While it remains skeptical of battery-electric technology, Toyota’s new bZ4X concept offers a strong hint of what’s to come when it debuts the first of what will be seven all-electric “Beyond Zero” models from next year.

First presented at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, the bZ4X makes its US debut at a four-day media rally at Toyota’s headquarters outside Dallas this week. It was developed under a joint program with Subaru, Japan’s smallest automaker planning to launch a production version of its Solterra prototype in late 2022.

Bob Carter, Toyota’s North American sales chief, told the Detroit Bureau that the production version of the bZ4X will arrive “later this year” with plans for it to hit showrooms in 2022.

The bZ4X, notes Lisa Materazzo, group vice president of Toyota Marketing, is “about the size of a RAV4, with the versatility to stand out from other BEVs, it will be well positioned in the sweet spot of the market.”

The first pioneer falls behind

Toyota was an early pioneer in vehicle electrification, launching the original Prius hybrid more than two decades ago. Today, it sells more gas-electric vehicles than any other competitor, but the company remains skeptical of pure battery-electric technology.

Last December, President and CEO Akio Toyoda even tried to frustrate Japanese government plans to switch to all-electric vehicles, just as other countries like Norway and Britain aim to do within the next 10 to 15 years.

For its part, Toyota aims to offer hybrid versions of virtually every vehicle in its lineup by the middle of the decade, with a number of plug-in hybrids added to the mix. But the bZ4X’s debut — and the production model to follow — shows it can no longer resist the inevitable, according to Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at IHS Markit.

“It’s a tsunami, a wave that crushes anyone who doesn’t believe in technology,” Brinley said. “The pressure to make (BEVs) the only solution is enormous.”

Details to be determined

At the moment, Toyota isn’t talking much about the bZ4X. But it shares the base, skateboard-like architecture found in the Subaru Solterra, with battery and motors mounted under the load floor. Both vehicles are expected to deliver sporty performance and a range of at least 250 – and possibly 300 – miles.

Toyota’s crossover lifts a page from the Subaru textbook, with an almost completely grilleless nose. The narrow, almost slit-shaped headlights are framed by a black lacquer coating that flows over the front wheels. The doors feature a high beltline and distinctive creases, while the relatively flat roof tapers into a high spoiler that cuts through the wind.

The cabin adopts a minimalist design, with only a handful of conventional controls. Most of the heavy lifting is done using a large touchscreen atop the center console. In what appears to be a first for Toyota, the system also appears to have an iDrive-like control button. The production version will gain access to an all-new infotainment system that Toyota is about to launch, one with an Amazon Alexa-like voice assistant. A second digital display floats behind the steering wheel, replacing the conventional gauges.

beyond zero

Although Toyota isn’t offering a specific timeline, the production version of the bZ4X concept is expected to be the first of seven Beyond Zero battery-electric vehicles. Automaker plans to add eight more BEVs – but not all of them will come to the US

But while some competitors, such as General Motors, plan to switch entirely to battery-electric models, Toyota plans to keep a mix of options including conventional hybrids, PHEVs and even hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In total, it plans to have 70 different “electrified” vehicles in its lineup by 2025.

Meanwhile, “by 2030, 15% of our sales will be electric batteries or fuel cells,” Jack Hollis, senior vice president of North American automotive operations, said Monday evening. This is significantly below what other manufacturers are aiming for.

Ford announced a roughly 50% increase in spending on battery-powered cars last month, CEO Jim Farley predicts BEVs alone will generate 40% of its global volume by 2030. GM plans to completely phase out gasoline and diesel powertrains by 2035. moving fast enough, the bZ4X is a good start given the US market’s fixation on SUVs, said Sam Abuelsamid, principal automotive analyst at Guidehouse Insights. “This is the right segment to dive into first.”