Introduction
Author: Song Shuanghui
The most enjoyable thing about Singles’ Day (November 11th) is the feeling of non-stop package delivery every day. They say that the moment of unboxing new products can give people a surge of dopamine happiness, and this time I want to introduce a hardcore big-ticket item for you – the pure electric new car bZ4X from First Automobile Works (FAW) Toyota, which was launched last month.
Today, with soaring oil prices, choosing pure electric car models has become the preferred choice for more and more households to purchase new cars. The domestic electric vehicle market is also very competitive, with new products constantly emerging. Car manufacturers are fighting to pile up hardware and software, but the basic demands of safety and reliability that users have when choosing a car have been neglected.
However, with the appearance of bZ4X, we can see how “big manufacturers” like FAW Toyota, who reject impulsiveness in car manufacturing, are able to create a high-quality pure electric SUV with advanced and reliable features.
Unique Style
Choosing a car depends on its “look” too. To be honest, the current pure electric new car models on the market are becoming more and more similar, with many of them carrying the same “electric face” and lacking any unique features. However, the bZ4X from FAW Toyota has a unique style that can win people’s hearts at first sight. It has both exquisite design sense and a strong SUV atmosphere.
The hammerhead shark front face design of the bZ4X from FAW Toyota is as three-dimensional as a sculpture, with clear edges and corners, which is very recognizable. The straight lines on the side of the car extend all the way to the D-pillar area and gradually slope downwards, ensuring the passenger space inside the car, while the small spoiler behind the roof adds dynamic elements.
The sharp lights at the rear of the car form a light sabre-like appearance that echoes the appearance of the front of the car. In addition, the entire car is decorated with black paint on the air intake, front fenders, rear fender flares, and front and rear light strips, creating a strong sense of hierarchy with its contrasting color design.
Entering the car is like entering a different world. The overall interior style adopts minimalistic design, but it is not simple. The use of environmentally friendly fabrics with light and elegant color tones creates a warm and inclusive riding atmosphere.The most important thing is that FAW Toyota did not sacrifice practicality for the sake of creating a sense of technology. For example, the dashboard design of many new cars today is in an awkward position, requiring drivers to “peek” at the instrument information through the gap in the steering wheel, which increases safety hazards and discomfort. However, the instrument panel of the FAW Toyota bZ4X is located above and behind the steering wheel, and drivers can easily read the instrument information by lowering their line of sight by 12° while driving.
Furthermore, this car does not overly rely on the central control screen, like some pure electric models that completely abandon physical buttons. Instead, it retains basic physical buttons from the perspective of convenience and practicality, which is more in line with our daily use habits and does not require us to spend half a day flipping through the screen just to turn on the air conditioning.
In terms of intelligent performance, FAW Toyota bZ4X also considers practicality, without piling up a bunch of impractical functions for marketing gimmicks. Fundamental functions such as intelligent voice interaction, facial recognition, and digital keys are all available, and the system is responsive and runs smoothly.
Meticulous Safety Guardian
Whether in the era of traditional fuel vehicles or electric vehicles, safety has always been the user’s top concern, especially regarding the battery safety issues of electric vehicles. Many car owners are hesitant to “touch the electric” because they are scared off by frequent reports of self-ignition incidents involving electric vehicles.
Choosing a pure electric vehicle built by Toyota can help dispel these concerns to the greatest extent. This is because Toyota has 25 years of research and development experience and four generations of technology upgrades in the field of electrification, and has never experienced a single instance of leakage, combustion, or explosion accidents, truly achieving 0 accidents in the battery system.
