Toyota has arrived in Shanghai with not one but two
all-electric versions of the C-HR that will be produced by the company’s local
GAC-Toyota and FAW-Toyota joint ventures. The new C-HR and its sibling IZOA
will be the first Toyotas to be offered with a battery electric powertrain in
the world’s biggest car market, starting from 2020.
Toyota didn’t mention any technical details of the
C-HR EV but released a short video that shows the battery pack mounted on the
floor and an electric motor positioned under the hood powering the front axle
alone.
The electric versions of the Toyota C-HR will also
get a fully digital instrument display and a new “gear” selector instead of the
one you’ll find in the ICE-powered versions. Exterior details include a new
front fascia with a small cutout in place of a traditional grille and smaller
wheels/tires to reduce rolling resistance for a longer driving range.
Alongside the new C-HR and IZOA EVs, Toyota also
brought the hybrid versions of the RAV4 and Alphard/Vellfire at Shanghai for
their Chinese debut, as well as the rather futuristic-looking Rhombus concept.
The Rhombus also employs a battery-electric powetrain and features an
innovative cabin that fits four passengers and positions the driver in the
middle.
Toyota is planning to introduce more than 10
battery-electric vehicles in China, including the aforementioned C-HR and IZOA,
by 2025. The Japanese company’s target is to sell more than 5.5 million
electrified vehicles globally by 2030.
