of mind of in terms of the distance it can cover, but also reassurance that that capability can be maintained year after year. In line with development targets for the battery, only a marginal reduction in battery performance is expected.

Body rigidity

As described above, the eTNGA philosophy endows the bZ4X with fundamental high rigidity and a low centre of gravity that form the basis of stable, responsive and rewarding performance. Further measures have been implemented to reinforce these qualities, for example, using a strengthened front subframe for the radiator support which reduces weight at the front of the car, reducing the moment of inertia and contributing to better turning performance. There is further weight saving in the front powertrain compartment, including aluminium cross-members, while the use of hot-stamped and high-tensile steels in key locations in the construction brings rigidity for superior impact performance without compromising vehicle mass.

The rear framework includes a double ring structure and a rear pillar support structure, maintaining good load space while providing rigidity to help withstand impact forces from multiple directions. A new, integrated front pillar section is 15% thinner than those found in vehicles of comparable weight, yet is engineered to withstand forces from multi-directional impacts.

There are specific measures to protect the battery unit in the event of a front, rear or side impact and there is an aluminium undercover that provides protection when travelling over rough surfaces

Suspension, steering and braking

The bZ4X has a MacPherson strut front suspension design and double wishbone at the rear; both systems incorporate an anti-roll bar. The target was to achieve an ideal level of control and safety performance, leveraging the characteristics of the eTNGA philosophy to deliver ride comfort, stability and controllability.

The electronically controlled braking system uses front and rear ventilated discs, with performance tuned for easy control with a feel that strikes an optimum balance between effectiveness and rigidity. An electric parking brake is fitted as standard.

The rack-and-pinion electric power steering adjusts the level of assistance in line with vehicle speed. Later, in 2023, the bZ4X will be available with One Motion Grip, a new steer-by-wire system.

Wheels and tyres

According to model grade, the bZ4X uses 18 or 20-inch wheels. The 18-inch alloy rims use a full resin cover in silver and black that has a flat surface aero design and a number of small holes to help with brake cooling; the 20-inch five-double-spoke wheels have a contrast black and machined finish with grey resin accents. Tyres are 235/60R18 or 235/50R20.

DESIGN AND LIFE ON BOARD

• Exterior design explores the styling freedoms offered by a battery electric vehicle
• “Hi-Tech and Emotion” design theme blends advanced BEV looks with original SUV qualities
• Frontal design presents new signature Toyota BEV “hammerhead” shape
• Cabin design and lay-out evokes the comfort and space of a living room

Toyota has produced a sleek and robust design for the bZ4X that’s equally appropriate for modern urban life and the countryside, blending the advanced look of a BEV with the original qualities of an SUV. The theme for the design team was “Hi-Tech and Emotion,” challenging conventions while meeting customer expectations with an advanced feel and high-quality surfaces.

The frontal appearance is smart and avoids unnecessary decoration. It is characterised by a new brand-defining “hammerhead” shape with signature slim LED headlight units and an emphasis on the front corners that communicates the car’s strong stance.

In side view, the silhouette is sleek with a low overall height, slender front pillars and a low axis line that reflects the low centre of gravity achieved with the new platform and its low-set, integrated battery unit. Wheel arch mouldings, large wheels (up to 20-inch diameter) pushed out to the corners of the body and thick rocker panels express the car’s authentic SUV character. At the rear, the design focus is again on emphasising the corners, with a distinctive taillight bridging the width of the vehicle.

Compared to the Toyota RAV4, the bZ4X has an overall height that’s lower by 85 mm, shorter overhangs and a wheelbase that that’s 160 mm longer. The bonnet line is also reduced in height by 50 mm. Overall agility is reflected in a class-leading 5.7 m turning radius.

The design incorporates aerodynamic elements that contribute to the generous driving range, including apertures set deep in the front bumper corners to create smooth air curtains; a full underbody cover; a split roof spoiler and (optional) rear duck-tail lip spoiler; rear diffuser; and a precisely angled rear screen. The slim lower grille has a shutter that adjusts to channel cooling air flow to the battery and helps reduce wind resistance.

