Toyota will launch five new electric vehicles in Europe in the next two years. The company previewed one of the models with the Urban Crossover concept car today. The compact new car is expected to compete with models like the Jeep Avenger and Mini Aceman.
Toyota plans to launch a series of new cars in 2026, based on the modular architecture announced last October and equipped with next-generation batteries to significantly improve range and efficiency. Toyota’s head of product development, Andrea Carlucci, said the bold B-segment SUV concept “strongly anticipates Toyota’s important contribution to the sales of electric cars in Europe in the coming years.” The company will announce the full specifications of the car in the first half of 2024 and unveil the mysterious production version of the as-yet-unnamed model. Currently, Toyota has only confirmed the dimensions of the Urban Crossover: 4300mm long, 1820mm wide, and 1620mm high. The car bears a striking resemblance to Suzuki’s recently announced eVX concept, as the two companies have a strategic partnership and collaborate on certain models, although Toyota’s top management has not revealed the specific relationship between the two cars.
According to reports, the Urban Crossover is built on a dedicated platform related to the e-TNGA platform used by the bZ4X SUV. The car will serve as an electric alternative to the current Yaris Cross hybrid model and will be the smallest electric car in Toyota’s lineup, “at least for now.” However, the car’s price will not be the same as the Yaris Cross, with Karugi suggesting an “additional premium” for the electric car. In seeking a balance between affordability and practicality, the car will offer two battery versions, with the larger capacity battery expected to provide about 250 miles of range, in line with the car’s urban positioning. The car will also offer the option of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrains. Karugi emphasizes that the urban SUV segment is now the most popular segment in Europe, adding, “We have achieved great success with the Yaris Cross, and we do not intend to leave any space for competitors.” The Urban Crossover, Compact Crossover, and Sport Crossover concept cars, along with the bZ4X, will make up four of the six electric cars Toyota plans to launch by 2026. The details of the remaining two cars have not been confirmed, but there are indications that they will be SUVs similar to the RAV4 and seven-seat Highlander.
