Toyota is working on a new electrified generation of its Previa minivan

The Toyota Previa drew attention in the 1990s for its design, which was futuristic for its time. Although it never became a sales success before the Japanese manufacturer finally ended its production in 1997, many fans of the brand still miss it. Fortunately for them, it seems Toyota wants to bring back this model to expand its range of electrified models, with the idea of launching both plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions.

That is at least what some Japanese industry media suggest, according to which Toyota is already working on a new generation of the Previa minivan based on the TNGA-K platform, the same one used by other models of the brand such as the Crown and the Sienna. The Japanese manufacturer would have ruled out using the e-TNGA platform that underpins its current electric models, such as the bZ4X, with the intention of offering not only fully electric versions but also plug-in hybrid ones.

It is believed that for the plug-in hybrid versions, Toyota could use the propulsion system of the Prius Prime, which combines two electric motors with a 2-litre petrol engine, together capable of delivering 220 horsepower. The Prius Prime has a 13.6 kWh battery pack, thanks to which it can travel up to 53 km without using a single drop of petrol, under the WLTP homologation cycle. In any case, if Toyota finally adopts this propulsion system, it should be borne in mind that the Previa’s larger dimensions and weight would limit its range, unless a larger battery pack is used, such as the 18.1 kWh one of the RAV4 Prime.

What can we expect from the fully electric versions of the Toyota Previa?

As for the electric versions, Toyota could adopt the drivetrain of the bZ4X, which in its basic front-wheel-drive configuration delivers 201 horsepower and has a 71.4 kWh gross battery pack (64 kWh net), which allows it to travel up to 513 km under the WLTP homologation cycle. On the other hand, it is not out of the question that the Japanese manufacturer will also opt in this case to equip the electric versions with a higher-capacity battery pack to likewise offset their greater dimensions and weight.

Japanese media also claim that Toyota also considered the possibility of marketing a version with a hydrogen fuel cell for the new generation of the Previa, but this was ultimately ruled out due to the currently low demand for vehicles using this propulsion technology.

The design of the new Previa is expected to draw inspiration from the futuristic styling of the 1990s model, with its sloping front and aerodynamic profile, a feature that is highly valued in any electrified vehicle to improve its efficiency.