To reduce intrusive noise, thicker glass is used in the side windows and there is a wider, uniform gap between the door mirror and front three-quarter panel, reducing the sound produced by wind turbulence.

The bZ4X is available in six monotone colours, including new Precious Metal and Precious Silver, plus five bi-tone finishes that combine coloured bodywork with a contrasting black roof and pillars.

Design – interior

The theme for the interior is comfort and spaciousness that give the cabin the ambience of a living room, a sense that’s enhanced by the use of soft, woven trim textures on the dashboard, satin-finish detailing and the option of a panoramic roof.

The instrument panel is slim and low set, adding to the sense of openness and the driver’s forward visibility. This design has been made possible thanks to the use of a new air conditioning unit that is 30% more compact.

The “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle is supported by the human-centred cockpit in which the seven-inch TFT instrument and information display sits directly in the driver’s forward eyeline, top-mounted above the line of the steering wheel, so the meters can be viewed with minimal eye movement.

The centre console is the focus of the “social” quality of the cabin design, accessible for everyone on board and offering a total of 20 litres of storage space. This includes an open area beneath the console, suitable for a pair of shoes or handbag, and individual spaces to carry everything from a smartphone to a tablet and large bottle. In a neat touch, the smartphone cubby has a transparent lid so you can see at a glance if you have received an alert.

According to the multimedia system specified, the bZ4X has an 8 or 12.3-inch touch screen display. The large display is used for the latest Toyota Smart Connect system, with advanced functions and improved voice recognition control to access information and entertainment and to operate a number of vehicle functions, such as the air conditioning and windows.

The driver’s multimedia options include useful connected services that can be accessed using the Toyota MyT app. Of particular value to drivers of the bZ4X and other Toyota BEVs is the access it can provide to one of the world’s largest network of charging points. Contributing to Toyota’s “Kanzen” approach to giving owners complete peace of mind, customers can sign up to the service, choose their preferred tariff and use the app to find available charging stations nearby and make automatic payments. The status of individual charging points can also be checked using the app.

Other current MyT functions include “find my car,” which retrieves the vehicle’s location and can provide details on a map, together with navigation directions if required.  “Share to Car” allows for journeys to be planned and then sent to the car’s navigation system, while “Car to Door” gives directions for the last part of a journey after the vehicle has been parked. Driving analytics, service reminders, the level of battery charge and remote activation of the hazard lights are also available through the app.

The car can be locked and unlocked remotely and you can check the car’s status – whether windows or roof are open, the doors unlocked, the lights on or the key left inside the vehicle.

Instead of a conventional shift lever, the bZ4X has a new dial control: the outer section is depressed and turned to the left or right to select drive or reverse. The P (Park) setting is a one-touch button immediately behind the dial control.

LED cabin lighting is featured in the front footwells, centre console, door panels and door handles and the load space. On higher grade models, rear footwell lighting is provided, the driver’s seat is power-adjustable and both front seats have integrated heating and ventilation. Upholstery options are perforated leather or synthetic leather; synthetic leather with fabric; or all-fabric. Colour-way choices are black-on-black or a combination of light grey and black.

TOYOTA T-MATE SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE

• Toyota T-Mate brings together comprehensive safety and driver assistance features
• Provisions include the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense, with preventive safety systems to provide even greater protection against common accident risks
• Toyota Safety Sense software seamlessly upgraded with convenient over-the-air updates

The bZ4X benefits from the wide-ranging support and assistance of Toyota T-Mate, the collective name for the systems that help safeguard against accidents, provide protection in the event of an impact and assist the driver when it comes to making manoeuvres, whether parking the car on a crowded city street or driving in highway traffic.

With Toyota T-Mate, drivers can have the confidence that their car is always looking out for them.

The advanced technologies are designed to protect everyone on board and also other road users, helping Toyota progress towards the goal of future mobility with no accidents or road traffic injuries.

