In an era when fuel vehicles are in full swing, off-roading is a niche driving sport. On the one hand, the threshold for playing off-road is high, the price of off-road vehicles is high, and the fuel consumption is high; on the other hand, there are higher requirements for driving technology, and the ability to get rid of difficulties in different scenarios requires corresponding tools and skills to solve. That is to say, there must be a certain degree of financial and technical support in order to cross this threshold.
With the advent of the era of electrification, how will the off-road experience change?
The bZ4X is first an SUV, followed by an electric vehicle
Faw Toyota Land Cruiser (Land Cruiser) is famous worldwide as the ceiling in the heart of off-road old guns. It can be said that off-road performance is the excellent foundation of FAW Toyota's SUV matrix. The author believes that the first BEV model based on the e-TNGA architecture, the bZ4X is first an SUV, followed by an electric vehicle. Undoubtedly, after decades of experience, FAW Toyota's chassis tuning advantage is unattainable by the new car-making forces.
The new bZ4X not only inherits FAW Toyota's chassis tuning skills, but also is known as the "Electric Small Land Cruiser". This is inseparable from the support of two core technologies, namely the X-MODE four-wheel drive system and the Grip-Control intelligent multi-road condition adaptation system, both of which are indispensable.
X-MODE four-wheel drive system, rock solid
For bZ4X, the value of the X-MODE four-wheel drive system lies in its powerful ability to get out of trouble, not in extreme power performance. In terms of technical characteristics, the X-MODE four-wheel drive system does not pursue the ultimate acceleration performance, but pursues the intelligent release of torque in specific situations to help the vehicle get out of the predicament.
Specifically, X-MODE technology is divided into two modes: "slippery road" and "road surface with easy tire subsidence" for SNOW snow roads, DIRT bumpy roads, D.SNOW deep snow roads, and MUD gravel dirt roads. To be simple and clear, the former tends to pave the road surface of the anti-slip rescue car, the latter tends to the non-paved road trap car rescue car. In this way, the driver only needs to switch modes according to the scene, eliminating complex operations and lowering the threshold of off-road driving.
More importantly, the two modes can give full play to the characteristics of the motor drive, precise control, adjust the power output, ensure the stability of the daily driving vehicle, and the power distribution of non-paved road driving, so that the vehicle passability is greatly improved. Compared with the multi-road mode of the traditional four-wheel drive system, X-MODE not only assists in driving on gravel roads and bumpy roads, but also adds SNOW MODE mode for road conditions such as snowy roads and deep snow roads.
For example, in a wet and slippery road with rain and snow, the driver can suppress skidding by turning on the "easy to slip road" mode; and when driving through a muddy road or sandy road section, the driver can turn on the "tire prone to sinking road" mode with one button, and the X-MODE four-wheel drive system can help the driver match the best power output to ensure that the tire will not be in trouble. So as to meet the needs of daily life to light off-road use.
In order to enhance the driving safety and passage ability of the vehicle, the bZ4X has specially treated the battery pack and electric drive assembly through a new safety body design. As part of the chassis, the battery pack improves the body stiffness to a certain extent, avoids the dilemma of body deformation when the traditional load-bearing SUV is off-road, and provides great help for handling, comfort and durability. This is a structural advantage that other brands of electric vehicles do not yet have.
Grip-Control intelligent multi-traffic adaptation system widens the travel radius
In order to make the X-MODE four-wheel drive system more intelligent and more user-friendly, the bZ4X is also equipped with the newly developed Grip-Control intelligent multi-road adaptation system, which is responsible for power distribution in different scenarios, making it easier to cross-country lightly. First of all, the Grip-Control intelligent multi-terrain adaptation system can improve the stability of the vehicle and make off-road easier and more fun.
Secondly, in order to prevent the tires from slipping under bad road conditions, the Grip-Control intelligent multi-road condition adaptation system can maintain the speed at 2-10km/h to ensure that the tire adhesion is effective and avoid the phenomenon of tire "scratching the ground".
This feature can not only be used when slowing down steep slopes, but also assist in driving operations on flat roads and uphill roads, thus helping drivers to focus more on controlling the direction and indulging in off-road driving pleasure.
For different situations, the target speed of the Grip-Control intelligent multi-road adaptation system can also be manually set to 5 gears, namely 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 km/h. For example, in the relatively flat non-paved road, you can choose the highest grade 10km/h forward; in the slippery slope, choose 6km/h for climbing or steep slope to slow down to avoid tire adhesion loss. When we can also let the system match the gears on its own, fully enjoy the fun of off-roading.
What's more, the Grip-Control Intelligent Multi-Terrain Adaptation System is equipped with single-pedal driving modes and settings for handling snow, mud and other forms of tricky terrain, which is tantamount to helping drivers have "best-in-class off-road handling" in an instant. For a wider range of ordinary consumers, the Grip-Control intelligent multi-terrain adaptation system reduces the user's difficulty of operation and helps users easily pass through light off-road sections. Whether it is sand, mud or snow and other complex road conditions, you can do it with one click.
Write at the end:
I always believe that the travel experience will not be made bad by the arrival of the era of electrification. At least for the majority of users, unprecedented intelligent equipment is making the travel experience tend to improve. As the beginning of the e-TNGA architecture, FAW Toyota bZ4X allows more people to enjoy the off-road performance that was once unattainable, further broadens the travel radius, and brings more surprises to Chinese users.
The blessing of the X-MODE four-wheel drive system and the Grip-Control intelligent multi-road condition adaptation system has confirmed the title of bZ4X "electric small land cruiser", giving more users off-road fun and confidence from the actual experience.