Check out second-generation Mirai: Toyota’s hydrogen-powered green car

MANILA: Toyota Motor Corp will debut its second-generation Mirai later this month at the Tokyo motor show. Expect the new 2020 Mirai to have a sporty body—completely different to the original, and will run on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell that boasts of a 30 percent driving range. Toyota describes the Mirai as having a "significantly greater range, improved driving performance, and elegant, sporty design that offers increased passenger room and comfort."

The new electric car from the Japanese automaker will have a longer, wider, and lower sedan platform similar to that of Toyota's luxury Lexus brand's LS sedan and LC coupe. It also boasts of 20-inch wheels which means that the new Mirai will have a rear-wheel-drive as opposed to the prior model that has a front-wheel drivetrain.

The interior will have a modernized cabin that can comfortably seat five people. It will also include a 12.3” center-mounted display and an instrument panel that will be driver-centric in terms of its design.

Under the hood, Toyota has yet to divulge details on the car’s fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powertrain besides the fact that the new model’s hydrogen-powered engine will deliver 30 percent more range. For some perspective, the previous Mirai model could cover an estimate of 500km between refills. This means the second generation Mirai will have a range of over 600 km. Besides increased range, the new powertrain will give “a more linear, smooth response when pulling away.”

Fuel-cell vehicles are seen as the most promising green car of the future. Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Mirai's chief engineer, hopes that “this vehicle will help realize a hydrogen-energized society." However, the relatively high price tag and the lack of hydrogen stations in most countries have impeded the growth of this type of vehicle from reaching a mass market. But Toyota remains optimistic that the revamped model will help boost the global sales of hydrogen-powered vehicles. After all, Mirai is the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell car at a pace of 3,000 cars a year.

The second-generation Mirai sports sedan will be unveiled on October 24, 2019, and will be launched in Japan, North America, and Europe.

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