Toyota unveiled an electric version of the CH-R Plus crossover, and increased the battery capacity of the bZ4X

The Japanese corporation Toyota, which remains the largest automaker in the world, is gradually getting involved in the production of electric vehicles. At least, the range of offers for the Chinese and European markets has begun to expand. The global crossover bZ4X eventually received a more capacious traction battery, and the compact crossover CH-R for the European market debuted in an electric version with the Plus suffix.

Image source: Toyota Motor

Both cars are built on the e-TNGA platform, the more compact CH-R Plus provides a range of up to 455 km with a traction battery with a capacity of 57.7 kWh, more expensive modifications combine a battery capacity of 77 kWh and a range of up to 600 km according to the WLTP cycle. Stylistically, the CH-R Plus largely repeats the hybrid CH-R, which has long been sold on the European market.

In line with the latest fashion, the central tunnel has two wireless charging pads for smartphones, the instrument panel has become fully digital and has been moved closer to the lower edge of the windshield, and many dedicated buttons have been retained among the controls, although some of them are now touch-sensitive.

The platform-sharing Toyota bZ4X received a new interior and a traction battery preheating function, which allows to halve the charging time when connected to express charging stations. Even in the cold season at a temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius, 30 minutes will be enough to recharge the battery. However, the maximum received power is still limited to 150 kW. The total power of the power plant of the all-wheel drive version of the bZ4X reaches 338 hp, which makes the crossover one of the most powerful Toyota vehicles on the European market.

The updated bZ4X will be offered in similar traction battery options: 57.7 kWh with a range of 445 km, and in the older versions the battery capacity will be limited to 73.1 kWh, although this corresponds to a range of up to 573 km. Deliveries of the updated crossovers to the European market will begin before the end of this year. In general, the most compact Urban Cruiser in an electric version will have time to join these two models.