2023 Toyota bZ4X - UK version

2023 Toyota bZ4X - UK version

• All-new, all-electric mid-size SUV, the first model in Toyota’s new bZ – Beyond Zero

– range of battery electric vehicles

• First model to feature Toyota’s eTNGA, a modular architecture that can be easily adapted for different vehicle sizes and types
• eTNGA integrates the battery unit into the vehicle structure, giving extra rigidity and a low centre of gravity
• bZ4X available in front and all-wheel drive versions, bringing superior off-road capability to the BEV market
• Driving range of up to 317 miles for the FWD model, 286 miles with AWD

The bZ4X is Toyota’s first all-new battery electric vehicle (BEV). It breaks new ground in launching the company’s bZ “Beyond Zero” sub-brand of zero emission models and in bringing genuine SUV off-road driving capability to the BEV market for the first time. Its introduction will accelerate Toyota’s multi-technology path towards its goal of carbon neutrality.

The bZ4X’s quality and performance are founded on Toyota’s world-leading experience in electrified vehicle technology, a heritage that spans more than a quarter of a century. The company has also worked with Subaru as its development partner for bZ4X, benefiting from the manufacturer’s renowned expertise in areas such as all-wheel drive engineering.

The bZ4X is not an adaptation of an existing model. Instead, it is wholly original and the first of what will be a series of different bZ vehicles to be constructed on a new Toyota platform dedicated to BEVs. eTNGA integrates the battery unit into the chassis, entirely beneath the vehicle floor. The result is a strong and highly rigid framework and a low centre of gravity, defining factors in the bZ4X’s stable and rewarding dynamic performance. The modular design allows it to be easily adapted for use in a wide range of different vehicle types, spanning small to larger segments.

The bZ4X is available in both front and all-wheel drive versions. The FWD model features a 150kW front-mounted eAxle that produces 201bhp and 266Nm maximum torque. The AWD model, uses front and rear 80kW eAxles with a combined output of up to 215bhp and 337Nm of torque. Superior off-road performance is enabled by the AWD system, with X- MODE to give secure and stable performance through mud and snow.

The lithium-ion battery unit has a 71.4kWh capacity and comprises 96 cells which are water- cooled and constantly monitored individually for any signs of abnormality or degradation.

Toyota’s confidence in the quality of the battery is reflected in a guarantee it will retain at least 70 per cent of its capacity up to 10 years or one million kilometres (620,000 miles) driven (subject to an annual Toyota EV health check, terms and conditions apply).

The bZ4X has an official driving range (WLTP standard) of 317 miles for the FWD version and 286 miles for the AWD model. Fast-charging to 80 per cent capacity can be accomplished in around 30 minutes, in normal temperature conditions. At launch, the vehicle has a 6.6kW on-board charger. Cars produced from towards the end of 2022 will be fitted with an 11kW unit for faster charging performance.

BEYOND ZERO: A NEW TOYOTA SUB-BRAND

• bZ4X expresses Toyota’s “Beyond Zero” human-centred philosophy for delivering benefits beyond zero carbon
• First in a series of bZ products due for launch in Europe
• Technology draws on a quarter of a century of Toyota leadership in electrified vehicles

The bZ4X introduces bZ – Beyond Zero – Toyota’s new sub-brand focused on how battery electric vehicles can do much more than deliver zero emissions on the journey to carbon neutrality. Going “beyond zero”, Toyota sees BEVs as key contributors to better mobility for all, helping improve people’s lives with freedom of movement, safety and peace of mind.

The bZ4X is the first in what will be a series of bZ products to be launched globally. Its name references the size of the car – 4 for mid-size – and the vehicle type, in this case X for crossover SUV.

Beyond Zero reinforces the environmental leadership Toyota has achieved since making zero emissions its ultimate goal with the introduction of Prius, the world’s first mass-market hybrid electric car, 25 years ago. Since then, the company has constantly developed and improved its hybrid technology to develop a multi-path approach to reducing and eventually eliminating carbon emissions, with hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and zero emission battery electric and fuel cell electric models.

Beyond Zero is a wholly human-centred philosophy and will bring new products and services with strong customer appeal that will enhance the pleasure of driving, improving safety for all road users and helping build better societies around the world. It has four core values:

You and Others –the bZ4X has an open and spacious cabin with home-like comfort. There’s generous leg room for rear seat passengers and the atmosphere is calm and quiet thanks not just to the quieter electric powertrain but also to effective measures to block out road and wind noise.

