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Toyota’s Solid-State Revolution: The Future of Performance EVs Is Closer Than You Think

By 2028, Toyota might just rewrite the rules of electric performance. The Japanese automaker has confirmed that its long-awaited solid-state battery (SSB) technology will finally reach production—and the first car to wear this next-generation power source will be a high-performance EV.

For years, solid-state batteries have been the holy grail of electric mobility: smaller, lighter, and vastly more energy-dense than the lithium-ion packs powering today’s EVs. They promise dramatically longer range, faster charging, and less degradation over time—all while reducing the environmental toll of production and disposal.

Toyota’s been chasing this breakthrough for nearly a decade. Now, according to Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Engineering Development Centre, the company is “sticking on schedule” to put the first SSB-equipped model into production by 2027 or 2028.

“For the all-solid-state battery, the characteristic is high power, compact and long range,” Kaita said at the Tokyo motor show. “The cars will leverage these attributes.”

Why Solid-State Matters

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, solid-state packs use a solid ceramic material to transfer ions between the electrodes. The payoff? More power and range in a smaller footprint, with the added benefits of improved safety and longevity.

Toyota claims its prototype SSB can triple driving range, double power output, and last four times longer than current EV batteries. The company has already tested packs capable of delivering up to 745 miles on a single charge—numbers that could make even today’s most efficient EVs seem obsolete overnight.

But range is only part of the story. The compact dimensions of SSBs allow engineers to rethink vehicle proportions entirely. With thinner floor-mounted packs, designers can lower rooflines and seating positions, reclaim interior space, and craft sleeker silhouettes that were once the sole domain of supercars.

A Supercar Launchpad

That’s why the first Toyota SSB model won’t be a commuter crossover—it’ll be a halo performance machine. All signs point to the upcoming Lexus electric supercar, a spiritual successor to the LFA, as the technology’s debut platform.

With an ultra-low stance and lightweight structure, the Lexus EV will reportedly serve as a battery-powered sibling to the V8-engined Toyota GR supercar that’s also in the works. If the rumors hold true, we could be looking at a dual-pronged attack from Toyota: one celebrating combustion’s last stand, and the other ushering in a new era of electric performance.

When pressed for details, Kaita played coy. “Whether it will be a Lexus or Toyota, we will leave that to your imagination,” he teased.

Greener, Longer, Smarter

The benefits of solid-state go beyond speed and range. According to Toyota, the technology could cut the total carbon footprint of an EV battery by up to 75%—thanks to longer lifespans and cleaner production processes.

“We will try to reduce the carbon footprint, and the key here is reducing the CO₂ output in manufacturing the material,” said Kaita. “But the most important thing is producing a battery whose life is longer.”

A longer-lasting pack not only means fewer replacements, but also less waste—a major step toward Toyota’s broader goal of carbon neutrality across the product life cycle.

The Road Ahead

Toyota’s chief technology officer, Hiroki Nakajima, confirmed that solid-state batteries could, in theory, slot into the company’s existing EV platforms—offering the same range in half the space. However, he hinted that SSBs will shine brightest in new, dedicated architectures designed to fully exploit their advantages.

Meanwhile, for more mainstream models, Toyota is developing a next-gen lithium-ion battery with a lower height and innovative packaging. This version, showcased in the sleek Corolla EV concept, helps lower the center of gravity while freeing up interior volume—proof that efficiency and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Toyota’s patient, methodical approach to solid-state batteries might finally pay off. If the company can deliver on its promise—a high-performance EV with 700+ miles of range, supercar agility, and long-term sustainability—it won’t just be catching up to Tesla or Porsche. It’ll be redefining what an electric vehicle can be.

And if the first car to carry that technology happens to wear a Lexus badge, we may be witnessing not just a new battery, but the rebirth of Japan’s most iconic supercar spirit—this time, powered by electrons.

Source: Toyota

NEW CARS

Toyota Century Coupé: Japan’s New Crown Jewel of Luxury

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota didn’t just pull the wraps off a new car—it unveiled a statement of intent. Meet the Century Coupé, a striking grand tourer that ushers in Toyota’s newest standalone luxury brand, simply named Century. This isn’t a Lexus in a tuxedo or a concept designed for applause; it’s a declaration that Japan can play in the same ultra-luxury sandbox as Bentley and Rolls-Royce—and perhaps even teach them a few tricks about restraint, craft, and grace.

The coupé joins the Century Saloon, a fixture of Japanese statecraft since 1967, and the Bentayga-sized Century SUV revealed in 2023. Together, they form the trinity of a new marque positioned as the “pinnacle of the Toyota Group portfolio.” Gone are the Toyota badges—this car wears only the phoenix crest, long a symbol of the Century’s stately heritage, now reborn as an emblem of a luxury brand in its own right.

A New Chapter for Japanese Luxury

Century will sit alongside Toyota’s other divisions—Lexus, Daihatsu, Gazoo Racing—but with a very different mission. Lexus will chase the upper-premium market, dabbling in experimentation with wild concepts like the six-wheeled LS and the single-seat Micro LS. Century, on the other hand, is Toyota’s new Rolls-Royce, dedicated to hand-built, deeply personal, low-volume automobiles that express Japanese omotenashi—a philosophy of meticulous hospitality and craftsmanship.

“Since 1967, Century has represented not only the best of Toyota but the best of Japan,” said Simon Humphries, Toyota’s global design boss. “Its mission now is to take that celebration of human craftsmanship out into the world.”

Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman—and the man whose fingerprints are all over this project—put it more personally: “I want to cultivate it as a brand which brings the spirit of Japan out into the world.”