Vehicle accident research in the USA (Impact Research LLC, September 2019) shows that vehicles equipped with Toyota Safety Sense were 37% less likely to strike a vehicle in a front-to-rear crash compared to vehicles not using the technology. The researchers declare that the results of this and previous studies show that the widespread deployment of automatic emergency braking (as featured in Toyota Safety Sense’s Pre-Collision System), could help prevent thousands of related deaths and injuries every year.

On the bZ4X, Toyota T-Mate includes the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense, with preventive safety systems that have been developed to provide greater functionality and more detailed monitoring of the car’s surroundings and other road users.

For example, making a left or right turn across the flow of traffic at a busy intersection presents hazards not just from oncoming and crossing traffic, but also from pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road you are turning into. The bZ4X has the latest version of the Pre-Collision System (PCS) constantly monitors the road for these hazards, warning the driver or initiating emergency braking if there’s an imminent risk of an impact.

A pedestrian stepping off the kerb, or a vehicle stranded on the roadside can prompt the driver to swerve. The PCS is again primed to help with Emergency Steering Assist, helping steer around the hazard while keeping the car stable and within its traffic lane. The PCS also recognises when there’s a risk of a collision from sudden, sharp acceleration during low-speed driving, automatically regulating the driving force and providing braking control.

Even a brief loss of concentration can cause a car to wander off-course; with Lane Trace Assist, the bZ4X will keep faithfully to its correct path, guided by the markings on the road, or, if necessary, the road margin or the vehicle ahead. Here the safety aspect includes reducing the burden on the driver on long highway journeys. The system will co-operate with the Full-Range Adaptive Cruise Control, so the vehicle’s speed is safely adjusted when travelling through a highway bend. It also keeps an eye on the driver’s use of the steering wheel, brakes and accelerator pedal: if they are not used for a certain amount of time, it will initiate an Emergency Driving Stop System. On higher grade models, the level of monitoring is increased with the use of a camera to check on the driver’s head position.

It's not always possible to see every road sign you pass, but on main roads and highways the Road Sign Assist gives the driver a reminder of the principal commands, warnings and the speed limit.

When it comes to looking out for other road users, Safe Exit Assist helps avoid the common risk of inadvertently opening a car door into the path of a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian approaching from the rear. It uses the car’s Blind Spot Monitor to scan the road and flash a warning should driver or passenger be about to open the door and risk a collision.

The behaviour of pedestrians and other vehicles can be hard to predict, but with Proactive Driving Assist, coming in 2023, the bZ4X is able to scan the road ahead calculate collision risks and operate the brakes and steering at an early stage to help prevent an accident. This can be, for example, a person or cyclist close to the edge of the road or about to cross, or a vehicle ahead.

For peace of mind and complete customer convenience, Toyota is able to provide seamless software revisions and upgrades over-the-air for cars equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3 and MM21 multimedia system, via the car’s DCM (data communications module).

TOYOTA bZ4X AND THE EUROPEAN BEV MARKET

• Toyota offers customers peace-of-mind with bZ4X vehicle leasing packages through KINTO, its global mobility provider
• One-stop-shop approach takes care of all aspects of vehicle ownership

Across Europe there is great diversity in the strength and development of the market for battery electric vehicles. Some markets, such as Norway, are progressing towards full electrification at a much faster pace than others where issues such as infrastructure and consumer confidence and acceptance need to be addressed.

This business landscape reaffirms the value of Toyota’s multi-path technology approach to electrification, helping motorists progress to BEVs through other electrified vehicle options, such as hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (as detailed in the chapter above).

To help people make the change to a BEV, Toyota is marketing the bZ4X with leasing options that provide complete peace of mind by covering all aspects of vehicle use. This approach, which Toyota calls “Kanzen,” provides customers with a one-stop shop for vehicle leasing, with monthly payments to cover vehicle use, maintenance, roadside assistance, accessories, daily charging and, if preferred, bespoke insurance.

The leasing is provided through KINTO, Toyota’s global mobility provider. Toyota expects leasing to become the preferred method to access vehicles – the “new norm” – as markets move to full electric, zero emission mobility.

The goal is to make mobility easier for all by offering personalised leasing solutions, lasting from hours to years. To do this, Toyota aims to keep the assets – the cars – in its ownership in user cycles of up to 10 years with different users.

