Remember, only a few years ago, when almost all the major manufacturers unveiled their multi-billion euro plans to develop electric cars, Toyota took a position against the trend. More than skeptical about 100% electric, the boss of the Japanese group, Akio Toyoda, did not hesitate to make a series of declarations against the transition which was being prepared, preferring in particular hybrid or electric fuel cell engines.
We had to wait for the presentation of Toyota’s first 100% modern electric car in 2021, the bZ4X SUV, for his speech to change.
An electric Land Cruiser with a monocoque structure
To show the world that Toyota is now inclined towards electric, among other solutions, Toyota is electrifying one of its icons with the Land Cruiser Se concept. Presented at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, alongside other electric vehicle concepts, it is a large SUV measuring 5.15 m long, slightly longer than the Land Cruiser (J300) and Land Cruiser Prado. (J250) current.
The lines of the concept are also quite different from those of the models currently in production. The style is more dynamic and is intended to be less massive. The identity of the Land Cruiser is not obvious at first glance, but we still recognize certain details, such as the wheel arches, the sculpted doors or even the drop in the beltline, reminiscent of the latest Land Cruiser Prado J250 .
Note that the ladder chassis of the other Land Cruisers, which makes them real breakthroughs, gives way here to a monocoque structure, more common in contemporary automobile production. It therefore seems that this electric Land Cruiser somewhat sacrifices its adventurer skills, perhaps for the benefit of its road behavior. Toyota is unfortunately not very talkative about its concept, which we simply know can carry up to seven passengers. The interior and the technical sheet are not revealed at the moment and Toyota does not indicate any marketing date for a possible production version.