EV Information: An Electrical Pickup From Toyota, Two Electrical Sports activities Vehicles From Longbow

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The EV revolution remains to be occurring, regardless of headwinds in numerous nations, significantly the US. At a reveal within the UK final week, Toyota teased three new electrical fashions, considered one of which is clearly a pickup truck. On the press occasion, Toyota mentioned by the tip of 2025, Toyota can have “all-new and enhanced merchandise competing on the coronary heart of the important thing B, C and D-SUV segments, the principal classes of the European automotive market. All profit from core Toyota BEV DNA qualities — real SUV character and practicality; distinctive up to date design; power environment friendly efficiency; and the provision of true all wheel drive efficiency.”

In a graphic displaying the three electrical SUVs, the corporate displayed shadowy representations of different electrical autos coming within the close to future. The one within the center is clearly a pickup truck. Automotive and Driver notes that Toyota has hinted at its need to launch an electrical truck a number of occasions. In 2023, Toyota confirmed the EPU idea, however that compact truck’s stubby form doesn’t match this teaser. As a substitute, it’s seemingly an electrical model of the Hilux, Toyota’s international midsize truck providing. The US has its personal midsize truck — the Tacoma — and Toyota confirmed an electrical truck idea again in 2021 that finally previewed the styling of the present Tacoma. Nobody can be shocked if the underpinnings of an electrical Hilux ended up being shared with an electrical Tacoma to reduce prices, Automotive and Driver says.

Toyota Electrical Pickup Truck Rumors

For its half, Toyota has claimed the EPU idea “is a subsequent technology midsize pickup truck idea, with a monocoque physique delivering excessive sturdiness to create a sensible but trendy BEV. At simply over 5 meters lengthy with a double cab design, the EPU’s monocoque construction additionally permits for a flexible deck area that caters to a broader vary of consumer purposes. The rear of the cabin hyperlinks boldly with the deck to accommodate various consumer preferences, supporting a variety of mobility life, together with out of doors actions. BEV quietness is accompanied by packaging with a low middle of gravity for superior dealing with stability and experience consolation.” That’s all effectively and good, however the gestation interval for the battery electrical pickemup from Toyota is sort of so long as it’s for brand spanking new fashions from Tesla. That’s not a praise, by the way in which.

The opposite two vehicles within the shadows seem like the Toyota Land Cruiser Se. The boxy profile and a particular dip within the roofline is almost an identical to the Land Cruiser Se idea revealed in 2023. Toyota has launched minimal details about that automobile apart from to say it should have three rows of seats, can have an electrical powertrain, and is about 10 inches longer than the Land Cruiser Hybrid. The define of the car on the left suggests a sleeker entrance finish and decrease, wagon-like roofline reminiscent of the present Crown Signia. This might be a manufacturing model of the bZ Giant SUV idea proven in 2021, Automotive and Driver says.

Longbow Debuts Two Electrical Sports activities Vehicles

Additionally from the UK final week got here information of a brand new electrical automobile startup known as Longbow that claims it should quickly start manufacturing of two new battery-electric sports activities vehicles — one a droptop two-seater known as the Speedster and the opposite a sport coupe known as the Roadster. The title is alleged to be a not so refined dig at Tesla, which hinted at a second technology Roadster in 2017 and has had little or no to say about it since. 8 years is a very long time for individuals to attend, Elon. The corporate says it desires to deliver the British custom of constructing light-weight sports activities vehicles just like the Caterham Seven and the Ariel Atom ahead into the electrical age. That custom was greatest captured by Colin Chapman, the founding father of Lotus, who mentioned, “Horsepower makes you quicker on the straights. Lightness makes you quicker all over the place.” Longbow says its autos are the “non secular successors” to the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Kind.

We’ve got one quibble. A roadster doesn’t have a hard and fast roof. The basic clarification of the distinction between a roadster and a convertible is {that a} convertible has a prime you set down underneath best situations. A roadster has a prime you set up underneath dreadful situations. It’s a refined however essential distinction.

Earlier than we get into the main points of the 2 vehicles from Longbow, you need to know it’s not being run by a bunch of part-time bicycle mechanics from Surrey. Automotive and Driver says the individuals behind the corporate have a formidable resume. The founders have labored within the EV area for many years and have held senior positions at Lucid and BYD. The crew additionally options individuals who have labored at Tesla, Components E, Lotus, Aston Martin, and Ariel. The corporate itself is positioned within the Midlands space of Britain the place many Components One and Components E groups have their headquarters. In response to High Gear, lots of the mechanical items such because the batteries, motors, and brakes shall be sourced from different firms and can work collectively through a bespoke software program system.

The emphasis on light-weight is not any joke. The corporate says each fashions shall be constructed on a bespoke aluminum chassis and have a glossy design comprised of composite panels. Each are two-seaters with a single 321 horsepower (240 kW) electrical motor driving the rear wheels, though twin motor variants could also be provided sooner or later. The Speedster will weigh simply 1973 kilos, scoot from zero to 100 km/h in simply 3.5 seconds, and have a spread of 275 miles WLTP. Solely 150 shall be manufactured, and they’re going to promote for round $110,000 (£85,760). The Roadster weighs 2194 kilos and takes one tenth of a second longer to succeed in 100 km/h. The beginning value shall be considerably extra pockets pleasant at $84,000 (£65,000). No vary has been quoted for the Roadster, which is not going to be restricted in manufacturing.

The corporate says it’s now accepting reservations for each the Speedster and Roadster, that are designed and engineered within the UK the place they may also be assembled by hand. It expects to have prototypes working this summer season, with manufacturing beginning in 2026. It additionally claims to have “good relationships with all the key Chinese language semi-state-owned companies and suppliers.”

The Takeaway

Is there a message that may be drawn from these two tales? We predict there’s. Companies run by adults are beginning to ignore the US market. Simply as water merely flows round rocks in a river mattress, firms are reacting to the chaos created by the idiotic insurance policies of the federal government by merely trying elsewhere. Quickly the US will exist in splendid isolation, due to the antics of a drug-addled lunatic and the ravings of a man-child who behaves like a two-year-old with a full diaper. Between the 2 of them, they’re making America irrelevant — a sorry epitaph for a as soon as nice nation.