Built on a dedicated new platform for battery electric vehicles, using the eTNGA philosophy, it is the first in a series of new bZ (Beyond Zero) models. Offering sharp design, spacious packaging and authentic SUV performance. It also marks the debut of a new all-wheel drive system that uses individual electric motors on the front and rear axles to give outstanding capabilities.

Thanks to efficient motors and energy management, the official, homologated WLTP* figures show the front-wheel drive model achieving up to 516 km on a fully charged battery, with an efficiency rating of 14.3 kWh/100 km or 7.0 km/kWh. For the all-wheel drive bZ4X, the official range is up to 470 km with 15.8 kWh/100 km or 6.3 km/kWh efficiency**.

This level of performance is made possible by the bZ4X’s 71.4 kWh battery, developed with the benefit of a quarter of a century of Toyota electrified vehicle technology expertise. The quality of the battery is supported by an optional extended care programme for owners that guarantees battery capacity of 70% after 10 years or 1,000,000 km driven.

Customer deliveries in the first markets are expected from summer this year. A range of different purchase and contract hire offers are available, including a new, all-inclusive vehicle leasing programme that includes maintenance, the provision of a wallbox charger and access to connected services.

*Worldwide Harmonised Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure **Homologated performance data will vary according to model specifications in individual markets

At the same time as it marks further development of Toyota’s long-established electrified vehicle technologies, bZ4X also delivers important innovations in safety, driver assistance systems and multimedia connectivity, and expands the role of the car beyond a means of A-to-B transport to support new mobility opportunities.

Toyota will introduce the bZ4X with a completely new approach to how customers purchase their vehicle with a leasing programme designed to cover all the principal aspects of ownership. This “one-stop” concept will provide convenience and peace of mind, particularly for people acquiring their first BEV.

Introducing the Toyota bZ4X

The bZ4X is a spacious, comfortable SUV, with a new all-wheel drive system that provides class-leading off-road handling and performance, with separate electric motors for each axle. It is the first model to be developed by Toyota entirely as a BEV and also the first to use the company’s new BEV-dedicated platform. Based on eTNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) philosophy, it incorporates the battery unit as an integral part of the chassis, beneath the vehicle floor. This brings multiple benefits, including a low centre of gravity, excellent front/rear weight balance and high body rigidity, all of which make a positive contribution to safety, ride and handling.

Exterior design

The exterior design is sleek, powerful and uncluttered. It presents a distinctive new “hammerhead” frontal shape, signature slim headlight units and an emphasis on the front corners that communicates the car’s strong stance. The side view is distinguished by the car’s low overall height, slender front pillars and a low axle line that reflects the low centre of gravity. Wheel arch mouldings, large wheels (up to 20-inch diameter) pushed out to the corners of the body and thick rocker panels express the car’s authentic SUV character. At the rear, the design emphasises the corners, with a distinctive taillight bridging the width of the vehicle.

Aerodynamic features

The design incorporates aerodynamic elements that manage air flow over and under the vehicle and contribute to the driving range. These include apertures deep in the front bumper corners to create smooth air curtains; a full underbody cover; a split roof spoiler and rear duck-tail lip spoiler; rear diffuser; and a precisely angled rear screen. The slim lower grille has a shutter that adjusts to channel cooling air flow to the battery and helps reduce wind resistance.

Interior design

The long wheelbase allows for a spacious, open and comfortable five-seat cabin with the welcoming ambience of a living room. The instrument panel is slim and low set, adding to the sense of openness and the driver’s forward visibility. The “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle is supported by the human-centred cockpit in which the seven-inch TFT instrument and information display sits directly in the driver’s forward eyeline, above the line of the steering wheel.

There is class-leading legroom for all occupants, with a one-meter couple distance between front and rear hip points. The load area has a capacity of up to 452 l with the rear seats in place.

