Toyota bZ4X EV

Toyota bZ4X sighted in Malaysia – EV crossover with 71.4 kWh battery and up to 500 km range coming soon

In Cars, Local News, Toyota / By Gerard Lye / 6 January 2023 4:22 pm / 10 comments

Last December, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) revealed during a media event that the Toyota bZ4X would be launched in Malaysia in 2023. At the time, company did not reveal when the all-electric crossover would go on sale here, but it appears a formal introduction could take place soon, as two units of the electric vehicle (EV) were recently sighted at UMWT’s headquarters in Shah Alam.

The bZ4X features a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery and can be had with either a single- or dual-motor configuration. The cars pictured here have the former and pack 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 266 Nm of torque as well as range of up to 500 km following the WLTP standard.

This powertrain is the same one that goes into the Indonesian-spec bZ4X that was launched last November with an asking price of 1.19 billion rupiah (RM334,209). Meanwhile, Thailand gets the all-wheel drive variant with a total system output of 218 PS (215 hp or 160 kW) and 337 Nm of torque, a lower range of 411 km and a price tag of 1.836 million baht (RM236,782).

The EV supports AC charging (Type 2 connection) at up to 6.6 kW as well as DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at up to 150 kW, the latter allowing the battery to get from a 0-80% state of charge in just 30 minutes.

Finalised pricing for Malaysia isn’t available just yet, but the bZ4X will likely benefit from the current exemption of import and excise duties for EVs until December 31, 2024. Should you need more foreign prices to help with the guesswork, the bZ4X in the United Kingdom starts from 45,710 British pounds (RM238,962), while in Japan, it is from six million yen (RM196,685).

It should also be noted that these two units may not be representative of what we will get and may have been brought in for evaluation purposes. The kit list based on what we can see includes LED exterior lighting, 20-inch wheels, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a wireless phone charger, synthetic leather upholstery, a powered driver’s seat and tailgate and Toyota Safety Sense active systems.

Are you excited for the launch of the bZ4X? How much do you think it will be priced at?

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Toyota bZ4X EV SUV confirmed for Malaysia in 2023

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News, Toyota / By Mick Chan / 5 December 2022 8:53 pm / 18 comments

The Toyota bZ4X has been said to arrive on the Malaysian market in 2023, and now it is official – UMW Toyota Motor has announced that the fully electric SUV will, indeed be making its local market debut next year.

Its arrival next year means that Malaysia will join Thailand and Indonesia in having the bZ4X on sale, having been launched in both those markets in the same month, in November 2022. Pricing for the bZ4X in Malaysia has yet to be revealed, though for reference the electric SUV was priced from launch at 1.836 million baht (RM235,242) in Thailand and 1.19 billion rupiah (RM352,040) in Indonesia.

In Malaysia, pricing for the bZ4X will take into account the exemption from import and excise duties until December 31, 2024, which is the exemption for CBU (fully imported) EVs.

United Kingdom pricing could be indicative of the electric SUV’s pricing when it arrives in Malaysia, with UK pricing starting from £41,950 (RM238,000) for the base variant. The next trim level up is priced at £45,750 (RM259,000), which could be closer to the eventual product for Malaysia.

Between the versions for the Thai and Indonesian markets, Thailand receives the all-wheel-drive version that makes 109 PS at each axle for a combined output of 218 PS and 337 Nm. Meanwhile, Indonesia receives the FWD configuration where 204 PS and 266 Nm of torque is sent to the front wheels.

Both markets receive the same 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, with the Thailand-market car getting 411 km of range (WLTP) and the Indonesia entry achieving up to 500 km of range (WLTP). Similarities also extend to the charging options between the Thai and Indonesian markets, as both support AC charging at up to 6.6 kW via a Type 2 connection and DC charging through a CCS2 connection at up to 150 kW.

Looking at the Thailand-market car for reference, safety kit on the bZ4X includes eight airbags (dual front, centre front, sides and curtains) and the usual array of passive systems (ABS, EBD, hill start assist, traction control, VSC).

Meanwhile, the TSS 3.0 safety suite includes dynamic radar cruise control, a blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, a panoramic view monitor, pre-collision safety (autonomous emergency braking), lane departure alert, lane keep assist, and assisted parking.

GALLERY: Toyota bZ4X

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Toyota bZ4x EV claimed to have world-leading battery capacity retention of 90% after 10 years of usage

In Cars, International News / By Anthony Lim / 18 April 2022 12:13 pm / 16 comments

Toyota’s first ever mass-market electric vehicle, the bZ4X, is set to be launched in Japan on May 12, and as reported earlier, will only be available via leasing through the automaker’s Kinto car subscription service.

While the move is aimed at removing customer concerns regarding battery-electric vehicle (BEV) ownership and also promote the rebuild, reuse and recycle philosophy of batteries, the company says that there may be little need to do so during the life of the vehicle, given the expected longevity of the battery on the crossover.

