Toyota unveils its electric future with 16 all-new concept cars

Toyota has annnounced that will introduce 30 battery electric cars by 2030 - effectively promising to deliver at least three new electric cars every year. The brand has also revealed how many of them will look by unveiling 16 new all-electric concept vehicles that across both Toyota and Lexus brands.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda, confirmed that the arrival of the bZ4X SUV (which was officially revealed last month) will mark the start of an electric revolution with new models being introduced in almost every key sector of the market, including city cars, off-roaders and sports cars. It will use the bZ (which stands for Beyond Zero) as a nameplate in the same fashion as Volkswagen does with with its ID. models. It’s understood that many of the concepts shown are based on Toyota’s new e-TNGA platform – a universal set of underpinnings that contain an adaptable floor, battery, motor and suspension.

Toyoda comfirmed that the bZ4X’s platform would be used to create smaller and larger 7-seater versions, with the former – named bZ Small Crossover – aimed at European buyers and the latter aimed at the North American market. The small crossover will follow the bZ4X into showrooms in 2023. The bZ family could further expand with a lower slung bZ SDN saloon version that appears to have the same dimensions as the Tesla Model 3, and a bZ Compact SUV, that features a coupe-like roofline and takes styling cues from Toyota’s current C-HR model.

Toyota also revealed seven additional concepts under the Lifestyle BEV banner. These include two additional SUVs, dubbed Small SUEV and Crossover EV that appear to be almost identical in size to the bZ concepts. Toyota did not supply any additional information in relation to either, but both appeared to be perfectly sized for the European market.

Also under the Lifestyle BEV banner, the brand also unveiled a host of more utilitarian models which could offer buyers something other than just another SUV. While the Pick-up EV will aimed squarely at the North American market where the truck and pick-ups is highly lucrative, the Compact Cruiser EV looks set to generate huge interest. Thanks to a retro design that pays homage to the original Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, the Compact Cruiser EV was displayed with full roof bars and rugged off-road tyres. Given the remarkable success of micro 4x4s such as the Suzuki Jimny, the Compact Cruiser EV could be one to watch.

Equally fascinating are two urban commuter vehicles; dubbed Microbox and Mid Box. Although neither were higlighted during President Toyota’s address, both would appear to be semi-autonomous delivery or commuter vehicles with seats for two.

Completing the Toyota Lifestyle BEV concepts is a compact two-seater sports coupe - badged Sports EV. Unveiled with a discreet Toyota GR badge on the front bumper, it is likely to be one of the later concepts to make production given its relatively small market.

At the same presentation, Toyota also announced that it plans to transition its Lexus brand to a fully electric line-up in Europe by 2030. President Toyoda unveiled four new concepts that give a good indication of the model mix the Japanese manufacturer is aiming for. The concepts include two large SUVs (RZ and Electrified SUV), a saloon (Electrified Sedan) and a sports car. The latter is set to be the battery-powered successor to the brand’s LFA supercar and was the only concept to be announced with any technical information. Toyoda claimed that the Lexus Electrified Sport would come with a cruising range of 450 miles and a 0-62mph time of around two seconds.

The Toyota president also claimed that the brand was investing heavily in solid state battery technology, and aims to use it as soon as possible. Solid state batteries use a different chemical structure to conventional lithium-ion batteries and have the potential to deliver much higher energy densities. This would allow smaller battery packs to be used and would offer drivers shorter recharging sessions. However, the technology is still at the early stages of development and its introduction is unlikely for the next three to five years.