The bZ4x Concept Is Toyota's Promise of Future Electric Vehicles

The two brands created the platform to deliver high performance and capability during dynamic driving and off-road use and provide an advanced steer-by-wire system and even solar charging capabilities.

The bZ concept stands for "beyond Zero" and aims to complete carbon neutrality and zero emissions. Analyzing the bZ4X, we can get a glimpse of the future battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that the Japanese brand will produce, and foresee the transition that Toyota will adopt over the following years.

As Toyota states, the bZ4X concept's exterior design emulates "dynamism and utility," taking into account its sharp and high-tech-looking lines, a high driving position as well as being a slick and agile presence on the road. The front-end of the vehicle resembles no more the older generations of Toyota vehicles; the grille now picked up a new "hammerhead" shape, giving off tons of road presence. This machine will be a Toyota that you will not ignore on the road!

The ace up this machine's sleeve will be its interior ergonomics. Being based on the new e-TNGA platform, it enables the inside cabin to be a lot more spacious than a car of these dimensions currently is. The modular e-TNGA modular platform features a long wheelbase with noticeably short overhangs, which helps rear passengers benefit from legroom equivalent to D-segment vehicles.

The "driver module" architecture will capture your attention from first sight. An exquisite and modern design language and a massive departure from the current, sometimes seen as outdated, style of infotainment and display technologies will enable good visibility and usability while driving, and provide easy-to-read and reach commands. The digital driver's instrument cluster will also offer all the stats needed, so the driver will only require minimal eye movements to get informed.

Considering Toyota's 20 years of expertise regarding hybrid, plug-in hybrid drivetrains, the new e-TNGA platform is set to deliver important gains in efficiency and driving range. The onboard solar charging systems further enhance everyday usability. The batteries will essentially be engineered to withstand all kinds of climates and weather conditions for the future production version to conquer a global market, as its old gasoline-powered siblings had done in the past.

Toyota and Subaru have worked together conceiving the all-wheel-drive system consisting of electric motors positioned on the front and rear axels. The off-road heritage of each brand had come together to deliver capable and reliable performance on any trail and disregarding road conditions.

The production version of the bZ4X concept will be the world's first widely available vehicle equipped with a steering system engineered to combine yoke and steer-by-wire technology. It promises to deliver excellent control while removing unwanted interferences from rough road surfaces or while driving off-road, precise maneuvering being the primary goal. The concept throws away the classic circular steering wheel, replacing it with a unique steering yoke, minimizing driver hand movement while adding feedback, control, and, why not, driving pleasure and fun.

Toyota announced that the production version is expected to arrive in showrooms as soon as the middle of 2022. By 2025, Toyota estimates that there will be more than 70 electrified vehicles like Hybrids, Plug-in Hybrids, or Fuel-Cell EVs in their line-up for different markets and use case scenarios. Furthermore, they will focus on introducing 15 new battery electric vehicles, 7 of which will proudly wear the "beyond Zero" naming scheme.