Toyota will take to the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show next week to uncover a new electric SUV concept as well. The as-of-yet-unnamed study previews a production model that’s being co-developed with Subaru. Set to premiere on April 19, it features a closed-off grille, simple front bumper design with wide lower air intake and creases on each side, LED headlights and blue corporate grille on the hood. Brightening up the teaser image also reveals a pair of regular side mirrors that appear to have a black look.
Now, Toyota didn’t say anything else about
it, and we don’t exactly know if the design will be significantly toned down
for production or not. What we do know is that it will be built on the e-TNGA
platform. Understood to be about the same size of the RAV4, albeit probably
with shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase, it will be a
global model that will be built at Toyota’s ZEV factory in Japan.
The architecture is highly flexible, as it
can accommodate front-, rear- and all-wheel drive, as well as different
electric motors and battery packs. In all likelihood, the lesser models will be
offered with a single electric motor, whereas the upper specs should get a
dual-motor set-up. This particular SUV, and its Subaru sibling that’s rumored
to launch under the ‘Evoltis’ name, aren’t the only vehicles that will be based
on the e-TNGA. As a matter of fact, a smaller crossover, a larger high-rider, a
sedan and even an MPV are also planned.