You and Your Car – developing the car from a means of transport into an intelligent partner. The bZ4X is designed for smooth, intuitive driving and has authentic SUV off-road performance. The BEV driving experience informs both the new driver’s cockpit layout and the car’s sleek and powerful exterior design. The latest multimedia technologies provide seamless connectivity and multiple methods for communicating with the car, for information, entertainment and comfort.

You and the Environment – going beyond reducing emissions to actively improve the environment. Going beyond its zero emission performance, bZ4X can generate its own power using an optional solar roof panel, available in selected markets (not including the UK).

You and Society – vehicles that can make a positive contribution to society. With its comprehensive Toyota T-Mate preventive safety and advanced driver assistance systems, the bZ4X improves safety for all road users. In addition to the safeguards provided by Toyota Safety Sense, special measures are in place to monitor the battery’s performance and protect it in the event of an impact.

Toyota’s multi-tech route to zero carbon

Toyota is a “full line-up” manufacturer of vehicles that can help everyone reduce their carbon footprint in all parts of the world. This includes hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicles – the latter range set to grow with the roll-out of new bZ “Beyond Zero” models, starting with the bZ4X SUV. Toyota calls this multi-tech approach “the power of and.”

Since the introduction of the original Prius in 1997, the company has put more than 20 million electrified vehicles on the road. Throughout, it has recognised that environmentally efficient vehicles can only be effective through widespread use: they must be accessible and desirable for customers, meeting their mobility needs.

As the pace of electrification accelerates, Toyota expects to sell 5.5 million electrified vehicles a year worldwide by 2025, with a line-up of 70 models, including 15 zero emission vehicles.

In Europe, its forecast is for 90 per cent of its Western European sales to be electrified vehicles by 2025, of which at least 10 per cent will be ZEVs. This figure will increase to 100 per cent electrified by the end of the decade, with at least 50 per cent ZEVs (a greater proportion if market demand and infrastructure development permit). And by 2035 the target is a full 100 per cent reduction in new vehicle CO2 emissions – potentially earlier in some individual national markets.

This ambition was voiced by Matt Harrison, President and CEO Toyota Motor Europe (TME) at Toyota’s Kenshiki (“insight”) media event in December 2021. He said: “Moving beyond 2030, we expect to see further ZEV demand acceleration and Toyota will be ready to achieve 100 per cent CO2 reduction in all new vehicles by 2035 in Western Europe, assuming that sufficient electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructures are in place by then, together with the renewable energy capacity increases that will be required.”

Carbon neutrality and the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050

The elimination of carbon emissions figures strongly in Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050, a series of six environmental targets set by the company in 2015. Toyota’s global ambition is to eliminate CO2 from its new vehicles, all its business operations, and the full vehicle lifecycle, including the manufacture of parts and materials, logistics and the processes for end-of-life recycling and disposing of vehicles.

By 2050, Toyota aims to reduce CO2 emissions from its vehicles by 90 per cent compared to 2010 levels. Its production centres will see carbon emissions cut to zero, helped by the development of new manufacturing technologies and the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources.

The Environmental Challenge also focuses on how Toyota’s water usage can be minimised and optimised; how the company can help establish a recycling-based society and systems; and how a future society that lives in harmony with nature can be achieved. More information about the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 and interim targets set for 2030 can be found at.

Event venue: CopenHill, Copenhagen

CopenHill, more formally known as Amager Bakke, is a new landmark on the Copenhagen skyline, an energy plant that converts the city’s waste into heating and electricity for 150,000 households in the local area. It is one of the most efficient waste-to-energy plants in the world and its carbon storage system makes at a key element in Copenhagen’s mission to become a carbon neutral city.

CopenHill is an enterprise that reflects the principles of Toyota’s Beyond Zero philosophy. As well as being functional, the site also serves as a centre for public recreation with an all- weather ski slope and green park.

THE bZ4X: TECHNICAL DETAIL

• First model to feature Toyota’s eTNGA philosophy, dedicated to electric vehicles
• Architecture central to achieving extensive cabin space and load compartment capacity
• Front-wheel drive model uses front-mounted 150kW motor; all-wheel drive model powered by 80kW front and rear motors
• New all-wheel drive with X-MODE brings authentic off-road capability to the electric vehicle market
• Extensive measures to maintain battery performance, backed by Toyota guarantee of 70 per cent of original capacity maintained after 10 years or one million kilometres (620,000 miles) driven, subject to an annual Toyota EV health check (terms and conditions apply)
• Fast charging to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes

 

eTNGA philosophy: a new modular architecture dedicated to BEVs

The bZ4X is the first car to be built on the Toyota’s new BEV architecture, based on eTNGA philosophy and designed, optimised and dedicated to electric vehicles.

