2020 Toyota Mirai FCV based on Crown/RWD platform

[spwolf]

2020 Toyota Mirai FCV based on Crown/RWD platform

- As I have been harping about for quite a while, Tesla has proven that only real market and desirability for alternative vehicles is in luxury area. Prius Prime, Bolt, Volt, Leaf have huge incentives that make them sell poor numbers for the $$$ they sell at. Prius Prime sells "great" at average of 2k per month, but in reality it has big discounts that with government subsidies it is actually cheaper than regular Prius.

So, only way to sell EVs without huge incentives is to make them desirable as luxury, sporty, ie vehicles that you want to own and not something that you have settled into because you dont have money.

Hence, next generation Mirai is using Toyota/Lexus RWD platform, will be based on new Crown and have very sporty/luxury kind of like Panamera looks.

This is good for us, because if they realize this now, they will also make their EV's similar to this.

Also, it is worth noting that there is a theory that reduction of production cost reduces it to "half of current model" (circumstance). Naturally, it will have a positive effect on vehicle prices.

　Moreover, it is a point that I want to pay attention not only to the system talk but to be redesigned to a sporty design like 4 door coupe. Personal feeling will be greatly improved and popularity of young people will be obtained as well. Three windows on the side The six lights are the same as the next crown.

　Body size is 4900 × full width 1820 × total height 1500 mm, wheel base around 2800 mm, lower than the current model.

　Appearance is around the summer of 2020, it is likely to be launched just before the Tokyo Olympic Games, which opens on July 24th of that year.

https://bestcarweb.jp/news/newcar/2653

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Interesting. That's basically a Panamera with the Camry's front end. And a little hint of SC300 in the way the front of the hood curves around.

 

[ssun30]

Making their first mass market FCV a luxury one is surely the right way to go. However I don't understand the move to use GA-L instead of GA-K. It's not like these power electronics and gas pumps need all that space, and they just can't put the cell stack and tank in front. Also since the tanks take so much space behind the rear seats, where are they going to put the drive motor and regen battery? Will it be based on GA-L but FWD? What about AWD? Are they going to find space to fit a rear drive motor?

I have always assumed the next Mirai to be based on the Avalon/ES. This news is completely opposite to what I assumed makes sense.

 

[spwolf]

Making their first mass market FCV a luxury one is surely the right way to go. However I don't understand the move to use GA-L instead of GA-K. It's not like these power electronics and gas pumps need all that space, and they just can't put the cell stack and tank in front. Also since the tanks take so much space behind the rear seats, where are they going to put the drive motor and regen battery? Will it be based on GA-L but FWD? What about AWD? Are they going to find space to fit a rear drive motor?

They want it to be luxurious sedan, they have to price it high due to the powertrain in any case. It is a smart move and only possible one.

 

[Gecko]

This should become the next GS.

Putting it on GA-L also makes it easier to scale to IS and LS, even LF-1 if they want, and as spwolf notes, that is the better business case.

 

[ssun30]

They want it to be luxurious sedan, they have to price it high due to the powertrain in any case. It is a smart move and only possible one.

A GA-L BEV will surely work, but a FCV? There will be a lot of packaging challenges.

Well if TMC engineers think there is plenty of room in the rear who am I to question their decision?

 

[spwolf]

A GA-L BEV will surely work, but a FCV? There will be a lot of packaging challenges.

Well if TMC engineers think there is plenty of room in the rear who am I to question their decision?

presumably they are making whole package smaller, again, and 2x cheaper (powertrain). Fuel tanks should be between the seats and under rear seat according to the article. I assume that since TNGA is all new platform, that they already made it compatible with everything they will do in next 12 years at least.

 

[spwolf]

This should become the next GS.

Putting it on GA-L also makes it easier to scale to IS and LS, even LF-1 if they want, and as spwolf notes, that is the better business case.

it might also show what could next GS be like... it makes sense, a lot of sense.

 

[Gecko]

I was thinking about this render today... and this rumor. Best Car doesn't really prove us wrong very often.

 

[spwolf]

I was thinking about this render today... and this rumor. Best Car doesn't really prove us wrong very often.

except for the looks, they were spot on... and also quite luxurious as I predicted, it is only way these sell.

 

[Gecko]

except for the looks, they were spot on... and also quite luxurious as I predicted, it is only way these sell.

I think the looks are very close... 90% there. Front end is slightly different, but the greenhouse, roofline and rear and very close to production.

 

[mikeavelli]

The production car is magnificent. Based off the LS. I'm in love with it. Shame its not the new GS....