Performance

The front-wheel drive bZ4X is powered by a high-response 150 kW electric motor. It produces 204 DIN hp and 265 Nm of torque, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. The all-wheel drive model (further details below) has maximum power of 217.5 DIN hp with 336 Nm of torque; top speed is unchanged, while acceleration to 100 km/h is reduced to 7.7 seconds. All performance figures remain provisional prior to homologation.

The system offers the option of “single pedal drive” with a boost in the braking energy regeneration that lets the driver accelerate and slow the vehicle using only the throttle pedal.

Battery quality guaranteed

Toyota has drawn on more than 25 years’ experience in electrified vehicle battery technology to ensure the new lithium-ion unit in the bZ4X has world-leading quality, durability and reliability. Its confidence in the technology is reflected in an extended care programme that guarantees the battery will still operate to 70% of its original capacity after up to 10 years of ownership or one million kilometres driven, subject to the customer taking their vehicle to an authorised Toyota service centre for an annual health check. To ensure this guarantee could be offered, Toyota developed the battery with a target of 90% of capacity retained after 10 years/240 000 km.

This level of quality and performance is supported by multiple monitoring of the battery’s voltage, current and temperature, at individual cell level. If any abnormal heat generation is detected, controls are automatically triggered. Countermeasures have been put in place to mitigate any material degradation, and there are safeguards in the manufacturing process to prevent foreign matter from entering the battery. In a Toyota first, the battery is water-cooled.

Cold weather performance

Thanks to an efficient and effective heating system, reliable performance and range is maintained even in cold climate. The bZ4X uses a heat pump, drawing heat from the external air to warm the car, which is more efficient and uses less energy than standard air conditioning systems.

For added cabin warmth, infra-red radiant heating is provided for the driver and front passenger, installed below the steering column and instrument panel to warm the lower legs and feet. Provided as an option with seat heaters, it gives much speedier warm-up, in around just one minute.

Driving range

The high-density battery has a 71.4 kWh capacity and is expected to enable a zero emission driving range more than 450 km (applying WLTP test parameters). The figure will vary according to model version and is provisional, pending official homologation.

The battery can be fast-charged without compromising safety or service life: an 80% charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes with a 150 kW fast-charging system (CCS2). From the fourth quarter of 2022 an 11 kW three-phase on-board charger will be available, further improving charging performance.

All-wheel drive

Toyota worked with its development partner Subaru in engineering a new class-leading BEV all-wheel drive system, that draws on the great AWD heritage of both companies. The system uses separate 80 kW motors to drive the front and rear axles. XMODE allows the driver to select a drive mode to suit the conditions, with settings for snow/mud; deep snow and mud (below 20 km/h); and Grip Control for tougher off-road driving (below 10 km/h). Thanks to this segment leading capabilities, drivers can take their bZ4X wherever the road leads them with full confidence, no matter the conditions.

Steer-by-wire system

The bZ4X is the first production Toyota to offer a steer-by-wire system, One Motion Grip; this will be introduced in Europe at a later date.

Dispensing with the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels, this electronic system adjusts the tyre angle precisely according to the driver’s intention. Being more compact, it also provides more legroom, improving driving position freedom and ease of entry and exit. The traditional steering wheel is replaced with the One Motion Grip-control, making operation smoother and easier, with no need for hand-over-hand turning. Full-lock can be achieved with just a 150-degree turn.

With no physical connection in the system, unwanted vibration from the tyres is blocked, but the driver still experiences valuable feedback. The steering feeling is improved through independent control of the steering torque; selecting different drive modes can change the steering characteristics to suit the driving conditions.

All-round environmental performance

The bZ4X’s positive environmental profile is not limited to the zero emission performance of its all-electric drivetrain. Toyota is making wide use of recycled materials in the car’s construction and will operate a programme of rebuilding, reuse and recycling for the battery, ensuring the lifecycle of its components and materials is maximised.

The bZ4X’s driving range can be extended with an optional solar panel roof. This captures solar energy to generate electricity to charge the car’s drive battery. It can be used when the car’s ignition is on or off and Toyota calculates that it can harness enough power in the course of a year for 1,800 km of driving.

New generation T-Mate safety and driver assistance systems

The bZ4X is equipped with advanced Toyota T-Mate systems for active safety and driver assistance.