This completely new architecture has the flexibility to be used for potential future bZ models and is designed for production at scale. Critically, the slim battery unit is located fully beneath the vehicle floor and forms part of the chassis, helping achieve a low centre of gravity, ideal front/rear weight balance and high body rigidity.

The eTNGA’s modular design means it can be easily adapted for use across a huge variety of vehicle types and sizes. It can accommodate batteries of different sizes and outputs and both (as in the case of bZ4X) front and all-wheel drive powertrains. The fixed elements are the position of the front and (if used) rear motors, the under-bonnet layout, the driver’s position relative to the front wheels and the width of the battery unit; the changeable elements include the wheelbase, the number of battery cells and the front and rear overhangs. Thus, variations can be applied to meet different customer or model design requirements, using different front, centre and rear modules.

The platform’s core qualities combine to give bZ4X stable and responsive dynamic performance, both with front and all-wheel drive. Its design allows the car to have a long wheelbase: at 2,850mm, this is 160mm longer than in the RAV4. The result is excellent interior space – both in the cabin and the load compartment. For rear seat passengers there is one-metre couple distance, a flat floor and generous leg room that’s on a par with larger vehicles.

The flexible load space features an adjustable, two-level deck board and an underfloor space that can add an extra 71mm to the load height when taller items need to be carried. With the rear seats in place and the deck board in the lower position, there is up to 452 litres (VDA) – room enough to carry three 82-litre suitcases or two mountain bikes. The rear seats can be split-folded 60:40 and have a reclining function. The space beneath the deck holds a tool box and provides room for a warning triangle or the car’s charging cable; the folding tonneau cover can also be neatly stowed.

Powertrain: front and all-wheel drive

The front-wheel drive bZ4X is powered by a high-response, front-mounted 150 kW electric motor. It produces 201bhp and 266Nm of torque, enabling 0-62mph acceleration in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.

The AWD model features separate front and rear 80kW motors driving the front and rear axles. Maximum power is 215bhp, with 337Nm of torque; the acceleration time from 0- 62mph is reduced to 6.9 seconds. The use of power from the front and rear motors is optimised to achieve better overall power consumption. For example, only the front motor is used when only low drive torque is needed.

The bZ4X uses a new eAxle design that integrates the transaxle, motor and inverter in a single unit. The light and compact design helps achieve shorter overhangs and a low centre of gravity for the vehicle and more cabin and load space. This eAxle is being used for the first time in the bZ4X, but it benefits from the technical expertise Toyota has gained from more than 25 years’ designing electric motor-generators for its hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric models.

Numerous measures have been taken to reduce losses in the motor and inverter, including using a smaller stator and a high-speed/high-output rotor and adopting a low-viscosity oil for the transaxle. The transaxle geartrain has a simple three-axis design, while a pre-load differential and equal-length left and right driveshafts help ensure straight-line drivability.

The front eAxle includes an electricity supply unit (ESU) which brings together the power transformation functions in a single unit, bringing savings in size and weight. For example, components such as the branch box and DC relay which were contained in the battery pack in Toyota’s previous BEV models have now been brought into the ESU, allowing the battery pack to be flattened, in turn helping achieve a low, flat cabin floor.

With the motor ECU located closer to the motor, there is quicker detection of any wheel-slip. The rapid application of precise drive torque control dramatically reduces initial wheel-slip for more stable driving.

Regeneration boost

The high responsiveness of the electric motor allows for a regeneration boost function. Coasting deceleration is increased to 0.15G when the driver comes off the accelerator, operating with a natural feel and compensating for around 80 per cent of deceleration when driving.

New all-wheel drive system with X-MODE

Toyota worked with its development partner Subaru in engineering a new all-wheel drive system that draws on the great AWD heritage of both companies. This new system creates an unprecedented new value for BEVs, giving the bZ4X a genuine off-road driving capability – a market first for an all-electric SUV.

The driver can choose from different X-MODE settings which tailor performance for snow/mud; deep snow and mud (speeds below 12.5mph); and provide Grip Control for tougher off-road driving (speeds below 6mph).