The battery pack of the FAW Toyota bZ4X adopts a structure in which the cooling circuit is isolated from the battery unit, which can effectively avoid safety hazards such as battery self-ignition. The large-capacity battery pack uses a unique external cooling liquid structure, which can ensure the safety of the battery pack in the event of a collision, and the equipped battery temperature control system can ensure that it works in the best condition. Moreover, this car was developed with the goal of “maintaining 90% battery capacity after 10 years” from the beginning, so it comprehensively suppresses battery aging from materials, battery pack construction to control systems, and so on.Apart from battery safety, the bZ4X from FAW Toyota also makes many active safety features standard across the board. Even the entry-level model priced at 199,800 RMB comes with 8 SRS airbags and Toyota Safety Sense3.0 safety system, allowing all users to enjoy the safety travel experience that Toyota brings.
The upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 safety system not only includes conventional features such as DRCC dynamic radar cruise control, intelligent lane tracing, lane departure warning, and pre-collision safety system, but also adds three new functions, including the RSA road sign recognition assistance system that allows you to avoid violating traffic signs; the PDA predictive active driving assistance system that can monitor for potential collisions at any time and prevent “ghost heads”; and the EDSS emergency driving stop system that warns you when you are driving tired.
It can be said that FAW Toyota bZ4X leaves no detail behind in creating a safety force and guards the safety of travelers in 360 degrees without leaving any dead angles.
Powerful Off-road Capabilities
With such thoughtful safety protection, driving the FAW Toyota bZ4X allows us to enjoy the driving pleasure brought by pure electric vehicles even more, and this vehicle is not only suitable for daily city commuting, but also has the off-road capabilities to conquer the wilderness.
First of all, off-road driving imposes requirements on the endurance of pure electric vehicles. You cannot go off-road and run out of battery before leaving the city. FAW Toyota bZ4X has a minimum energy consumption of only 11.6kwh per 100 kilometers under CLTC conditions, and a maximum range of up to 615 km, giving you worry-free endurance protection.
In addition, this car is also equipped with a rare and efficient solar charging dome, which can “charge” the vehicle by absorbing solar energy, adding 1,750 km of range per year. You can charge for free by simply basking in the sun, which is environmentally friendly and saves money.In terms of power, the front-wheel drive model of FAW Toyota bZ4X has a maximum power of 150kW and a peak torque of 266N·m, while the all-wheel drive model has a maximum power of 160kW and a peak torque of 337N·m. These data may not seem outstanding, but the actual driving experience is beyond the performance indicators and is comparable to electric cars with higher power outputs.
The acceleration setting of FAW Toyota bZ4X provides linear power response as soon as you step on the pedal, unlike some electric cars that focus on low energy consumption and require deep pedal strokes for acceleration. This linear acceleration also enhances comfort by eliminating jerks and pulls, and it avoids the feeling of “carsickness” that some people experience when riding in an electric car.
In addition to the surprising power, FAW Toyota bZ4X has also put a lot of effort into handling and off-road capabilities, which are rarely discussed in the electric car market. The X-MODE all-wheel-drive off-road mode and Grip-Control intelligent crawl mode of FAW Toyota bZ4X deserve special mention.
X-MODE is a four-wheel drive off-road mode developed specifically for electric cars, which improves vehicle pass-through capability in harsh road conditions such as mud and snow. The Grip-Control can firmly grip the ground and prevent slipping even at low speeds. If you accidentally sink into a mud pit, the car can get you out on its own, all you have to do is steer. With these two features, FAW Toyota bZ4X optimizes response time and power distribution for front and rear axle output, making handling easier.
Off-road and camping are the most popular leisure activities currently. To meet the outdoor power consumption needs of camping, FAW Toyota bZ4X has thoughtfully designed a 1500W external power supply, making it easy to enjoy a cup of coffee or cook up a hotpot.
AutoLab observation:
For users, although the market is flooded with various types of electric cars, what we need most are pure electric cars that are easy to drive and safe, and FAW Toyota bZ4X has this capability.
In as early as 2005, FAW Toyota introduced the Prius as the pioneer of hybrid cars, becoming one of the earliest players in China’s mass-produced electric vehicle market. Today, FAW Toyota’s bZ4X, starting at 199,800 RMB, brings a pure electric surprise to a new generation of users and satisfies our diverse needs for pure electric travel.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.