The third generation of Toyota Safety Sense brings new and improved functions to help guard against an even wider range of accident risks. The latest developments strengthen its capabilities as a partner to the driver, progressing closer to the ultimate mobility society goal of “zero fatalities and injuries in traffic accidents”.

Thanks to upgraded front camera and radar, as well front side radars; the detection range has been expanded and the car’s ability to recognise hazards and obstacles in even more driving scenarios is further improved.

• The Pre-Collision System can detect oncoming vehicles and motorcycles.
• The Intersection Turn Assistance can now identify approaching traffic across two neighbouring lanes instead of just one, as well as detect traffic approaching from the side at intersection.
• The Emergency Steering Assist system provides additional mild braking to help keep the car within its traffic lane when the driver moves to avoid a hazard such as a pedestrian, cyclist or parked car.
• The Front Cross Traffic Alert system warns of vehicles approaching from either side at a junction, and the new Safe Exit Assist can help to avoid a collision between an opened door or exiting occupants with vehicles or cyclists approaching from the rear.

And for maximum convenience, the all new Advanced Park, which uses four Panoramic View Monitor cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors around the car, can even enter and exit the parking spot without the driver being in the driver’s seat – fully remotely!

Toyota Safety Sense also checks the driver’s wellbeing with an internal monitor that records their usual driving position and triggers a warning if it detects any deviation that might signal dangerous distraction or the driver being unwell or falling asleep.

Multimedia system

The bZ4X uses Toyota’s latest, more powerful multimedia platform with intuitive 12” touch screen, giving access to cloud-based navigation with journey planning benefiting from up-to-the-moment traffic and parking information. It also provides BEV-specific features such as driving range, driving support and charging station details.

The driver can interact with the vehicle by sight, touch and voice. Enhanced voice recognition includes the option of using a new on-board assistant that can activate vehicle functions, such as adjusting the air conditioning or opening/closing windows, as well as multimedia services such as the audio and navigation. Over-the-air updates provide seamless software upgrades and new services.

New Vehicle Leasing Programme

Toyota is introducing its all-new BEV with a completely new approach to vehicle purchasing and the customer’s ownership experience.

Its target is for a majority of new European sales to be via a new all-inclusive leasing contract, covering the vehicle, maintenance, wall box charger provision and access to connected services, including one of Europe’s largest vehicle charging networks. If customers wish, Toyota insurance can also be included, along with roadside assistance and vehicle accessories.

Toyota will work with its retailers to ensure customers receive the best solution for their mobility requirements, with products that take into account the different levels of market maturity for BEVs across Europe.

Faithful in its design and technology to its concept predecessor, revealed earlier this year, the production-ready bZ4X is the first model to be developed by Toyota entirely as a BEV. It is also the first car to be built on the company’s new BEV dedicated platform. Based on e-TNGA philosophy, this has been co-developed by Subaru and Toyota. Incorporating the battery unit as an integral part of the chassis, beneath the vehicle floor, this gives the fundamental benefits of a low centre of gravity, excellent front/rear weight balance and high body rigidity for excellent safety, ride and handling.

The bZ4X is a spacious, comfortable SUV, available with a new all-wheel drive system that provides class-leading off-road handling and performance with separate electric motors for each axle. Its clean, sleek and powerful exterior design reflects both its advanced BEV qualities and SUV status, and debuts a new brand-defining “hammerhead” frontal shape, communicating the car’s strong stance.

The long wheelbase provides excellent accommodation in a light and open five-seat cabin, plus generous load capacity.

Toyota has drawn on almost 25 years’ experience in electrified vehicle battery technology to secure world-leading quality, durability and reliability for the lithium-ion unit which powers the bZ4X. Even after 10 years of driving, the battery is expected to still operate at 90% of its original performance*.

(*Target values during development. The period of use and mileage is assumed to be 10 years, or 240,000 km (150,000 miles), whichever is shorter.)

With a fully charged battery, expected range is more than 450 km (depending on version, exact data to be confirmed later). The bZ4X will also offer advanced technology features, including a solar panel roof to help charge the battery while driving or parked, and third generation Toyota Safety Sense with new and improved active safety and driver assistance systems.