Using X-MODE with Grip Control allows the driver to concentrate on accurate steering, with the system taking care of vehicle speed when travelling uphill or on the level; when travelling downhill, the car’s Downhill Assist Control provides a similar level of assistance.

Battery technology

The high-density lithium-ion battery comprises 96 cells and has a 355.2 voltage rating. Its gross capacity is 71.4kWh and it has an ambient temperature operating range of between – 30 and +60°C.

Key to the battery’s quality and durability is multiple monitoring of the voltage, current and temperature, from individual cell level. If any abnormal heat generation is detected, controls are automatically triggered. Countermeasures have been put place to mitigate any material degradation, and there are safeguards in the manufacturing process to prevent foreign matter from entering the battery.

This is the first battery in a Toyota vehicle to adopt a water cooling system. This uses a refrigerant and helps maintain stable output, with each cell individually cooled. The system is linked to the vehicle’s air conditioning system so there is power-efficient co-ordination of battery and cabin temperature control.

Thanks to an efficient and effective heating system, including a heat pump, reliability is also maintained in sub-zero temperatures.

Customers can be reassured that their car’s battery will deliver year after year of reliable service with Toyota backing its quality with an extended care programme that guarantees the unit will maintain at least 70 per cent of its original capacity to up to 10 years from manufacture or one million kilometres (620,000 miles) driven (subject to an annual health check at an official Toyota retailer, terms and conditions apply).

Battery charging and driving range

European versions of the bZ4X use a battery suitable for reliable charging in very low temperatures. The battery can be fast-charged without compromising safety or service life: an 80 per cent charge can be achieved in around 30 minutes with a 150kW fast-charging system (CCS2); a full charge using a 230V/32A supply will take around 9.5 hours. From Q4 2022, an 11kW three-phase on-board charger will replace the initial 6.6kW unit.

The bZ4X’s official WLTP performance data confirm the vehicle will deliver a generous driving range. The front-wheel drive model will achieve up to 317 miles on a fully charged battery, with an efficiency rating of 4.4 miles/kWh; the all-wheel drive version has an official range of up to 286 miles with 4.0 miles/kWh efficiency.

Body rigidity

As described above, the eTNGA philosophy endows the bZ4X with fundamental high rigidity and a low centre of gravity that form the basis of stable, responsive and rewarding performance. Further measures have been implemented to reinforce these qualities, for example, using a strengthened front subframe for the radiator support which reduces weight at the front of the car, reducing the moment of inertia and contributing to better turning performance. There is further weight saving in the front powertrain compartment, including aluminium cross-members, while the use of hot-stamped and high-tensile steels in key locations in the construction brings rigidity for superior impact performance without compromising vehicle mass.

The rear framework includes a double ring structure and a rear pillar support structure, maintaining good load space while providing rigidity to help withstand impact forces from multiple directions. A new, integrated front pillar section is 15 per cent thinner than those found in vehicles of comparable weight, yet is engineered to withstand forces from multi- directional impacts.

There are specific measures to protect the battery unit in the event of a front, rear or side impact. There is also an aluminium undercover that provides protection when travelling over rough surfaces.

Suspension, steering and braking

The bZ4X has a MacPherson strut front suspension design and double wishbones with trailing arms at the rear; both systems incorporate an anti-roll bar. The target was to achieve an ideal level of control and safety performance, leveraging the characteristics of the eTNGA philosophy to deliver ride comfort, stability and controllability.

The electronically controlled braking system uses front and rear ventilated discs, with performance tuned for easy control with a feel that strikes an optimum balance between effectiveness and rigidity. An electric parking brake is fitted as standard.

The rack-and-pinion electric power steering adjusts the level of assistance in line with vehicle speed. Later, in 2023, the bZ4X will be available with One Motion Grip, a new steer- by-wire system.

Wheels and tyres

According to model grade, the bZ4X uses 18 or 20-inch wheels. The 18-inch alloy rims use a full resin cover in silver and black that has a flat surface aero design and a number of small holes to help with brake cooling; the 20-inch five-double-spoke wheels have a contrast black and machined finish with grey resin accents. Tyres are 235/60R18 or 235/50R20.

