[volkman10]

Toyota's next electric car – a city-sized SUV aimed at Europe, due in showrooms next year – looks to be based on Suzuki's eVX.

The showroom version of the Toyota Urban EV concept – which could be named bZ2X – will be one of six electric vehicles Toyota plans to offer in Europe by 2026.

Toyota has unveiled a new concept vehicle designed to preview a new city-sized electric SUV, due in European showrooms in the first half of next year.

Known as the Urban SUV Concept, it fits between the Yaris Cross and C-HR in size, and is described as a "close to production" preview of an electric SUV due in European showrooms in the first half of next year.

However – just as the Toyota BZ4X is twinned with the Subaru Solterra – the Urban SUV Concept appears to be closely related to the upcoming Suzuki EVX electric SUV.

the two vehicles share near-identical proportions, body lines and full-width tail-light designs.

Details of the concept are scarce, however at 4300mm long, 1820mm wide and 1620mm tall it is slightly smaller than a C-HR, and larger than a Yaris Cross.

Toyota says there will be a choice of two battery sizes, and front or all-wheel drive depending on model.

Possibly pre-empting between the Urban EV and the Suzuki version, Toyota's media release highlights how all-wheel drive is "a key part of Toyota’s product DNA".

Link:

[Nikhildrao]

Suzuki is reportedly using BYD blade batteries for the EV drivetrain. The Japanese basically outsourced the hard part to the Chinese, which in itself is an interesting move. Hopefully they learn to make their own by the end of the decade atleast.

[PreludeSH]

Originally Posted by Nikhildrao

Suzuki is reportedly using BYD blade batteries for the EV drivetrain. The Japanese basically outsourced the hard part to the Chinese, which in itself is an interesting move. Hopefully they learn to make their own by the end of the decade atleast.

Good for consumers for now. I think they are safest batteries currently and would add to peace of mind to the reliability that Toyota brings in.

[volkman10]

More details of the India bound Urban SUV:

Toyota has presented at the Kenshiki forum is nothing less than a concept model.















- Toyota Urban SUV will be built in India for global markets; debut next year, based on Maruti Suzuki's eVX
- Will sit on 27PL skateboard platform
- To be built alongside the Maruti eVX
- Will be Toyota’s entry-point in its EV SUV line-up in markets like Europe among others
- Toyota to introduce the Urban SUV in our market a few months after its Maruti sibling the production spec eVX hits the showrooms, sometime early next year.
- The new SUV that will position itself as the 100% electric alternative to the successful Toyota Yaris Cross.
- It will be unveiled in the first half of 2024.

both models will have a lot in common in order to facilitate greater economies of scale. This commonality will not be confined just to the platform and mechanicals but also on the exterior looks, interior bits.

There are two range options expected with one the higher variant offering around 400km plus range. Toyota says that the SUV will have FWD and dual-motor AWD options too for some markets.

Link

[volkman10]

Toyota's Urban Cruiser EV rendered:

[volkman10]

First Toyota electric SUV for India to launch in second half of 2025.

Production version of Urban SUV concept will be a sibling to the Maruti eVX.

Toyota Urban SUV to share 27PL skateboard platform with eVX
Will be built by Maruti Suzuki alongside the eVX
Expected to come with two battery pack options with up to 550km range
The Urban SUV concept will hit showrooms in India by September-October 2025.

Link:

[shankar.balan]

It would be good if they figured out a way to integrate a slim solar panel into the roofs of these cars so as to ensure efficient, cost-free charging on the move. Such cars will be perfect for India which is blessed with so much Sun.

[mally2]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

It would be good if they figured out a way to integrate a slim solar panel into the roofs of these cars so as to ensure efficient, cost-free charging on the move. Such cars will be perfect for India which is blessed with so much Sun.

The Fisker Ocean already tried it, and MKBHD had a mouthful to say, In fact he calls it the worst car he ever reviewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWXRk3yaSw

[condor]

Forget if it is a Suzuki under the skin - but looking at the new EV's, they are all beginning to look the same - the same strip lights at front and back, the same styling etc. Just like the chinese knock down kits for scooters that we are seeing in India.

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

It would be good if they figured out a way to integrate a slim solar panel into the roofs of these cars so as to ensure efficient, cost-free charging on the move. Such cars will be perfect for India which is blessed with so much Sun.

The surface area on a car's roof is too little to be producing any meaningful amount of solar energy especially for driving/charging the car. It could be used to run ancillary accessories while the car is parked or on the move but beyond that there is just no use. Not worth it for the additional cost plus complexity.

[Shresth_EV]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

It could be used to run ancillary accessories while the car is parked or on the move but beyond that there is just no use. Not worth it for the additional cost plus complexity.

Of late Tata has been offering sunroof as optional extra for 50K, considering my 3kW home solar costed 3L pre subsidy, it should be possible to offer a sunroof sized solar panel. A productive solar panel worth 50K is much better value to me personally than non productive sunroof

I’ve never been a fan of sunroofs and find it overhyped for our market, I’d appreciate if brands offered that as an option, especially if you tell buyers that it reduces their running cost by X through some elaborate unrealistic edge case.

[pd1108]

Didn't Toyota's CEO claim they will not get into the EV line as their conventional engine design would be far more efficient and put EV manufacturers out of business? Then what is this? Or am I mistaken?

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by pd1108

Didn't Toyota's CEO claim they will not get into the EV line as their conventional engine design would be far more efficient and put EV manufacturers out of business? Then what is this? Or am I mistaken?

Toyota's vision is " co-existence of all technologies as demanded by customers."

Toyota CFO Yoichi Miyazaki:
Toyota will continue to pursue a full lineup that includes battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen powertrains to "be ready to respond to any demand that comes our way.

Link:

[Hume]

Originally Posted by pd1108

Didn't Toyota's CEO claim they will not get into the EV line as their conventional engine design would be far more efficient and put EV manufacturers out of business? Then what is this? Or am I mistaken?

Considering how important ICE (or hybrid for that still includes an ICE) is to their nation's automotive industry, yes, they have fought the notion - to an extent - that BEVs are in fact the future, while doing just enough to still stay relevant in the EV space.

Do note that they went into a JV with BYD in 2020 and further committed to an investment of 70 Billion USD in EVS by 2030.

While that might be in contrast to how Volvo has done by going all-out electric, let's just say they are cautiously "hedging their bets" so to speak. While I personally wished they were more aggressive in this space, I think it's probably practical considering their wide portfolio of vehicles and how much business they do in a place like Africa for instance where the adoption for BEV will certainly be very slow.

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by Shresth_EV

Of late Tata has been offering sunroof as optional extra for 50K, considering my 3kW home solar costed 3L pre subsidy, it should be possible to offer a sunroof sized solar panel. A productive solar panel worth 50K is much better value to me personally than non productive sunroof

Even disregarding costs completely, a sunroof sized solar panel would not produce any meaningful amount of electricity to run a car. It can power some ancillary accessories for sure but it then becomes a question of expense + complexity vs reward and it is not in favour of solar panels. The expense is not just the cost of solar panels, its additional wiring + electrical protection and more complexity during manufacturing. The afersales support becomes more expensive too.

You also have to keep in mind that Tata can't just add 50k to the price and add a solar panel, they need to have a gross margin of atleast 30-40% on top to make it viable and cover warranty costs as well.