Tag Archives: Toyota

Mazda is developing a new small SUV

For years, Mazda has had a bad business policy that has cost the company financial losses and the loss of a large number of customers. However, the latest information suggests that Mazda is waking up, and several sketches announce the arrival of a new small SUV, the Mazda CX-20.

The Mazda 2 is leaving the market soon, and the same could happen with the hybrid version, the Mazda 2 Hybrid. This is a sign that the Japanese company urgently needs a new model from the B-segment that could restore at least some of the reputation it once had.

The company plans to expand its plant in Thailand, and has reached an agreement with the government for an investment of 148 million dollars. This means an increase in annual production to 100,000 cars, not only for the domestic Thai market, but also for other world markets. The new Mazda BT-50 will be one of those produced at these plants, and it will be joined by two new models that will arrive in the next 2-3 years.

What can be seen in the sketches is that the car will have a sporty design, which is currently adopted by many manufacturers of this type of vehicle, and which has proven to be very successful. It will have round taillights or Mazda-style semi-circular daytime running lights.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid was a rebranded Toyota Yaris, which didn’t turn out to be a smart move. Now the question is whether Mazda will repeat the same mistake and try to clone the Toyota model again.

Source: Reuters

Toyota revealed the refreshed bZ4X and the new C-HR+

Toyota recently unveiled a refreshed version of the bZ4X, which is expected to be the manufacturer’s answer to similarly sized electric SUVs like the Tesla Model Y and the all-new Toyota C-HR+.

The C-HR+ is based on the e-TNGA 2.0 platform with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, which means it is slightly longer than the bZ4X. The base European-spec model is powered by a single 167 hp electric motor, has front-wheel drive, and a 57.7 kWh battery provides a range of 455 kilometers on a single charge. The more powerful version will have 225 hp, front-wheel drive and a 77 kWh battery for a range of 600 kilometers. The top of the range is the version with two electric motors with 343 hp, all-wheel drive, and a range of 525 kilometers on a single battery charge.

The refreshed bZ4X comes with several exterior changes that improve the aerodynamics of the front end. The interior features an upgraded instrument cluster and a new 14-inch display.

What sets it apart from the current model are the 73.1 kWh and 57.7 kWh lithium-ion batteries. Toyota claims to have improved the energy density of both batteries and increased the number of cells used in each. The electric motors have also been upgraded, now featuring silicon carbide semiconductors. The refreshed bZ4X also comes with a battery pre-conditioning system that will allow for more efficient high-speed charging in cold conditions. The AC charger on higher-spec models now supports 22 kW instead of 11 kW, but the maximum DC charging speed is still limited to 150 kW, which is less than some competitors. Charging the battery from 10 to 80 percent takes about 30 minutes.

The base version is equipped with a single electric motor with 167 hp, front-wheel drive and a 57.7 kWh battery that allows for a range of 445 kilometers. The more powerful version has 224 hp, a 73.1 kWh battery for a range of 573 kilometers on a single charge, while the most powerful version has 343 hp, which is enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. It has all-wheel drive and a 73.1 kWh battery for a range of 520 kilometers.

Source: Toyota

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Toyota announced a mysterious electric pickup

At a recent event in Belgium, Toyota released a teaser announcing the arrival of a mysterious electric pickup truck. It is one of several upcoming Toyota models, among which will be an electric SUV that will arrive in 2026.

Some information suggests that the new electric pickup will not be related to the Hilux model that Toyota is developing for the Australian and Thai markets. It will have a double cabin like the Hilux prototype that the Japanese manufacturer is testing in Australia.

There are many rumors about the car. Some believe that Toyota will use one of its existing platforms in this case, and that it will share the improved electric motors that power the improved bZ4X and the new C-HR+. One option is that Toyota will develop an electric Tacoma model, inspired by the concept announced in 2021. However, given the fact that this name is not used in Europe, many believe that it could be a production version of the EPU concept that was revealed two years ago, and whose arrival on the market is expected in 2027.

Source: Toyota