The bZ4X will have its European premiere on 2 December, just prior to the opening of a dedicated online reservation service for customers who want to be among the first to obtain the new model.

Debut for Toyota’s new BEV dedicated platform

The bZ4X is the first car to be built on the company’s new BEV dedicated platform based on e-TNGA philosophy.

This completely new platform has the flexibility to be used for potential future bZ models and is designed for production at scale. Critically, the slim battery unit is located fully beneath the vehicle floor and forms part of the chassis, helping achieve a low centre of gravity, ideal front/rear weight balance and high body rigidity. These qualities combine to give the bZ4X stable and responsive dynamic performance and, with a long wheelbase, excellent interior space.

Design – exterior

Toyota has produced a sleek and robust design for the bZ4X that’s equally appropriate for modern urban life and the countryside, blending the advanced look of a BEV with the original qualities of an SUV. The frontal appearance is smart and avoids unnecessary decoration. It is characterised by a new brand-defining “hammerhead” shape with signature slim headlight units and an emphasis on the front corners that communicates the car’s strong stance.

In side view, the silhouette is sleek with a low overall height, slender front pillars and a low axle line that reflects the low centre of gravity achieved with the new platform. Wheel arch mouldings, large wheels (up to 20-inch diameter) pushed out to the corners of the body and thick rocker panels express the car’s authentic SUV character. At the rear, the design focus is again on emphasising the corners, with a distinctive taillight bridging the width of the vehicle.

Compared to the Toyota RAV4, the exterior dimensions illustrate the design benefits inherent in the e-TNGA platform. For example, the bZ4X has an overall height that’s lower by 85 mm, shorter overhangs and a wheelbase that that’s 160 mm longer than the RAV4. The bonnet line is also reduced in height by 50 mm. Overall agility is reflected in a class-leading 5.7 m turning radius.

The design incorporates aerodynamic elements that contribute to the generous driving range, including apertures set deep in the front bumper corners to create smooth air curtains; a full underbody cover; a split roof spoiler and rear duck-tail lip spoiler; rear diffuser; and a precisely angled rear screen. The slim lower grille has a shutter that adjusts to channel cooling air flow to the battery and helps reduce wind resistance.

Design – interior

The theme for the interior is “lagom” – the Swedish word that expresses something that is “just right.” Here it is reflected in comfort and spaciousness that give the cabin the ambience of a living room, a feeling that’s enhanced by using soft, woven trim textures, satin-finish detailing and the option of a panoramic roof.

The instrument panel is slim and low set, adding to the sense of openness and the driver’s forward visibility. The “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle is supported by the human-centred cockpit in which the seven-inch TFT instrument and information display sits directly in the driver’s forward eyeline, above the line of the steering wheel, so the meters can be viewed with minimal eye movement.

The long wheelbase delivers class-leading legroom for all occupants and a one-metre couple distance between front and rear passenger hip points. There is also generous load space with an adjustable deckboard; with the rear seats in place, there is up to 452 l.

Performance

The front-wheel drive bZ4X is powered by a high-response 150 kW electric motor. It produces 204 DIN hp and 265 Nm of torque, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. The all-wheel drive model (further details below) has maximum power of 217.5 DIN hp with 336 Nm of torque; top speed is unchanged, while acceleration to 100 km/h is reduced to 7.7 seconds. All performance figures remain provisional prior to homologation.

The system offers the option of “single pedal drive” with a boost in the braking energy regeneration that lets the driver accelerate and slow the vehicle using only the throttle pedal.

Driving range and battery technology

Driving range is a critical consideration for EV customers and Toyota has brought to bear almost 25 years’ experience in high-capacity battery development to ensure that not only does the bZ4X offer peace of mind of in terms of the distance it can cover, but also reassurance that that capability can be maintained year after year. In line with development targets for the battery, only a marginal reduction in battery performance is expected – around just 10% – in 10 years of driving, or 240 000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

The high-density lithium-ion battery has a 71.4 kWh capacity that is expected to deliver a driving range of more than 450 km (applying to WLTP metrics). Figures depend on version and remain provisional at this stage, prior to homologation.

