Toyota has never hidden its reluctance towards electric cars in its communication and lobbying, or through the positions taken by its former manager, Akio Toyoda. The Japanese manufacturer and its premium Lexus brand have nevertheless taken the plunge, with more moderate enthusiasm than certain competitors.
Toyota offers a single 100% electric model in its European range: the bZ4X SUV. With its 4.69 m length, which brings it closer to a Tesla Model Y, it has arrived in a segment that is already very crowded and not the most popular in Europe. Fortunately, Toyota does not want to stop there, and today announces an electric city SUV in concept form, which should therefore be of much greater interest to our market.
Soberly named Urban SUV Concept, it measures 4.30 m long, the same as a Peugeot e-2008 for example. This also makes it something of an electric counterpart to the Toyota C-HR hybrid SUV. However, its lines are not as aggressive, and are intended to be more square. The proportions are close to those of the little brother Yaris Cross, while the front is inspired by the latest Prius.
The final model will arrive in 2024
Unfortunately, Toyota doesn’t give any clues as to the interior of its future electric urban SUV. The brand is fortunately more forthcoming on its technical sheet. We know that two battery levels will be offered and that the production model will be available in traction as well as in a four-wheel drive version (4×4). It will be revealed in the first half of 2024 and will be the smallest vehicle in a series of six new electric cars planned by Toyota.