EV News: An Electric Pickup From Toyota, Two Electric Sports Cars From Longbow

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The EV revolution continues to be occurring, regardless of headwinds in varied nations, notably the US. At a reveal within the UK final week, Toyota teased three new electrical fashions, certainly one of which is clearly a pickup truck. On the press eventToyota mentioned by the top of 2025, Toyota could have “all-new and enhanced products competing at the heart of the key B, C and D-SUV segments, the principal categories of the European automotive market. All benefit from core Toyota BEV DNA qualities — genuine SUV character and practicality; distinctive contemporary design; energy efficient performance; and the availability of true all wheel drive performance.”

In a graphic exhibiting the three electrical SUVs, the corporate displayed shadowy representations of different electrical autos coming within the close to future. The one within the center is clearly a pickup truck. Car and Driver notes that Toyota has hinted at its want to launch an electrical truck a number of occasions. In 2023, Toyota confirmed the EPU concepthowever that compact truck’s stubby form doesn’t match this teaser. As a substitute, it’s seemingly an electrical model of the Hilux, Toyota’s international midsize truck providing. The US has its personal midsize truck — the Tacoma — and Toyota confirmed an electrical truck idea again in 2021 that in the end previewed the styling of the present Tacoma. Nobody can be stunned if the underpinnings of an electrical Hilux ended up being shared with an electrical Tacoma to attenuate prices, Automobile and Driver says.

Toyota Electrical Pickup Truck Rumors

For its half, Toyota has claimed the EPU idea “is a next generation midsize pickup truck concept, with a monocoque body delivering high durability to create a practical yet stylish BEV. At just over five meters long with a double cab design, the EPU’s monocoque structure also allows for a versatile deck space that caters to a broader range of user applications. The rear of the cabin links boldly with the deck to accommodate diverse user preferences, supporting a wide range of mobility lifestyles, including outdoor activities. BEV quietness is accompanied by packaging with a low center of gravity for superior handling stability and ride comfort.” That’s all effectively and good, however the gestation interval for the battery electrical pickemup from Toyota is nearly so long as it’s for brand spanking new fashions from Tesla. That’s not a praise, by the best way.

The opposite two automobiles within the shadows look like the Toyota Land Cruiser Se. The boxy profile and a particular dip within the roofline is almost an identical to the Land Cruiser Se idea revealed in 2023. Toyota has launched minimal details about that automotive aside from to say it would have three rows of seats, could have an electrical powertrain, and is about 10 inches longer than the Land Cruiser Hybrid. The define of the automobile on the left suggests a sleeker entrance finish and decrease, wagon-like roofline reminiscent of the present Crown Signia. This might be a manufacturing model of the bZ Massive SUV idea proven in 2021, Automobile and Driver says.

Longbow Debuts Two Electrical Sports activities Automobiles

Additionally from the UK final week got here information of a brand new electrical automotive startup referred to as Longbow that claims it would quickly start manufacturing of two new battery-electric sports activities automobiles — one a droptop two-seater referred to as the Speedster and the opposite a sport coupe referred to as the Roadster. The title is claimed to be a not so refined dig at Tesla, which hinted at a second technology Roadster in 2017 and has had little or no to say about it since. 8 years is a very long time for individuals to attend, Elon. The corporate says it desires to convey the British custom of constructing light-weight sports activities automobiles just like the Caterham Seven and the Ariel Atom ahead into the electrical age. That custom was greatest captured by Colin Chapman, the founding father of Lotus, who mentioned, “Horsepower makes you faster on the straights. Lightness makes you faster everywhere.” Longbow says its autos are the “spiritual successors” to the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Kind.

We have now one quibble. A roadster doesn’t have a hard and fast roof. The traditional rationalization of the distinction between a roadster and a convertible is {that a} convertible has a prime you place down beneath supreme circumstances. A roadster has a prime you place up beneath dreadful circumstances. It’s a refined however essential distinction.

Earlier than we get into the small print of the 2 automobiles from Longbow, it’s best to know it isn’t being run by a gaggle of part-time bicycle mechanics from Surrey. Car and Driver says the individuals behind the corporate have a formidable resume. The founders have labored within the EV house for many years and have held senior positions at Lucid and BYD. The workforce additionally options individuals who have labored at Tesla, Components E, Lotus, Aston Martin, and Ariel. The corporate itself is situated within the Midlands space of Britain the place many Components One and Components E groups have their headquarters. In response to High Gearmost of the mechanical items such because the batteries, motors, and brakes shall be sourced from different corporations and can work collectively through a bespoke software program system.

The emphasis on light-weight is not any joke. The corporate says each fashions shall be constructed on a bespoke aluminum chassis and have a glossy design created from composite panels. Each are two-seaters with a single 321 horsepower (240 kW) electrical motor driving the rear wheels, though twin motor variants could also be provided sooner or later. The Speedster will weigh simply 1973 kilos, scoot from zero to 100 km/h in simply 3.5 seconds, and have a spread of 275 miles WLTP. Solely 150 shall be manufactured, and they’ll promote for round $110,000 (£85,760). The Roadster weighs 2194 kilos and takes one tenth of a second longer to achieve 100 km/h. The beginning value shall be considerably extra pockets pleasant at $84,000 (£65,000). No vary has been quoted for the Roadster, which won’t be restricted in manufacturing.

The corporate says it’s now accepting reservations for each the Speedster and Roadster, that are designed and engineered within the UK the place they will even be assembled by hand. It expects to have prototypes operating this summer time, with manufacturing beginning in 2026. It additionally claims to have “good relationships with all the major Chinese semi-state-owned businesses and suppliers.”

The Takeaway

Is there a message that may be drawn from these two tales? We predict there may be. Companies run by adults are beginning to ignore the US market. Simply as water merely flows round rocks in a river mattress, corporations are reacting to the chaos created by the idiotic insurance policies of the federal government by merely wanting elsewhere. Quickly the US will exist in splendid isolation, due to the antics of a drug-addled lunatic and the ravings of a man-child who behaves like a two-year-old with a full diaper. Between the 2 of them, they’re making America irrelevant — a sorry epitaph for a as soon as nice nation.