Toyota bZ4X: The first electric Toyota ‘refuels’ from the sun and has revolutionary steering – PRAVDA.sk

That’s how we met. A decade after the competitors, Toyota has also come up with a clean electric car. The wait made sense.

Toyota has almost 25 years of experience with electrification, as it introduced the first generation of the Prius hybrid in 1997. Nevertheless, it hesitated with the arrival of a pure electric car. After all, it’s no secret that Toyota boss Akio Toyoda is slightly skeptical about electric cars. It is for technological diversity. That’s why it promotes hybrids as well as plug-in hybrids and hydrogen models in the future. However, this does not mean that Toyota ignores pure electromobility. She was just waiting for the right time. She indicated her electric offensive at the beginning of the year with the introduction of the bZ4X concept. It was already clear then that it was not far from the assembly lines and that we were basically looking at a prototype of the first Toyota electric car.

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This was finally confirmed, as Toyota showed the serial bZ4X at the end of the week and is really not fundamentally different from the concept. The basis is a completely new modular electric platform e-TNGA, developed together with Subaru, which will carry a wide range of electric cars of both brands. Toyota bZ4X is the first swallow. The electric crossover has bold shapes. It combines the rugged features of an SUV, such as powerful sill, fender and bumper protection, with a host of aerodynamic features. For example, active slats in a narrow front grille, air flow openings in the wheel area, a completely covered chassis or a Ducktail roof spoiler and diffuser.

Photo: Toyota

Toyota bZ4X – 2022 The electric crossover is 85 mm lower than the Toyota RAV4, but has up to 160 mm longer wheelbase.

Aerodynamics also benefit from a blinded hammer-shaped front grille, a steeply sloping front window and rear pillar, as well as a relatively low body structure. We don’t know the dimensions, but Toyota claims that the bZ4X is 85 mm lower than the Toyota RAV4 and 160 mm larger As a result, the roof arches over the asphalt at a height of 1,600 mm and the axles are 2,850 mm apart. bZ4X lower the black roof frame, which can be equipped with either a panoramic sunroof or solar cells.

Photo: Toyota

Toyota bZ4X – 2022 Short overhangs and up to 20-inch wheels give the bZ4X a solid potential in the field.

The interior should offer a generous space. This is made possible not only by the large wheelbase and flat floor with integrated battery, but also by the slim dashboard. The reference points of the hip joints of the front and rear seats are one meter apart. The digital cockpit uses a 7-inch screen that works with the large infotainment touch screen. But Toyota did not reveal its diagonal. The nice thing is that the bZ4X has kept a reasonable number of hardware drivers. The futuristic character of the devices is “softened” by natural wool-based upholstery materials inspired by the furniture design. Under the folding back cover, the crew has to find 452 liters for luggage.

Photo: Toyota

Toyota bZ4X – 2022 The interior combines the futuristic design of the dashboard with natural materials inspired by home design.