Thanks to an efficient and effective heating system, including a heat pump, reliability is also maintained in sub-zero temperatures, with only a modest reduction in range compared to competitor models. Similarly, the battery can be fast-charged without compromising safety or service life: an 80% charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes with a 150 kW fast-charging system (CCS2). From Q4 2022, a new 11 kW three-phase on-board charger will be available.

Key to the battery’s quality and durability is multiple monitoring of the voltage, current and temperature, from individual cell level. If any abnormal heat generation is detected, controls are automatically triggered. Countermeasures have been put place to mitigate any material degradation, and there are safeguards in the manufacturing process to prevent foreign matter from entering the battery. In a Toyota first, the battery is water-cooled.

All-wheel drive

Toyota worked with its development partner Subaru in engineering a new BEV all-wheel drive system, that draws on the great AWD heritage of both companies. This provides added safety when driving in difficult conditions and gives the bZ4X genuine, class-leading SUV off-road driving ability.

The AWD model features separate 80 kW motors driving the front and rear axles. XMODE with its different drive modes can also be selected to suit the conditions with settings for snow/mud; deep snow and mud (below 20 km/h); and Grip Control for tougher off-road driving (below 10 km/h).

Steer-by-wire system

The bZ4X will be the first production Toyota to offer a steer-by-wire system – One Motion Grip – due for introduction in Europe at a later date. Dispensing with the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels, this electronic system adjusts the tyre angle precisely according to the driver’s intention, and provides more legroom, improving driving position freedom and ease of entry and exit. The traditional steering wheel is replaced with the One Motion Grip-control, making operation smoother and easier, with no need for hand-over-hand turning. Full-lock can be achieved with just a 150-degree turn.

With no physical connection in the system, unnecessary vibration from the tyres is blocked, but the driver still experiences valuable feedback, such as from the road surface. The steering feeling is improved through independent control of the steering torque; steering characteristics can be changed according to the drive mode selected.

Solar panel roof

The bZ4X’s driving range can be maximised with the use of an optional solar panel roof. This captures solar energy with zero emissions and zero cost to generate electricity to charge the car’s drive battery. It can be used when the car’s ignition is on or off and Toyota calculates that it can harness enough power in the course of a year to enable 1,800 km of driving.

New generation Toyota Safety Sense

The bZ4X will benefit from the third generation Toyota Safety Sense with new and improved functions to provide protection against an even wider range of common accident risks. It can operate as a partner to the driver to realise the ultimate mobility society goal: “zero fatalities and injuries in traffic accidents”.

By expanding the detection range of the millimetre wave radar and monocular camera, the performance of each function has been enhanced. New features will include expansion of the Pre-Collision System to recognise vehicles that are oncoming and cutting in; low-speed acceleration suppression; and emergency stopping assistance.

Additionally, a new multimedia system with over-the-air (OTA) software updates will be available.

Introducing Toyota Beyond Zero

The bZ4X is the first model in Toyota’s new bZ sub-brand – the name standing for “beyond Zero,” expressing the environmental leadership the company has pursued since pioneering electrified mobility with the original Prius, the world’s first hybrid electric production car, in 1997.

The introduction of the bZ4X strengthens Toyota’s multi-technology approach to meet different mobility requirements by offering customers a full line-up of electrified vehicles, including HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs. Toyota aims to reduce CO₂ with products that are easy to use and have strong customer appeal, and these technologies will together help deliver the goal of carbon neutrality.

Zero emissions are only part of Toyota’s ambition – as the “beyond” element in bZ makes clear. It is committed to delivering ever-better mobility for all, with products and services that enhance the pleasure of driving, keeping all road-users safe and helping build better societies around the world.

The bZ4X is a wholly human-centred vehicle, designed to help customers make the change to a BEV with no compromise or inconvenience and maximising opportunities in design, performance and the ownership experience that are specific to pure electric vehicles – going beyond customer’s expectations.