Toyota, last month, released a glimpse of feature details for its second-generation Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, scheduled to go on sale this December.
The long awaited second-gen Mirai was first previewed at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it’s much sexier and sleeker than the original. The new Mirai’s platform, borrowed from Lexus, is also more rigid than the one it replaces, with drive also expected to switch from the front wheels to the rear, a change that should result in sportier handling.
Toyota says that the Mirai will be offered in two trim levels: XLE and Limited. The XLE, pictured in Supersonic Red and the Limited in Hydro Blue.
The Mirai XLE versions has heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and power-folding side mirrors with puddle lamps. Limited models get an exclusive Hydro Blue color, with other choices in the rest of the lineup now including white, black, red, and Heavy Metal (assuming gray) hues. The Limited adds a panoramic moonroof with power sliding sunshade, a rear-window sunshade, and black or white perforated faux-leather seats with accent stitching. Bigger 20-inch wheels are an option only on the Limited, over the 19-inch wheels on other models.
The current Mirai is only sold in California and Hawaii — the only states with a halfway decent hydrogen fueling network. The company has however announced that it will support the installation of 7 new hydrogen fueling stations for Southern California with partner Iwatani.
The new Mirai is significantly larger than the old one, being longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor. Its larger hydrogen fuel cell promises around 30 percent more range, meaning it should go around 400 miles on a tank, and its electric motor now powers the rear wheels rather than the fronts.
There’s no word yet on the pricing for the new Mirai but we assume it will be more expensive than the current car, which starts at $59,545.
