Toyota bZ4X: the future electric SUV from Toyota will arrive in 2022

Toyota plans to offer more than 70 electrified vehicles by 2025, at least 15 of which will be fully electric. Its plan for Europe envisages a mix of 70% hybrid cars, 10% plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and more than 10% battery electric and fuel cell models, such as the fuel cell Toyota Mirai.

And one of those battery electric cars will be the Toyota bZ4X, which the brand unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show. A compact all-wheel-drive SUV developed in collaboration with Subaru, which could be on the market by mid-2022. It is the first of a new family of models that Toyota identifies as “bZ”, short for “beyond Zero”, as a call to attention to the brand’s commitment to continue reducing emissions and to go beyond carbon neutrality.

Exterior and interior design: versatility and originality

While the Toyota bZ4X may remind one in many of its features of a Rav-4 on the outside, the interior concept presented by the Japanese brand is entirely new. There is no data on its exterior dimensions, beyond it being a “mid-size crossover”. What is clear is that the bZ4X, presented as a prototype, is a “finished” car, meaning it could go into production exactly as it is tomorrow morning. And it is recognised as a Toyota.

Inside, the most surprising element is the driver’s position, with the instrument cluster placed very low to allow a panoramic view. This is possible thanks to the rectangular shape of the steering wheel, with a design similar to the controversial steering wheel of the Tesla Model S. By the way, the steering system will be steer-by-wire, that is, with no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels.

The floating centre console between the seats has a more conventional design. It groups the main controls, leaves a surface below where objects can be placed, and ends at the dashboard with a large screen for the multimedia system.

Electric all-wheel drive

We can say little more for now about Toyota’s new electric SUV, as the press release is very brief on technical data. The brand assures that it will use a powerful battery that will guarantee range even in cold climates.

It also states that the bZ4X will have four-wheel drive, which we assume will be electric, that is, with no mechanical connection between the axles. This is logical for a car that will have two motors, one on each axle. That said, Toyota and Subaru, its “partner” in the project, assert that this electric traction will give the new SUV off-road capabilities that will make it stand out against its most direct rivals.

Image gallery Toyota bZ4X