It said that development was conducted with a target of achieving a world-leading battery capacity retention ratio of 90% after 10 years in the pursuit of building a BEV that can be used for an extended period with complete peace of mind.

Of course, actual battery capacity retention ratio when installed in a vehicle environment may vary depending on customer use conditions, usage environment and driving methods, so a 90% battery capacity retention ratio after 10 years isn’t a given, but Toyota says that the unit is guaranteed for 10 years or 200,000 km, which is the maximum period of the lease plan, and the unit will still have 70% battery capacity at the end of that cycle.

Given that the crossover is only available under lease, there’s no mention of battery replacement cost, since the 71.4 kWh unit is covered under the programme, but it will be interesting to see what the cost of a replacement unit will be in markets where the will be sold outright, past the battery warranty period.

The five-seater is available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The former uses a single electric motor generating 150 kW (204 PS), while the AWD features two 80 kW motors (109 PS) for a combined output of 160 kW (218 PS), and operating range is 559 km for the FWD and 540 km for the AWD (both WLTC).

In terms of charging, the bZ4X supports a maximum of 6.6 kW of AC charging or 150 kW DC fast charging. A 90 kW charger can recharge the battery to 80% of capacity in 40 minutes, while AC charging at a rate of 6 kW with can fully charge the unit in about 12 hours.

The car can also be specified with an optional solar charging system, which can generate power equivalent to a maximum of approximately 11.6 km of driving distance per day, or up to 1,750 km in one year. The bZ4X is also slated to be launched in Malaysia, but will only arrive in 2023.

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Toyota bZ4X electric SUV gets 516 km WLTP range

In Cars, International News, Toyota / By Jonathan Lee / 5 April 2022 4:04 pm / 15 comments

Toyota’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle, the bZ4X SUV, will soon be launched in Europe, with the first deliveries set for this summer. Ahead of the on-sale date, the carmaker has released finalised range figures on the WLTP cycle, and it has beaten its own estimates for the car.

According to the claims, the bZ4X is capable of driving up to 516 km on a single charge, which is slightly higher than what was previously announced. This figure, which is for the single-motor front-wheel-drive model, is an impressive achievement given the relatively modest 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery – the Hyundai Ioniq 5, for example, delivers 481 km of range with a rear motor and a slightly larger 72.6 kWh battery.

The Toyota also does this while having a more powerful motor (albeit with less torque), which produces 150 kW (204 PS) and 265 Nm of torque. The all-wheel-drive version, which uses two motors to deliver a total system output of 160 kW (218 PS) and 336 Nm, has a range of 470 km. The vehicle supports up to 150 kW of DC fast charging, which will fill the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes. It can also accept up to 6.6 kW of AC charging, with an 11 kW on-board charger set to be offered in the fourth quarter of the year.

What’s more, Toyota guarantees that the bZ4X’s battery will be able to hold a charge no less than 70% after ten years or 1,000,000 km, whichever comes first, as part of the optional extended care programme. Buyers in Europe will be able to choose from a number of contract hire offers, including an all-inclusive leasing programme that incorporates maintenance, a wallbox charger provision and connected services access.

To recap, the bZ4X is built on the dedicated electric version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (e-TNGA), which was developed in conjunction with Subaru. The Pleiades brand will sell a twin in the form of the Solterra and has also lent its X-Mode technology with Grip Control to the AWD version of the car, generating increased traction on slippery surfaces. Measuring 4,690 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,650 mm tall – with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm – the bZ4X is 90 mm longer than the RAV4 and has a 160 mm longer wheelbase.

Other unique features include a more advanced Toyota Safety Sense system with oncoming and cutting-in vehicle detection, a digital instrument display mounted above the steering wheel and a novel Tesla-style yoke design for the wheel itself. This is linked to a steer-by-wire system that will be offered at a later date and allow full lock to be achieved with just a 150-degree turn.

Closer to home, the bZ4X is slated to arrive in Malaysia next year to take advantage of the existing import tax, excise duty and road tax exemptions for CBU EVs. What do you think – would you take this over the Ioniq 5?

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Toyota bZ4X EV coming to Malaysia in 2023 – all-electric SUV with up to 460 km range, around RM250k?

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News, Toyota / By Anthony Lim / 14 February 2022 8:41 pm / 11 comments

While there will be no shortage of new electric vehicle (EV) models heading our way now that the government’s move to offer fully-imported EVs complete exemption from import duty and excise duty for a period of two years from January 1, 2022, has begun, not everything is arriving this year.

Those looking intently at the Toyota bZ4X will have to be patient – we already know that the sharp-looking all-electric crossover is slated for Malaysia, but it will only be arriving sometime in 2023, with the Lexus UX 300e due to arrive first later this year.

