Toyota Reveals All-Electric bZ4X With 250-Mile Range

The new SUV is fitted with LED headlights and taillights, as is the norm, along with a multi-tonal finish with a squared look around the wheel arches. That black detailing continues into the rocker panels while the front fascia gets a mix of a blanking plate, a couple of small intakes that appear to feed air to the front brakes, and a small lower grille with chrome accents.

Inside, you get an MID screen that is said to "expand the vehicle's feeling of space" while encouraging the driver to keep their eyes on the road. Type A and Type C USB ports are also fitted, but we don't know much more than that. A panoramic roof, "abundant legroom," and "copious" side-to-side space are also promised, which is particularly great news for anyone with young children.

Toyota says that the bZ4X is based on the design theme "hi-tech and emotional," where every detail has been "purposefully engineered to create a sense of connection" that makes the driver feel as if they are at "one with the car." Built on the BEV-dedicated e-TNGA platform, the SUV features a high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack placed flat under the floor for a low center of gravity. A lightweight body made partially from high tensile steel improves handling while "a redesigned accelerator pedal creates a smoother feel when accelerating and decelerating."

As an EV with instant torque, Toyota has engineered the throttle with "slip suppression" that helps one keep control even on slippery roads. For even more security, all-wheel drive is offered with Grip-Control promising "capable off-road performance."

Clearly, Toyota has worked very hard to make this an enjoyable and capable EV.

To save energy and maximize range, Toyota has worked on the aerodynamics and reduced weight as much as possible but also added a heat pump for the heater and the air-conditioning. Seat and steering wheel heaters and front-seat radiant foot-and-leg heaters, a first for Toyota, were also adopted to save energy. The result is up to 250 miles of range on XLE FWD models.

The SUV gets an AC synchronous electric motor producing 150 kilowatts on the front axle for FWD models, while AWD models get a pair of 80 kW motors. In the FWD model, total output translates to 201 horsepower while AWD versions produce 214 hp. The former's 355-volt battery has a total of 71.4 kWh while the AWD is rated at 72.8 kWh. On a high-output charger, the bZ4X can get back to 80% of charge in under an hour.

As a Toyota, safety is very important too, so the热晕4Xbecomes the first to feature the latest Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite with enhanced wave radar and monocular camera technology. The pre-collision system is now enhanced and is better at detecting cyclists in low light, while daytime motorcyclist detection and guardrail detection have also been improved. Lane keep assist is also better than ever, but these aren't the only tech upgrades.

Cloud-based navigation is available with real-time traffic info, you can use your smartphone as a digital key and hand over permissions to friends and family through an app, while over-the-air updates ensure that you always have the best software.

More details including pricing and trim info will be made available closer to the SUV's arrival at US dealers in mid-2022.