DESIGN AND LIFE ON BOARD

• Exterior design explores the styling freedoms offered by a battery electric vehicle
• “Hi-Tech and Emotion” design theme blends advanced BEV looks with original SUV

 

qualities

• Frontal design presents new signature Toyota BEV “hammerhead” shape
• Cabin design and lay-out evoke the comfort and space of a living room

Toyota has produced a sleek and robust design for the bZ4X that’s equally appropriate for modern urban life and the countryside, blending the advanced look of a BEV with the original qualities of an SUV. The theme for the design team was “Hi-Tech and Emotion,” challenging conventions while meeting customer expectations with an advanced feel and high-quality surfaces.

The frontal appearance is smart and avoids unnecessary decoration. It is characterised by a new brand-defining “hammerhead” shape with signature slim LED headlight units and an emphasis on the front corners that communicates the car’s strong stance.

In side view, the silhouette is sleek with a low overall height, slender front pillars and a low axis line that reflects the low centre of gravity achieved with the new platform and its low-set, integrated battery unit. Wheel arch mouldings, large wheels (up to 20-inch diameter) pushed out to the corners of the body and thick rocker panels express the car’s authentic SUV character. At the rear, the design focus is again on emphasising the corners, with a distinctive taillight bridging the width of the vehicle.

Compared to the Toyota RAV4, the bZ4X has an overall height that’s lower by 85mm, shorter overhangs and a wheelbase that that’s 160mm longer. The bonnet line is also reduced in height by 50mm. Overall agility is reflected in a class-leading 5.7m turning radius.

The design incorporates aerodynamic elements that contribute to the generous driving range, including apertures set deep in the front bumper corners to create smooth air curtains; a full underbody cover; a split roof spoiler and (optional) rear duck-tail lip spoiler; rear diffuser; and a precisely angled rear screen. The slim lower grille has a shutter that adjusts to channel cooling air flow to the battery and helps reduce wind resistance.

To reduce intrusive noise, thicker glass is used in the side windows and there is a wider, uniform gap between the door mirror and front three-quarter panel, reducing the sound produced by wind turbulence.

The bZ4X is available in six monotone colours, including new Precious Metal and Precious Silver.

Design – interior

The interior comfort and spaciousness create the ambience of a living room, a sense that’s enhanced by the use of soft, woven trim textures on the dashboard, satin-finish detailing and the option of a panoramic roof.

The instrument panel is slim and low set, adding to the sense of openness and the driver’s forward visibility. This design has been made possible thanks to the use of a new air conditioning unit that is 30 per cent more compact.

The “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle is supported by the human-centred cockpit in which the seven-inch TFT instrument and information display sits directly in the driver’s forward eyeline, top-mounted above the line of the steering wheel, so the meters can be viewed with minimal eye movement.

The centre console is the focus of the “social” quality of the cabin design, accessible for everyone on board and offering a total of 20 litres of storage space. This includes an open area beneath the console, suitable for a pair of shoes or handbag, and individual spaces to carry everything from a smartphone to a tablet and large bottle. In a neat touch, the smartphone cubby has a transparent lid so you can see at a glance if you have received an alert.

According to the multimedia system specified, the bZ4X has an eight-inch display or 12.3- inch touch screen. The large display is used for the latest Toyota Smart Connect system, with advanced functions and improved voice recognition control to access information and entertainment and to operate a number of vehicle functions, such as the air conditioning and windows.

The driver’s multimedia options include useful connected services that can be accessed using the Toyota MyT app. Of particular value to drivers of the bZ4X and other Toyota BEVs is the access it can provide to the Toyota Public Charging Network, one of the world’s largest network of charging points. Contributing to Toyota’s “Kanzen” approach to giving owners complete peace of mind, customers can sign up to the service, choose their preferred tariff and use the app to find available charging stations nearby and make automatic payments. The status of individual charging points can also be checked using the app.

Other current MyT functions include “find my car,” which retrieves the vehicle’s location and can provide details on a map, together with navigation directions if required. “Share to Car” allows for journeys to be planned and then sent to the car’s navigation system, while “Car to Door” gives directions for the last part of a journey after the vehicle has been parked. Driving analytics, service reminders, the level of battery charge and remote activation of the hazard lights are also available through the app.

The car can be locked and unlocked remotely and you can check the car’s status – whether windows or roof are open, the doors unlocked, the lights on or the key left inside the vehicle.

Instead of a conventional shift lever, the bZ4X has a new dial control: the outer section is depressed and turned to the left or right to select drive or reverse. The P (Park) setting is a one-touch button immediately behind the dial control.

