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Twin SUV and sports car concepts share components, and give an insight into Toyota’s expanded EV pipeline
Toyota is widely expected to announce a widening of its EV product pipeline at this year’s 2023 Tokyo Motor Show – and the Japanese brand will reveal two new battery-electric concepts on the show floor next week.
Dubbed the FT-3e and FT-Se, the two concept EVs “share major components”, the brand says, but they are very different in form.
Both vehicles provide a look into designs that Toyota is considering as the brand prepares to accelerate the rollout of a next-generation battery EV platform due for release by 2026.
Four teaser images released this evening by Toyota show that the FT-3e is an aerodynamically-styled coupe-SUV, while the FT-Se appears to be similar to the Toyota Sports EV concept of 2021.
The FT-3e appears to be a small or midsize SUV, and it provides the first clear insight into a model that could replace the beleaguered Toyota BZ4X, which has been criticised for its short real-world driving range. The BZ4X is still planned for an Australian launch in 2024.
Meanwhile, the FT-Se electric sports car wears Gazoo Racing (GR) badging. Its exterior form evokes Toyota’s mid-engined coupes of days gone by, while an interior shot provides a view of at least three displays and an alcantara-clad cabin.
Last month, Toyota provided details of the battery strategy that will underpin these models, with 800km lithium-ion and cheaper 600km LFP packs expected to be ready for the new platform to ship in 2026.
Toyota says it will launch a high-performance battery in 2027 or 2028 promising 1000km of total driving range likely underpinned by an 800-volt architecture.
Lexus is understood to be leading the development of the EV platform while the expansion into new battery technology – with an ultimate goal of a production solid-state battery in 2027 or 2028 – being a Toyota-wide task.
For its part, Lexus is expected to show a new EV sedan concept at next week’s Tokyo mobility show. It is also understood to be preparing a halo electric supercar.
Both concept cars will “grow with the driver through software updates,” Toyota said.
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