- Toyota unveils EV concepts for a range of fully-electric vehicles which will hit the market in the following years.
- These four concepts join the already-released bZ4x and the Compact SUV EV concept, which the company revealed last year.
- The designs include a small city-based SUV and a sleek sports crossover.
Toyota’s two EV concepts provide a sneak peek of future European offerings
The first of the two released designs, the Urban SUV Concept, is closest to production with the completed model set to be unveiled in 2024. This will be available in both 2WD and 4WD variants, along with the possibility to opt for a longer range battery pack. Toyota drew inspiration from the current Yaris Cross hybrid, with the Urban SUV occupying a similarly-sized footprint on the road. It builds on this design with full-length lighting strips on both the front and rear. No word on pricing just yet, but its compact size suggests it could compete with EVs such as the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1.
The second concept unveiled is the Sports Crossover Concept – a low-slung, aerodynamic body which Toyota calls a “captivating alternative to an SUV”, still offering similar levels of cabin and boot space. Toyota will introduce this model to in Europe in 2025. If the pre-production bZ4x concept was anything to go by compared to the final product, we shouldn’t see too much change with the production variants of either, which is certainly a plus considering their striking looks.
Looking further ahead into the future, Toyota also plans to update its battery technology in models released after 2026. This includes a performance battery pack, capable of offering up to double the driving range of the current battery inside the bZ4x. Coming after is a budget battery pack, reducing battery costs by 40% and increasing range by 20%.
Speaking on the development, Vice President of Toyota Europe, Andrea Carlucci, said:
“Looking at Europe specifically, the market today is highly diverse. But the target is 100% carbon neutrality by 2035 – in just 12 years’ time. This is something we are committed to achieving”.
