These 15 electric cars are to come

Akio Toyoda, the managing director of the world’s largest automotive company, updated the electrification strategy and today introduced 15 new electric cars of the Toyota and Lexus brands. The group is preparing them for series production by 2025. 30 BEV models (Battery Electric Vehicles) are to appear by 2030. The series will open next year with the bZ4X, an off-road electric SUV that was developed together with Subaru.

In addition to the bZ series – which stands for “beyond zero” and the approach of wanting to go beyond CO2 neutrality – new Lexus cars are coming out. Seven other models deviate from the bZ brand essence: including a pickup truck, a van, a microvan as well as two crossovers, a jeep and a sports coupé. None of the new launches have a final product name.

Toyota has already presented the first offspring of the new series, the bZ4X, relatively extensively. The 4X stands for a sophisticated four-wheel system developed by AWD specialist Subaru. The publication date is next year. This will be followed by a mid-range sedan. Unsurprisingly, Toyota initially called it bZSDN (“Sedan” stands for “sedan”). The front section is reminiscent of the Sony Vision S, even if the SDN looks a bit beefy. The very short tail is characteristic. The series is completed by an SUV with three rows of seats called “bZ Large SUV” and the “bZ Small Crossover”. The small car imitates the broad impression of more off-road vehicles.

The luxury brand will also receive a compact SUV with the abbreviation RZ at the start of the new electric platform. However, she puts a stronger focus on the sports coupé. Akio Toyoda speaks of an acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in under two seconds and a “secret sauce” that the car receives. It occurred during the development of the LFA sports car, which was only built in a small series in 2012. In addition, the Toyota management announced that the speedster could contain a solid-state battery. In addition, the group presented a large SUV for the brand. A luxury sedan should also be considered.

Some other electric vehicles that Toyota wants to bring out show a little more innovative strength. The eye-catcher was an electric off-road vehicle called the Compact Cruiser EV. The four-door has compact dimensions and could be intended as a leisure vehicle. Toyota should fill a gap in the market because there is nothing like it on the market right now. The first thing you think of is the name Suzuki when you see the concept car.

Next to it is the “Small SUEV”, a four-door compact car with a hatchback. The designers have also made the “Crossover EV” round and short at the back. The car looks like a hatchback sedan, but could be the size of a Kia EV6 – more like an SUV.

Toyota seems to be planning a roadster as well as an almost completely transparent microvan. Toyota calls the funny vehicle “Micro-Box”. It is vaguely reminiscent of mini lounges on wheels, such as Mini’s Vision Urbanaut. The “Mid-Box” delivery van looks a bit more serious. You can also imagine it as a bus or a mobile home. It falls into the Bulli category, which is in great demand at VW. Most recently, Volkswagen stated that it wanted to build electric campers in Hanover on this basis.

The Toyota model E-Palette is even larger, it could serve as a shuttle bus or larger transporter. A classic pickup with a double cab rounds off the exotic range.