Design: Elegance with a Hint of Drama

Details remain scarce, but what’s clear is that the Century Coupé is no timid derivative of European GTs. Roughly the size of a Bentley Continental GT, it rides a little higher and carries a presence all its own. The proportions are classic grand tourer—long hood, short deck—but there’s a quiet sense of purpose to every line, as if it was carved rather than drawn.

The biggest surprise? Sliding doors. Yes, you read that right. Instead of the usual two-door sweep, the Century Coupé employs motorized sliding panels, a daring nod to Japanese practicality and theater alike. The concept allows effortless ingress and egress, particularly in tight city spaces, but also creates what Toyota design chief Ian Cartabiano calls “a sense of drama and excitement that defines a modern luxury car.”

“When those doors dramatically swing open, what an entrance you’re going to make,” Cartabiano said. “Never has it been easier to exit a coupé with so much style and grace.”

Inside, the three-seat layout sets the tone—one seat up front, two in back—balancing intimacy with opulence. The cabin reportedly fuses analogue tactility and digital precision, a blend that feels quintessentially Japanese: a handcrafted interior designed around the idea that simplicity can be the ultimate luxury.

The Spirit of Japan, Reimagined

There’s still no word on powertrains, performance, or even whether the coupé will make it beyond concept form. But the message is unmistakable. The Century brand isn’t chasing performance benchmarks or Nürburgring lap times—it’s chasing meaning. In a market where excess often overshadows essence, Toyota’s most traditional nameplate may end up being its most forward-thinking.

The Century Coupé is more than just a new chapter—it’s a love letter to Japan’s quiet confidence, recast in metal, wood, and light. And if this is the future of Japanese luxury, Bentley and Rolls-Royce might soon find themselves bowing in respect.

Source: Toyota

NEW CARS

Next-Gen Toyota Corolla Promises a Revolution, Not an Evolution

Toyota is preparing to do the unthinkable: reinvent the world’s best-selling car. The 13th-generation Corolla, previewed by a striking concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, is set to ditch its conservative roots in favor of a bold, design-driven identity—one that finally puts style and technology on equal footing with the Corolla’s legendary reliability.

Since its debut in 1966, more than 50 million Corollas have found homes in driveways, garages, and rental fleets across the planet. But Toyota’s designers say the next one will look—and feel—like none that came before.

“We’re going to reinvent the best-selling car of all time,” said Lance Scott, Toyota’s European design chief, at the unveiling. “The Corolla has always been a car for everyone, but now we’re redefining what ‘everyone’ means.”

The Shape of a New Era

The new Corolla’s styling marks a clean break from today’s model. Toyota’s latest design language—edgy, assertive, and unmistakably modern—transforms the familiar hatchback into something far more sculptural and athletic. The concept’s long hood, coupe-like roofline, and sharp surfacing wouldn’t look out of place in a Lexus showroom.

And that’s by design. Scott and his team in Nice, France, wanted people to do a double take.

“When we started the project, we wanted to make a Corolla that people would look at and say, ‘I can’t believe that’s a Corolla,’” Scott explained.

The goal is to make the Corolla aspirational again—without abandoning the everyday sensibility that made it a household name.

Power for the People

In true Toyota fashion, practicality meets flexibility. The next-gen Corolla will ride on a platform engineered to support multiple powertrains—from traditional internal combustion to plug-in hybrid to full EV. Toyota says the packaging of its all-new compact engine is key to achieving the sleek proportions of the concept, while still allowing for drivetrain-agnostic design.

“You can choose your powertrain, but you’re not going to compromise on space, style, or functionality,” Scott promised. That means identical cabin and cargo space whether you pick electrons or gasoline.

It’s a savvy move. While rival brands like Volkswagen and Ford are doubling down on electrification, Toyota’s measured approach acknowledges a fragmented global market where EV adoption still varies wildly. “Mobility for all” remains the brand’s mantra—and in 2025, that means offering choice rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all future.

Inside: Minimalism Meets Mobility

The interior takes the same revolutionary leap. Gone are the acres of buttons and conventional console layout. In their place: a minimalist, high-tech cockpit that feels lifted from a concept car (because it literally is). Haptic steering-wheel controls, a secondary passenger touchscreen, and a satellite-style touchpad next to the wheel handle most of the car’s functions.

The absence of a transmission tunnel—possible thanks to EV-friendly underpinnings—creates space for a floating center panel that houses the drive selector and wireless charging pads. It’s futuristic without feeling fussy.

Still, Toyota insists the Corolla isn’t suddenly chasing premium brands. “We’re not taking Corolla upmarket,” Scott clarified. “It’s still the cornerstone—just reimagined for today.”

Breaking the Cycle

With the current Corolla now seven years into its life cycle, the timing for reinvention couldn’t be better. Toyota’s rivals have upped their game, and the line between mainstream and premium has blurred.

“Mainstream brands need a break every once in a while,” Scott said. “Sometimes you need a jump to get ahead.”

Recent history suggests Toyota isn’t bluffing. Concepts like the Aygo X Prologue and Sport Crossover made the leap to production with only minor tweaks—and the Corolla concept looks showroom-ready by comparison.

If the public reaction in Tokyo is strong, don’t be surprised to see this sleek new shape on the road sooner rather than later.

A Global Staple, Reinvented

Toyota hasn’t confirmed where the next-gen Corolla will be built—its long-running Burnaston plant in the UK is a likely candidate—but the mission is clear: to future-proof the world’s favorite car for a decade where drivers expect sustainability, technology, and design to coexist.

The Corolla has always been the sensible choice. The next one might finally be the desirable one, too.

Source: Toyota