Toyota has revealed another electric SUV concept, and this one is a small crossover designed with Europe in mind.
The Urban SUV Concept, revealed at Toyota’s Kenshiki forum in Brussels, measures 4300mm long, 1820mm wide and 1620mm tall, putting it between a Yaris Cross (4180mm) and Corolla Cross (4460mm) in length.
Toyota says the concept “hints at” a production vehicle to be revealed in the first half of 2024 and launched sometime next year, which it says will compete in the B-SUV segment.
That will make it a rival, then, for the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Peugeot e-2008. The company predicts this will be one of the highest-volume electric vehicle (EV) segments in Europe.
Toyota says both front- and all-wheel drive powertrains will be available, with the latter “being a key part of Toyota’s product DNA”.
The company will also offer the production model with a choice of two batteries of different capacities. It hasn’t specified what chemistry these will use.
Toyota hasn’t confirmed what platform the model will use. The company has the e-TNGA architecture, which it introduced with the bZ4X, and is working on a new dedicated EV architecture, though it isn’t due until 2026.
The production Urban SUV will be one of six dedicated electric vehicles due in Europe by 2026, with the Sport Crossover – also exhibited in Brussels – being another.
The production Urban SUV will be “the most compact and accessible” in this sextet.
It wears a similar face to not only the Sport Crossover, but also the bZ Compact SUV Concept revealed late last year with its ‘hammerhead’ look and C-shaped lighting elements.
This look isn’t exclusive to electric Toyotas, with the latest Prius, C-HR and Camry also wearing similar front end styling.
Unlike the bZ Compact SUV Concept, which somewhat resembles the C-HR with its sleeker coupe SUV silhouette, the Urban SUV Concept has a more upright roofline plus bulging haunches and squared-off wheel arches.
Its interior has yet to be revealed, though if it’s anything like the bZ Compact SUV Concept expect an extremely minimalist cabin.
Toyota already has the roughly RAV4-sized bZ4X, which will finally arrive in Australia in February 2024 after several delays.
