The new Toyota BEV model, first revealed at Toyota’s Kenshiki forum in Europe in December last year, is based on the company’s new e-TNGA electric vehicle platform. The platform’s basic architecture allows for fixed key elements and the freedom to vary others, giving the freedom to create vehicles with different widths, lengths, heights and wheelbases.
The platform can also accommodate front, rear or all-wheel drive with a wide range of battery and electric motor capacities to suit different vehicle types and uses. This versatility and flexibility enable Toyota to design and build vehicles that not only use battery-electric technology but are also exciting to drive and stylish in appearance.
The Toyota BEV model will be revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show, which takes place from 21 to 28 April (public admission days); while media days are 19 and 20 April.
What is the e-TNGA platform?
e-TNGA is a new, highly versatile platform that can be easily adapted for a range of products. It works on the principle that a number of key elements remain fixed, while others can vary, which allows Toyota engineers to create variances in vehicle width, length, wheel base and height.
The e-TNGA platform can also accommodate front, rear or all-wheel drive, with a wide range of battery and electric motor capacities to suit various vehicle types and usage profiles.
By using this approach, development time for different product variants can be reduced and individual models can be developed in parallel.
Koji Toyoshima from Toyota’s ZEV Factory product planning department said: “Toyota will shortly take the next step in the roll-out of its forthcoming battery electric portfolio by first previewing an all-new mid-sized SUV.
“The versatility and flexibility of e-TNGA technology allows us to design and create vehicles that are not just battery electric but also exciting to drive and beautiful to look at.”
