I almost bought a Toyota RAV4 late last year. It's one of the most versatile, efficient, and asthetically pleasing crossover SUVs on the market. But with Nissan putting pen to paper on their agreement with Tesla to co-build the new all-electric RAV4, I'm glad I waited to purchase one.
According to the companies, two prototypes already exist, and the car could be ready for mass production as soon as 2012 – tying Tesla's all-electric sedan, the Model S, to market. The new RAV4 will be distributed and sold by Toyota, but Tesla will be providing the secret sauce: its electric powertrain, including the battery pack.
In addition to the tandem-produced car, the formal deal between the two companies includes the joint development of automotive components, manufacturing processes and engineering systems. Most of this will be played out at the 379-acre former-NUMMI automotive plant in Fremont, Calif., which Tesla bought for $42 million at the same time it announced its partnership with Toyota.
Despite earlier reports, the RAV4 will alone receive the honors of development. It was originally thought, however, that Tesla would develop both electric RAV4 and Lexus RX prototypes. Teslaoyta (or Toyesla, if you prefer) plan to develpo a fleet of the cars within the next year for testing purposes.
Tesla and Toyota expect for the electric RAV4 to have a range of at least 150 miles on a single charge and to cost around $40,000. That will put the price closer to Tesla's upcoming Model S and around $10,000 more expensive than the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf.
Holding the sole spot as the only all-electric SUV on the market may be enough to negate the higher price tag, however. It's a safe bet to say that the budget EV shopper will lean heavily towards the Nissan Leaf, but the Chevy Volt may give the electric RAV4 the best run for its money.
Which are you more excited to see, the Volt or the all-electric RAV4?
[Photo: robad0b on Flickr]
Bruce Miller
said on September 12, 2010