Toyota mid-March revealed an all-new BEV, the C-HR+, as well as an updated BZ4X all-electric model and an all-new Lexus RZ 550e EV that are scheduled to go on sale in Europe in the second half of this year. No word yet if any of them will come to Canada.
What is the Toyota C-HR+?
The Toyota C-HR+ is an all-electric version of the best-selling C-HR crossover, which has sold more than one million units in Europe. (Yes, Canada used to get the C-HR here, too, before it was discontinued in this market after model-year 2022.) The all-electric version borrows many of its styling cues from an all-electric C-HR Concept that debuted in 2021 at Toyota’s EV showcase in Japan. The production model will be available with front- and all-wheel-drive, or in the EV lexicon, single-motor and dual-motor powertrains. The exterior is sleek, and the rear cargo hold has 416 litres of space.
What powers the Toyota C-HR+?
There are two lithium-ion battery choices in the Toyota C-HR+: a 57.7-kWh pack with a reported range of 455 km (282 miles) based on WLTP testing; and a 77.0-kWh pack with an expected WLPT range that Toyota pegs at 600 km (373 miles). The CH-R is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform and features a specially tuned suspension.
What powers the second-generation Toyota BZ4X?
Like the CH-R+, the new BZ4X comes with a choice of two lithium-ion batteries. The base battery has a capacity of 57.7 kWh, while the long-range version’s capacity is 73.1 kWh for a longer cruising range. No range figures were provided for the smaller pack, but Toyota did report that thanks to making the eAxle more efficient, the model with the larger battery extends the cruising range by approximately 70 km (again, WLPT) compared to the current model, which has a reported full charge range of 367 km (228 miles).
What’s new in the second-gen Toyota BZ4x?
For the first time in a BZ4x model, the new version gets battery pre-conditioning, with a development target, according to Toyota, of quick-charging in approximately 30 minutes under cold conditions by maintaining the battery at a temperature optimal for charging. The output of eAxle has also been updated to included taking into consideration suspension settings, and Toyota reports a better- and quieter-riding experience.
What is the Lexus RZ 550e F Sport?
Lexus has added a second all-electric vehicle to its stable to join the RZ 450e. The performance-oriented RZ 550e F Sport features higher-output front and rear motors, good for a maximum system output of 402 horsepower (300 kW). (The 450e’s power output is 308 hp).
In addition, the new BEV come with something Lexus calls Interactive Manual Drive, “a feature that enhances the excitement of shifting by synchronizing acceleration and deceleration with immersive sound.” We’re guessing it’s Lexus’s take on Hyundai’s wonderful, similar system in the Ioniq 5 N. The exterior of the new RZ underscores that performance personality, with front and rear spoilers and aerodynamic wheels. Inside, exclusive seats and aluminum pedals convey that sport style, as does a yoke-style steering wheel. No word yet on range, battery options or battery sizes.
We’ll keep you posted on whether we hear anything about these models making their way to our shores, but at the very least we can say their import here is not to be ruled out.
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