After showing us a preview of a future all-electric crossover back in April, Toyota finally took the veils off the production version of the bZ4X model. This will be the first purely-electric BEV model in the range of the Japanese car maker and comes with a couple of interesting features.
First of all, let’s dissect the name: bZ4X. bZ stands for Beyond Zero, the new, sustainable, long-term strategy adopted by Toyota for its model range. The ‘4’ comes from the fact that it is available with all-wheel drive, while the ‘X’ comes from the SUV/Crossover shape.
Looking past the name, the car will be offered in a variety of configurations. You’ll be able to buy it in front-wheel drive guise, as well as all-wheel drive. As it is usually the case with electric cars, the FWD model will have one electric motor on the front axle, while the AWD version will come with another one, for the rear axle. The former will therefore rely on 150 HP and 195 lb-ft of torque to get around, allowing it to reach the 62 mph benchmark speed in 8.4 seconds.
The all-wheel drive version will have a combined power output of 215 HP and 248 lb-ft of torque. This should cut the 0-62 mph acceleration time to 7.7 seconds. Both versions have a top speed of 99 mph. Another similarity will be the battery size. No matter which version you go for, you’ll get the same 71.4 kWh battery embedded in the floor. The FWD model has a better claimed range then, rated at up to 280 miles by the WLTP. EPA testing will follow.
Apart from the funky-looking design, the new Toyota bZ4X will also come with a number of new technologies. For example, it will be the first car from the Japanese car maker to use a steer-by-wire steering system, that has no mechanical connection between the wheel and the tires. If you want, the ‘wheel’ can be completely replaced by a yoke, to feel completely different compared to older models. Pricing wasn’t announced yet but we’re bound to learn more about the car when it goes on sale in the middle of 2022.
