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Toyota is taking the Corolla electric

446 points · 838 comments · cisc

  1. freetime2 · · focus · HN ↗
    Cars that are designed from the ground up to be EVs tend to be much better than trying to shoehorn an EV into an ICE design.

    The new Lexus ES350e, which comes in both hybrid and EV flavors, has been pretty universally panned as a mediocre EV [1]. Lexus anticipates that the vast majority of ES sales will be for the hybrid model, and I expect the same will be true of the Corolla.

    The updated bZ and new bZ Woodland on the other hand, which are built as ground-up EVs on the e-TNGA platform, actually seem pretty decent. And I'm hopeful for the upcoming EV Highlander, too (although that will use a modified version of the TNGA-K platform).

    I would prefer if Toyota just released a new EV model with roughly the same proportions as the Corolla, instead of going with the one-size-fits-all approach. But maybe they'll finally be able to get it right this time.

    [1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=QQ97R1nhq4M" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=QQ97R1nhq4M

    1. artisinal · · focus · HN ↗
      The upside of using a platform for EV and hybrid engines is that it typically looks a lot better aesthetically than an EV only platform.

      Just look at the Mercedes S class versus the EQS. The EQS was ground up designed as an EV and because of the design decisions made in that process is the ugliest Mercedes designed ever.

      Same with the Audi A6 which was always a masterclass in design and now is a generic blob of a car with the new EV only model.

      1. xedrac · · focus · HN ↗
        The aesthetic has nothing to do with it being an EV. They just designed it to be ugly.
        1. wallst07 · · focus · HN ↗
          EV designed cars may operate better but IMO they all look way worse. Except Porsche.

          The new Rang Rover electric is indistinguishable from the ICE version.

          Lucid Air &#x2F; Rivian are decent looking but they make no ICE equivalent.

          1. englishspot · · focus · HN ↗
            I absolutely abhor the spaceship design of all modern EVs (and even some ICE vehicles). both exterior and interior.

            especially with how screen-centric they typically are.

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