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| Toyota Electric SUV with Solar Roof |
Japanese automaker Toyota has released new details about its upcoming BZ4X electric SUV, which includes an optional solar roof and power steering similar to the latest Tesla Model S.
The steering wheel uses a wire steering system and there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the frame. The steering wheel only needs to rotate 150 degrees to the left and right, and the driver does not have to raise his hands.
The company says this eliminates the need to change grip when cornering, making cornering and other operations easier.
Toyota first introduced the BZ4X and its electric vehicle strategy at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year.
The company said its electric vehicle strategy will lead to the adoption of 15 fully electric vehicles by 2025.
The BZ4X is based on a flexible platform developed in cooperation with the Japanese car manufacturer Subaru. Toyota currently owns a small stake in Subaru.
The e-TNGA platform offers multiple features, including wired steering, all-wheel drive, improved visibility, and regenerative braking systems common in electric vehicles. Military service
Walt Toyota will export the BZ4X worldwide in mid-2022, and Subaru is developing its own electric vehicle based on the e-TNGA platform.
The interior of the car is equipped with a unique instrument panel, and the display returns from the steering wheel. Toyota said it could improve the driver's vision.
The center infotainment screen appears to float on top of the dashboard rather than integrated into it. There are several physical buttons on the center console and steering wheel. This shows that Toyota is not as fully embracing the digital user experience as companies like Tesla.
Toyota's first fully electric car
The BZ4X has two engines: 201 hp front-wheel drive and 215 hp four-wheel drive. The estimated range per charge is 500 or 460 km.
Equipped with a 71.4 kW battery, the car is comparable to the Volkswagen ID 4 and Nissan Ariya in terms of power capacity.
There are other unconventional options, including solar roofs, which Toyota says can generate electricity equivalent to 1,800 kilometers of driving distance per year.
It is also capable of dual-charging the capacity of cars at home, such as Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford F-150 Lightning.
This electric vehicle will be the first to hit the market in Japan in mid-2022. More details on pricing and production are expected in the coming months.
The news came after Toyota announced that it will invest $13.6 billion in battery technology over the next decade. Including an investment of $9 billion in production to enhance its vehicle series.
Although the company was one of the first pioneers in the Prius fuel-electric hybrid cars. But before hydrogen fuel cells become competitive, the company is said to be seeing hybrid vehicles as a temporary measure.
The company is now trying to catch up with companies like Nissan. There have been reports of pressure in the US to slow the transition to electric vehicles.