Toyota says it is listening to its prospects everywhere in the world and at last getting severe about absolutely electrical autos. At an occasion in Brussels final week, the world’s largest automaker confirmed off a closely up to date bZ4X, the all-new C-HR+ and the just lately launched City Cruiser. Whereas the automobiles they revealed are aimed on the European market, a few of them appear very more likely to make their solution to different international locations just like the U.S. within the coming months.
Arguably Toyota’s greatest information got here within the type of a shadowy slide on the finish of a presentation to journalists. That picture featured the silhouettes of three extra EVs due out by 2026. One is more than likely the bigger three-row SUV Toyota plans to make within the U.S.
However considered one of them may be very clearly a pickup truck.
Picture by: Toyota
Get excited, Tacoma and Hilux followers: The Toyota truck actually does appear to be going electrical.
Toyota’s European or U.S. spokespeople had nothing to supply concerning the mysterious truck in that picture. But when we take a look at the automaker’s previous bulletins and ideas, we will make some educated guesses.
At the start, this is not actually Toyota’s first rodeo with a completely electrical truck. Later this yr, it is set to launch an EV Hilux mannequin. However that is a extra bare-bones work truck with round 124 miles of vary, inbuilt Thailand and aimed primarily at that market or possibly a number of exports. Extra crucially, that truck is a single-cab mannequin and the one within the picture actually appears to be a double-cab design.
Picture by: Toyota
Among the new Toyota EVs resemble ones proven off by then-CEO, now Chairman Akio Toyoda in late 2021. That leads us to consider it could possibly be the truck revealed at that press briefing, which may be very clearly an electrical Tacoma. The one problem is that its proportions do not precisely match what’s seen within the teaser picture.
As attractive as a purely electrical Tacoma can be, maybe one other idea offers us a greater thought of what to anticipate: the Toyota EPU Idea from 2023.
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I first noticed this myself at that yr’s Tokyo Motor Present and I used to be instantly impressed. It is a Tacoma-ish-sized truck with 4 doorways and a unibody design that basically leans into the truth that it is an EV. It has a pass-through mattress just like the outdated Chevrolet Avalanche and the present Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, and with that open and the tailgate down, the mattress goes from 4.5 ft (137.16 cm) to eight ft (244 cm) in size.
On the time, Toyota officers mentioned that the U.S.-crafted design examine was extra of a life-style automobile with a robust diploma of functionality reasonably than a hardcore rock-crawler—suppose Toyota’s tackle a Rivian R1T and also you’re shut. However additionally they demurred when requested if that design was locked in for manufacturing or not.
Whereas Toyota officers pressured that the automobiles revealed in Belgium final week have been for the European market particularly, everyone knows Europe does not love vans the best way Individuals love vans. And if Toyota is severe about moving into the EV truck recreation alongside Chevy, Ford, Ram, Rivian and even Tesla, it could possibly be a game-changer.
Picture by: Toyota
As for the third and remaining automobile in these teasers, that one seems like it may take much less detective work to determine. It is pretty clearly the Land Cruiser Se, which is strictly what it appears like: a battery-powered model of Toyota’s legendary SUV. Toyota confirmed that idea off on the similar motor present in 2023 and it proved to be equally as fashionable.
Extra apparently, Toyota had a Land Cruiser Se idea on show in Brussels for all to see. Coincidence? It actually did not really feel that solution to me.
Picture by: Patrick George
For now, we’ve no credible details about both automobile, besides that Toyota intends on launching them earlier than subsequent yr is out.
“BEVs (Battery-electric autos) will develop into an ever-more accepted a part of life,” mentioned Yoshihiro Nakata, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. “Now, with out giving an excessive amount of away, these subsequent three elements (of Toyota’s EV technique) will deal with enhancing the client’s way of life simply as powerfully as they improve our carbon neutrality targets.”
When automakers speak “way of life,” they often imply luxurious, vans and greater autos, or some mixture of these issues. If that is actually the place Toyota’s EV recreation is headed subsequent, it will make plenty of longtime followers fairly comfortable.
What theories do you’ve got about Toyota’s upcoming electrical truck? Share them with us within the feedback.
Contact the creator: patrick.george@insideevs.com