LED cabin lighting is featured in the front footwells, centre console, door panels and door handles and the load space. On higher grade models, rear footwell lighting is provided, the driver’s seat is power-adjustable and both front seats have integrated heating and ventilation. Upholstery options are perforated leather or synthetic leather; synthetic leather with fabric; or all-fabric. Colour-way choices are black-on-black or a combination of light grey and black.

TOYOTA T-MATE SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE

• Toyota T-Mate brings together comprehensive safety and driver assistance features
• Provisions include the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense, with preventive safety systems to provide even greater protection against common accident risks
• Toyota Safety Sense software seamlessly upgraded with convenient over-the-air updates

 

The bZ4X benefits from the wide-ranging support and assistance of Toyota T-Mate, the collective name for the systems that help safeguard against accidents, provide protection in the event of an impact and assist the driver when it comes to making manoeuvres, whether parking the car on a crowded city street or driving in motorway traffic.

With Toyota T-Mate, drivers can have the confidence that their car is always looking out for them.

The advanced technologies are designed to protect everyone on board and also other road users, helping Toyota progress towards the goal of future mobility with no accidents or road traffic injuries.

ehicle accident research in the USA (Impact Research LLC, September 2019) shows that vehicles equipped with Toyota Safety Sense were 37 per cent less likely to strike a vehicle in a front-to-rear crash compared to vehicles not using the technology. The researchers declare that the results of this and previous studies show that the widespread deployment of automatic emergency braking (as featured in Toyota Safety Sense’s Pre-Collision System), could help prevent thousands of related deaths and injuries every year.

On the bZ4X, Toyota T-Mate includes the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense, with preventive safety systems that have been developed to provide greater functionality and more detailed monitoring of the car’s surroundings and other road users.

For example, making a left or right turn across the flow of traffic at a busy intersection presents hazards not just from oncoming and crossing traffic, but also from pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road you are turning into. The bZ4X has the latest version of the Pre- Collision System (PCS) which constantly monitors the road for these hazards, warning the driver or initiating emergency braking if there’s an imminent risk of an impact.

A pedestrian stepping off the kerb, or a vehicle stranded on the roadside can prompt the driver to swerve. The PCS is again primed to help with Emergency Steering Assist, helping steer around the hazard while keeping the car stable and within its traffic lane. The PCS also recognises when there’s a risk of a collision from sudden, sharp acceleration during low-speed driving, automatically regulating the driving force and providing braking control.

Even a brief loss of concentration can cause a car to wander off-course; with Lane Trace Assist, the bZ4X will keep faithfully to its correct path, guided by the markings on the road, or, if necessary, the road margin or the vehicle ahead. Here the safety aspect includes reducing the burden on the driver on long highway journeys. The system will co-operate with the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, so the vehicle’s speed is safely adjusted when travelling through a highway bend. It also keeps an eye on the driver’s use of the steering wheel, brakes and accelerator pedal: if they are not used for a certain amount of time, it will initiate an Emergency Driving Stop System. On higher grade models, the level of monitoring is increased with the use of a camera to check on the driver’s head position.

It’s not always possible to see every road sign you pass, but on main roads and highways the Road Sign Assist gives the driver a reminder of the principal commands, warnings and the speed limit.

When it comes to looking out for other road users, Safe Exit Assist helps avoid the common risk of inadvertently opening a car door into the path of a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian approaching from the rear. It uses the car’s Blind Spot Monitor to scan the road and flash a warning should driver or passenger be about to open the door and risk a collision.

The behaviour of pedestrians and other vehicles can be hard to predict, but with Proactive Driving Assist (to be introduced in 2023), the bZ4X is able to scan the road ahead calculate collision risks and operate the brakes and steering at an early stage to help prevent an accident. This can be, for example, a person or cyclist close to the edge of the road or about to cross, or a vehicle ahead.

For peace of mind and complete customer convenience, Toyota is able to provide seamless software revisions and upgrades over-the-air, via the car’s DCM (data communications module; models equipped with compatible multimedia system).

UK MODEL RANGE AND PRICING

• Pure, Motion and Vision equipment grades
• Special Premiere Edition model to mark bZ4X UK launch
• Toyota offers customers peace-of-mind with bZ4X vehicle leasing packages through Kinto, its global mobility provider
• One-stop-shop approach takes care of all aspects of vehicle ownership

 

Toyota is launching bZ4X with three equipment grades plus a special, high-specification Premiere Edition version to mark its debut.

