Toyota will launch its first purpose tram in 2022 with the arrival of the bZ4x and the brand has now confirmed the final WLTP homologation range for the two versions which Britons will be able to buy from £41,950 this summer.
The Nissan Ariya rival’s entry-level Pure trim, offered exclusively in 201bhp front-wheel drive form, will be capable of 317 miles on a full charge. Three other trim levels are offered at launch, with the option of a dual-motor four-wheel-drive version with 215 hp, reaching an official range of 285 miles.
Pure trim gets 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch multimedia system, a 7-inch digital instrument display and a reversing camera. Keyless entry and exit also feature, as does a remotely operated climate control function for preheating and pre-cooling the bZ4x. Roof rails are optional, as is a tow pack.
Upgrading to Motion trim increases the base price to £45,750, while all-wheel drive starts from £48,350. The movement spec adds a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, optional 20-inch alloy wheels and an ‘entry lighting sequence’ for the LED lighting system.
Inside there are heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, ambient lighting and a wireless charging tray for smartphones. In addition, optional on the Motion trim includes a fixed panoramic glass roof and an extended driver assistance package.
Topping the standard model list is the Vision trim, which starts at £47,650 (£50,250 with all-wheel drive). It has 20-inch 5-spoke alloys, rear parking sensors with automatic braking to avoid rear-end collisions, remote parking assist, synthetic leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats. Heated steering wheel is also equipped while electric tailgate with rock sensor is also equipped. Furthermore, a ‘digital key’ smartphone app allows owners to give others access to the bZ4x.
However, that was not the top level at launch. UK buyers have the option of a special Premiere Edition, priced at £51,550, which could be a limited launch edition. Offered exclusively through Toyota’s online retail service, the Premiere Edition is only available with the dual-motor, four-wheel drive system. In addition to equipping the Vision, Toyota also equips a panoramic roof with a nine-speaker high-end JBL sound system.
As the first vehicle in Toyota’s bZ all-electric sub-brand, the bZ4x follows the concept revealed earlier this year relatively closely in terms of styling, while underneath the body it’s also the first Toyota. ride first in the brand’s new dedicated e-TNGA. battery-electric vehicle platform.
This new architecture houses a 71.4kWh battery in its floor. The brand also claims that the battery will keep 90% of its range for the first decade of its life, aided by water-cooled cells (a first for Toyota) with active thermal management of the battery. helps range and durability.
Two powertrain options will be available, front-wheel drive first delivering 201bhp and 265Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 8.4sec. The new platform has been developed in conjunction with Subaru, a brand known for its four-wheel drive heritage, so there will also be a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system offered on the bZ4x with 215 hp. and 336Nm of torque, reducing the 0-62mph time to 7.7 seconds. The latter option also offers various XMode settings for the powertrain including snow and mud parameters, as well as Traction Control for more extreme off-road conditions.
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TrustpilotBoth cars offer a maximum fast charging speed of 150kW, meaning an 80% recharge in 30 minutes, while an optional future 11kW AC charger will make overnight home charging for those with compatible wall box.
The new platform houses what Toyota calls a “thin battery” in its floor, providing a low center of gravity and maximizing chassis stiffness and interior space. Toyota claims that the bZ4x gives a sense of space inside, with a panoramic roof adding to the sense of spaciousness.
This new platform engineering is aided by more advanced technology, including a seven-inch TFT digital instrument panel that promotes Toyota’s “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” philosophy, while the infotainment system bZ4x’s new infotainment – which looks like a small car with a screen placed in the center of a dash layout – will be able to upgrade the software over the air.
With the long wheelbase of the new e-TNGA architecture maximizing interior space, Toyota claims ample legroom for rear-seat passengers, while trunk space stands at 452 liters.
Externally, the design is characterized by the brand’s new ‘hammerhead’ shape, with slim headlights and front bumper and deep, hole-free grille due to the reduced cooling requirements of the EV.
The entire front wing and track (will accommodate up to 20-inch alloy wheels) are painted black, along with the rear arches, for a more solid look, while strong creases above the tread rolling back down the side door wraps the linked taillight assemblies on the trunk lid by a full-width LED bar.
Compared to the brand of RAV4 The hybrid model, the bZ4x is 85mm lower, has a shorter overhang but a 165mm longer wheelbase, and a relatively tight revs of 11.4m.
Under the bZ4x concept, the new e-TNGA platform has enabled Toyota to develop a wire-drive system, which will be introduced on European models “at a later date” according to the brand. This new setup, called One Motion Grip, eliminates the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheel, replacing it with a digital connection in which the driver’s inputs on the steering wheel are relayed. electronically to the front tire, with an engine that adjusts the tire’s tilt angle.
Toyota claims this offers more legroom in the front, improving driving and exiting position. The brand also says the traditional steering wheel can be replaced, resulting in smoother operation – especially at low speeds – with full locking achievable in just 150 degrees of steering wheel movement.
The integration of more electronics has also allowed the brand to improve safety, it claims, with Toyota’s third-generation Safety Sense technology. Toyota claims that “it can act as a partner with motorists to realize the ultimate goal of moving society: zero deaths and injuries in road accidents”.
The BZ4x is Toyota’s first model in the ‘beyond zero’ bZ sub-brand, reflecting the company’s history with electric vehicles, including the world’s first hybrid electric production car – pcs Prius – as well as Toyota’s future in this sector of the market.
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