New Toyota bZ4X electric SUV: prices, specs, pictures and on-sale date – DrivingElectric

The Toyota bZ4X the Japanese company's first dedicated pure-electric car and the first in a range of zero-emissions models from the new bZ ('beyond Zero') sub-brand is now available to reserve in the UK, priced from 41,950.

First deliveries of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya,Mercedes EQA,Skoda Enyaq iVandVolkswagen ID.4rival will commence in 2022. Previewed at the 2021 Auto Shanghai motor show, the bZ4X sits on the newly developed 'e-TNGA' mechanical platform, shared with sister cars the Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ.

The platform uses the batteries as an integral part of the chassis, promising the usual electric-car benefits of a low centre of gravity, good front/rear weight balance and strong rigidity. Plus, the bZ4X is offered with four-wheel-drive by means of a dual-motor setup on higher-spec models.

In December 2021, Toyota revealed a raft of new electric concept cars previewing forthcoming models, including several additions to the bZ range, both above and below the bZ4X in terms of size and likely price.

The bZ4X is available from launch in four trim levels: Pure, Motion, Vision and Premiere Edition. The Pure is available only with front-wheel drive, the Motion and Vision offer a choice of front or all-wheel drive and the range-topping Premiere Edition is all-wheel-drive only. Pricing is as follows:

Standard kit on the Pure includes 18-inch alloys, an eight-inch dashboard display, aseven-inch digital driver's display, a reversing camera and climate control. Options include roof rails and a towing pack. The Motion adds a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, a poweredbootlid, parking sensors, heated front seats, ambient lighting and wireless phone charging. Options include afixed panoramic roof and 20-inch alloys.

The Vision kit list encompasses 20-inch alloys, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, remote parking assistance, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a powered bootlid with kick sensor and a heated steering wheel. Options include the panoramic roof and towing pack.

The limited-run Premiere Edition packs in everything you get on the Vision, plus a nine-speakerpremium sound system and the panoramic roof. Unlike the other three trims, it can only be ordered through Toyota's website.

Both versions of the bZ4X available from launch feature a 71.4kWh battery, which allows the front-wheel-drive car to return a driving range of more than 280 miles in industry-standard testing.Meanwhile, the four-wheel-drive model will be able to cover over 255 miles on a single charge, according to Toyota.

Rapid charging at up to 150kW will be possible, allowing for 80% battery capacity to be reached in around 30 minutes from fast enough public charging points. Towards the end of 2022, Toyota will make an 11kW on-board charger available in the bZ4X, for faster overnight wallbox charging at homes or premises with a three-phase electricity supply.

According to the manufacturer, the batteries are anticipated to retain 90% of their original capacity even after 10 years or 150,000 miles on the road. It's not yet known whether smaller or larger-battery variants will also be offered in due course.

Like many electric SUVs, the bZ4X will be available in both cheaper two-wheel-drive form and as a four-wheel-drive range-topper. The single-motor, front-drive version has a power output of 201bhp and peak torque of 265Nm, which results in a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 99mph.

The four-wheel-drive version has two motors, with one each driving the front and rear axles. Peak power here increases to 215bhp and torque goes up to 336Nm, taking the 0-62mph time down to 7.7 seconds. Toyota says the four-wheel-drive bZ4X will get various off-road driving modes, too, suited to "snow or mud", "deep snow or mud" and "tougher off-road driving".

The concept version of the bZ4X seen in April 2021 featured a 'yoke'-style steering wheel an element of 'steer-by-wire' technology that does away with a mechanical link between the steering wheel and front axle, reducing the need to move your hands around the wheel. However, Toyota says this system is now planned for introduction in Europe "at a later date" and the production version has a conventional circular wheel.

Elsewhere, Toyota says it went for a "living-room" ambience when designing the bZ4X's interior, making use of soft, woven trim textures, details finished in satin and slim, low-set instrument panel to give a greater sense of openness from the driver's seat. A "hands on the wheel, eyes on the road" philosophy sees the driver's seven-inch instrument and infotainment display placed directly in their eyeline, just above the line of the steering wheel. While in the centre of the dashboard is a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. A panoramic sunroof is offered as an option, as isa solar panel roof in some European markets.

Practicality is boosted by a long wheelbase and short overhangs to maximise the amount of interior space, with Toyota claiming passengers will enjoy as much legroom as in a luxury saloon like the Lexus LS. Boot capacity is up to 452 litres and on the safety front, the bZ4X is set to feature the latest third-generation iteration of the now-familiar 'Toyota Safety Sense' suite of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance tech.

Toyota has also announced that it'll sell its range of pure-electric vehicles, starting with the bZ4X, through a series of in-dealer hubs that'll offer customers specialised advice about the switch to zero-emissions motoring. Toyotas European product and marketing boss, Andrea Carlucci, told DrivingElectric that these bZ Hubs are likely to be store-in-store facilities in effect, a dedicated area of the showroom floor in certain locations. However, not all Toyota dealerships will be expected to offer this more specialised service.

Regardless of where the customer orders their bZ4X, the zero-emissions SUV will be available as part of an all-inclusive leasing solution that combines maintenance, insurance, connected services and a home wallbox, plus a single card that gives access to multiple public charging networks as well.

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New Toyota bZ4X electric SUV: prices, specs, pictures and on-sale date - DrivingElectric