The five-seater model, the first in the automaker’s bZ series of electrics, is available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, but there’s no word on which version will make it here. In its FWD guise, the vehicle features a single motor with 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW), while the AWD has two 109 PS (107 hp or 80 kW) units offering a combined output of 218 PS (215 hp or 160 kW).

Both versions feature an identical 71.4 kWh battery, which supports AC charging at up to 6.6 kW and DC charging at up to 150 kW. Performance figures include a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.4 seconds for the FWD, and 7.7 seconds for the AWD. As for range, the bZ4X can travel up to 460 km on single full charge.

As for how much it could go for here, UK pricing provides an indicative estimate of what Malaysian buyers can expect. The bZ4X will be available in four grades for that market, with prices starting from £41,950 (RM238,000) for the Pure variant, which puts it right up against the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD SR over there. The next grade is the better-specified Motion, which goes for £45,750 (RM259,000), so Malaysian buyers could be looking at a price tag at around the RM250k mark.

More info on what we can expect in terms of specifications and trim should be provided by the model’s arrival in Thailand later this year.

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Toyota bZ4X EV – up to 500 km range, co-developed with Subaru, with X-Mode AWD; to debut mid-2022

In Cars, International News, Toyota / By Mick Chan / 29 October 2021 5:17 pm / 7 comments

The approach taken by Toyota towards sustainable motoring has historically been one centred upon hybrid vehicles, with relatively modest headway made in terms of battery-electric vehicles – until the advent of the bZ4X, that is. Now, Toyota has released more details on the fully electric crossover.

Set for worldwide debut in mid-2022, the bZ4X will be the first of the bZ series of models which aims to “emphasise safety and peace of mind”, says Toyota.

The bZ4X is based on a dedicated battery-electric platform – a Toyota first – that has been jointly developed with Subaru, with the objectives of a low centre of gravity and greater rigidity. The vehicle also has to be a “spacious, quiet and relaxing space in any seat,” and to that end Toyota has given the bZ4X a wide cabin with a tandem distance of 1,000 mm, or equivalent of a D-segment sedan, says Toyota.

The bZ4X will, in some versions get steering-by-wire and a uniquely shaped steering wheel, a Toyota first, somewhat like an aircraft steering yoke. This will get a very direct steering ratio that will need just 150 degrees of steering lock-to-lock.

Toyota says steering feel is improved by independently controlling the steering torque felt by the driver, and its characteristics can be adjusted through drive mode selection. In effect, the one-motion grip steering yields more legroom and better freedom for entry and exit.

Measuring 4,690 mm long, 1,860 mm wide 1,650 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm, the bZ4X weighs 1,920 kg in FWD guise and 2,005 kg as an AWD.

The joint development of the bZ4X also brings the adoption of X-Mode, a drive mode employed in all-wheel-drive Subaru models in order to maximise drive and traction in slippery surfaces. This is in addition to Grip-Control, a new feature within X-Mode that aids performance across all surfaces.

The bZ4X will be available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Both pack a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery operating at 355 V, with support for AC charging at up to 6.6 kW and DC charging at up to 150 kW. The single-motor FWD outputs 150 kW (204 PS) to the front wheels, while the AWD outputs 109 PS for each of the front and rear axles for a total of 218 PS).

The FWD version does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 8.4 seconds, while the mildly more powerful AWD version does the same in 7.7 seconds. Front suspension employs coil spring struts in front while the rear gets double wishbones and ventilated brakes all around.

Toyota has placed particular emphasis on collision safety and battery safety in the bZ4X. For collision safety, the BZ4X gets an omni-directional crash response structure for the protection of occupants, batteries and the other vehicle involved in the collision.

Here, the battery unit compartment features cross-members that connect the left and right sides of the vehicle on order to improve crash energy absorption. Two cross-members are located in the front of the vehicle to reduce damage inflicted upon the other vehicle in the event of a crash, with a strong framework at the front of the cabin for a full under-floor mounting of the car’s battery pack.

These result in a structure that distributes the input load of collision forces over multiple routes, in order to stabilise and protect the cabin and battery pack in frontal and side collisions, says Toyota.

For battery safety, Toyota endeavours to ensure that the battery production process is free of contamination, which is a cause of abnormal battery heating. Further measures include redundant monitoring of battery voltage, current and temperature in order to detect signs and occurence of abnormal temperature gains to prevent overheating.

To this end, further safeguards include the use of high-resistance coolant that will prevent fires from short circuits even if there is leakage of the battery’s liquid coolant. Additionally, the battery pack itself is integrated with the vehicle body for greater protection in the event of a collision.

Beyond powering the vehicle itself, the bZ4X features a DC external power supply function to provide high-output electricity for outdoor activities, as well as to homes and their applicances in the event of natural disasters and emergencies. This can also be used in the reverse with homes that have solar power generation, where surplus solar-generated electricity in the daytime can be used to recharge the bZ4X.

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