Toyota has announced that it will preview a brand-new model for its Battery Electric line-up, a mid-sized battery-electric SUV based on the forthcoming e-TNGA platform. The news comes as Toyota continues to lead the way in electrification, and provides the lowest CO2 emission, mass-market car offering on the market.
While only a stylised silhouette and details of the platform architecture have been released to date, more details are due to be released in the coming months.
The un-named preview model will be based on Toyota’s new e-TNGA platform. Thanks to its clever design, the new platform is both highly versatile and easily adaptable for a range of product types. The basic architecture principle is that a number of key elements remain fixed whilst others vary. This approach allows variance in vehicle width, length, wheelbase and height. e-TNGA can also be defined with front-, rear- or four-wheel drive and with a wide-range of battery and electric motor capacities to suit various vehicle types and usage profiles. By using this versatile approach, the development time of different product variants can be reduced, and individual models can be developed in parallel.
The first e-TNGA based model has already been developed and is being readied for production. Manufacturing will take place at Toyota’s ZEV Factory in Japan.
Commenting on the announcement, Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland said, “The forthcoming Battery Electric SUV is another exciting step in our electrification journey and a prime example of our brand promise ‘Built for a Better World’.
“As world leaders in both low emission self-charging hybrids, and negative emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles such as the recently announced second generation Mirai, the addition of a new BEV to the Toyota portfolio is very much in line with our strategy to tackle sustainable motoring from all angles. We believe there is no silver bullet when it comes to creating a cleaner environment and are relentlessly focused on ensuring we have a wide range of options to suit differing consumer needs and driving conditions.
“Toyota looks forward to previewing the all-new mid-sized SUV in the coming months. The versatility and flexibility of e-TNGA technology allows us to design and create vehicles that are not just battery-electric, but also exciting to drive and beautiful to look at. Toyota believes this new model will offer another attractive option for Irish families.”
