By Brian Byrne.
Although deservedly best known for developing effective petrol-hybrid powertrains, which have been rolled out in most of their passenger vehicle lineup, Toyota has nonetheless been working on alternatives. The fuel cell Mirai is one, essentially powered by hydrogen and emissions free. But still really in the pilot marketing stage, not least because in most places there’s not a supply network for the fuel. Then there’s their sole dedicated battery electric model, the bz4x, which I have come to a little late.
Never late than better, mangling an aphorism to the point that it only means what I think and not the gibberish it comes out as. What I should have said was the bz4x has been worth my waiting for. If only because that gave me time to practice rolling out the extremely odd name more easily than it reads. I’ve found the most comfortable way is to use the American pronunciation of ‘z’, ‘zee’, which smoothens the vocal result.
All of which has little to do with the car itself. In size a little smaller in all dimensions than the RAV4 SUV which would be its combustion engine equivalent. With a wheelbase similar to that in the larger Toyota Highlander promising — and giving — really good interior space for a C-segment crossover.
Parked outside my house it looked … well, imposing. The style of the large wheels helped. A bird of prey look to the headlights. The sloping bonnet is shovel shaped, which sounds crude but looks good. Some impressive sculpting in the profile cleverly mixes curves and angularities. A clean and coherent design at the back is exemplary.
Inside, the cab-forward design provides a deep dashboard space, which is used in the driver instrumentation to give an above the steering wheel view of essential information. The style means no need for a head-up display because the info is already very close to the eye-line of a driver doing what they should do, concentrate on the road ahead.
The centre infotainment screen is what we now expect from Toyota, with sensible graphics and menu management. There are standard and wide screen options depending on grade — needless to say my review car had the larger. My CarPlay preference for navigation Blue toothed seamlessly. I do miss the rotary knob for radio volume control which Toyota seems to have abandoned in favour of pressing + or – buttons.
The bz4x did surprise me in a couple of ways. Having driven its Subaru twin earlier in the year, I was pleased to find a full-charge range of 418km when I picked up the car. The Subaru’s predicted and actual range had been disappointingly less, possibly because the battery was feeding two motors in their AWD car. Toyota advertises the WLTP rating of 505km for the bx4x, but in my time with it the original 400-odd kilometres estimation proved to be close to real. It’s worth saying here that the WLTP system used in Europe is really not fit for purpose for electric vehicles, while the more restrictive US EPA rating is actually pretty close to real world.
The other surprise was the drive experience. This EV SUV has perhaps the best balance of any in its class that I’ve driven to date. The weight effect of the low battery, usually trumpeted as good for handling but in reality offering sometimes a lumbering feel, didn’t do that latter in the bz4x. It was a most pleasant and a very comfortable car in all the time I drove it.
Toyota may have come late to the full-BEV car business, but typically they used that extra time to get it pretty right. They have a number of other EVs promised in short order under the bz label, so I’m keeping an eye on them with anticipation.
PRICE: From €42,950. WHAT I LIKED: That Toyota, once again, doesn’t disappoint
GRANDE PANDA REVEALED AT FIAT ANNIVERSARY
Fiat has officially revealed its new generation of the long-running Panda nameplate, the Grande Panda, writes Brian Byrne. The reveal was at Fiat’s 125th anniversary celebration and official opening of the new CASA Fiat museum exhibition in Turin.
A special Giorgio Armani version of the 500e was also rolled out at the event.
The Grande Panda takes its inspiration from the model first seen in the 1980s, which became an exemplar of automotive sustainability and simplicity. The new version will be offered in both full electric and hybrid versions.
The Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani comes in exclusive colours, wood inserts, special logos, signatures of the fashion maestro, and a top level of equipment.
NEW ELECTRIC SKODA FOR AUTUMN DEBUT
A new compact SUV electric car from Skoda is due for debut in the autumn, writes Brian Byrne. Names Elroq, the car is in final stages of pre-production testing.
The car will have outputs from 170hp to 300hp and a range of more than 560km (WLTP) is claimed.
The Elroq is the first Škoda model to adopt the brand’s new Modern Solid design language, taking the exterior design of the portfolio even further. Luggage capacity will range from a minimum of 470 litres.
Skoda’s new BEV programme will see the launch of six battery-electric models over the coming years
—
FORD BRINGING BACK CAPRI NAMEPLATE
Ford is reviving an iconic European nameplate from the 1970s and 1980s as a new electric coupe SUV, writes Brian Byrne. The Capri brings back a legend in the brand’s history that was built for 18 years from 1968 and sold 1.9 million units over that time.
There will be two version at launch, a rear wheel drive 286hp and an AWD with 340hp on tap. The claimed range for each, which are long range versions, is up to 627km and 592km respectively, and sprint to 100km/h are 6.4s and 5.3s. A standard range version will be detailed later in the year.
Dimensionally, the new e-coupe is the same length as a Ford Kuga, a little smaller than the Mustang Mach-E, and significantly larger and taller than the original Capri series (not to be confused with the earlier Consul Classic 315 Capri coupe of the early 1960s).
No firm Irish arrival has been given yet, but there’s an expectation for early 2025.