The Pure grade (FWD only) is the entry point to the line-up, with features including 18-inch alloy wheels, multimedia system with eight-inch display, seven-inch digital combimeter, reversing camera, smart entry and start and a climate control system with remote operation function that lets owners warm up or cool their car ahead of a making a journey. Options include roof rails and a towing pack.

The bZ4X Motion introduces a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, power back door, parking sensors and an entry illumination sequence. The cabin has heated front seats – the driver’s seat with eight-way power adjustment – an ambient lighting system and a wireless charging tray is provided. Options include a Skyview fixed panoramic roof, 20-inch alloys and an expanded Toyota T-Mate safety and driver assistance package.

Customers can choose the bZ4X Motion with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with Toyota’s new electric X-MODE system, which gives bZ4X class-leading off-road driving capability.

The Vision grade is at the top of the regular model line-up with a prestige specification that includes five-double-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors with auto-brake function, Remote Controlled Parking Assist, synthetic leather seat upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, power back door with kick sensor and a heated steering wheel. It will also come with a digital key, allowing the vehicle owner to provide access to the vehicle to others by means of a smartphone app. Options include the Skyview roof and towing pack. As with the bZ4X Motion, front-wheel drive and X-MODE AWD drive versions are available.

To mark the introduction of bZ4X in the UK, a special Premiere Edition model has been prepared. This provides all the features of the Vision grade together with a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system and the Skyview panoramic roof. Available exclusively through Toyota’s online retail service, it comes as standard with X-MODE all-wheel drive.

Pricing

The on-the-road prices for the new Toyota bZ4X are: –

 

MODEL GRADE	DRIVETRAIN	OTR PRICE
bZ4X Pure	FWD	£41,950
bZ4X Motion	FWD	£45,750
bZ4X Motion	X-MODE AWD	£48,350
bZ4X Vision	FWD	£47,650
bZ4X Vision	X-MODE AWD	£50,250
bZ4X Premiere Edition	X-MODE AWD	£51,550

   

Consumer offers

To help people make the change to a BEV, Toyota is marketing the bZ4X with leasing options that provide complete peace of mind by covering all aspects of vehicle use. This approach, which Toyota calls “Kanzen,” provides customers with a one-stop shop for vehicle leasing, with monthly payments to cover vehicle use, maintenance, roadside assistance, accessories, access to charging network and, if preferred, bespoke insurance.

The leasing is provided through Kinto, Toyota’s global mobility provider. Toyota expects leasing to become the preferred method to access vehicles – the “new norm” – as markets move to full electric, zero emission mobility. The goal is to make mobility easier for all by offering personalised leasing solutions, lasting from hours to years. To do this, Toyota aims to keep the assets – the cars – in its ownership in user cycles of up to 10 years with different users.

For private customers, the bZ4X Motion can be leased for £599 per month, inclusive of VAT, with a Kinto One Personal Contract Hire (PCH) agreement. This is with a 36-month contract, and an initial rental payment of £3,594 (inc. VAT). PCH customers who place their order on or before 30 June 2022 will benefit from a special launch offer of three years’ free servicing for their vehicle.

People who prefer to own rather than lease their vehicle can take advantage of a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) offer for the bZ4X Motion costing £650 per month (inc. VAT).

Provided by Toyota Financial Services, this is based on 36-month contract with 4.9 per cent APR Representative and a £3,654 customer deposit. PCP customers have the option to purchase a three-year service plan for the vehicle for just £12 per month (inc. VAT).

For business customers, Kinto One Business Contract Hire (BCH) offers the bZ4X Motion for £499 plus VAT per month, over a 36-month contract with an initial rental payment of £2,994 plus VAT. Kinto One offers the option to upgrade to a fully maintained contract that additionally covers servicing, non-routine maintenance and tyre replacement.

These offers are available until 30 June 2022. Details and the full terms and conditions are available on Toyota’s customer website at bZ4X Latest Offers | Toyota UK.

Charging and roadside assistance

Making BEV ownership as stress-free as possible, Toyota is providing all new bZ4X customers with a complimentary package of benefits to cover their charging needs, plus roadside assistance.

This includes a British Gas Centrica EV Home Charger with standard installation and six months’ access to the Toyota Public Charging Network – comprising more than 12,000 charging points, accessible through the MyT app.

Three years’ AA roadside assistance is also provided, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in the UK and across 44 European countries.