🚗 “Next-Gen Beast Mode: The 2025 Toyota RAV4 Gets Smarter, Greener & Meaner

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Toyota’s legendary RAV4 is back—and it’s not just back, it’s built different. The 2025 RAV4 world premiere marks a bold leap into the future, where rugged SUV vibes meet cutting-edge tech and eco-conscious muscle.

With a redefined plug-in hybrid powertrain, smarter digital cockpit, and muscular new looks, this sixth-gen RAV4 is designed to dominate both city streets and forest trails with equal flair. Here’s everything you need to know about the all-new model that’s setting the benchmark all over again.

🔋 Dual Power, Maximum Efficiency

The new RAV4’s plug-in hybrid system now offers an impressive 62-mile (100km) all-electric range (WLTP), enough to handle most daily drives without touching a drop of petrol. It also comes with faster 11kW AC and 50kW DC charging, meaning you can juice up from 10–80% in just 30 minutes on a fast charger.

It’s not all about sipping electrons though—the AWD plug-in version cranks out a whopping 300bhp, launching from 0–62mph in just 5.8 seconds. There’s even a front-wheel-drive option with 264bhp for those seeking efficiency with agility.

🧠 Fully Digitised with Arene OS

Say hello to Toyota’s Arene software platform, debuting in the RAV4 to usher in a new age of software-defined vehicles. It powers everything from the advanced Toyota Safety Sense suite to the new digital multimedia system, offering faster, smarter functionality and over-the-air updates for future enhancements.

The digital cockpit features a new 12.9-inch home screen alongside a 12.3-inch combimeter, offering crisp visuals, real-time LEZ alerts, and 3D lane guidance—designed specifically with European roads (and drivers) in mind.

🛡️ Safety So Sharp, It Thinks Ahead

From Front Cross Traffic Alert to Lane Change Assist, the 2025 RAV4 has driver assistance dialled in. A new Rear Vehicle Approach Indicator even warns you when a speeding car is closing in from behind—making motorway driving less stressful.

Plus, the upgraded Pre-Collision System now spots cyclists and motorbikes more accurately, while a new Secondary Collision Brake adds another layer of protection in the unfortunate event of a crash.

🏁 GR Sport: Gazoo Gets Gritty

For performance junkies, the RAV4 GR Sport variant brings in motorsport flavour with 20-inch black alloys, a beefier chassis with sport-tuned dampers, and aggressive styling cues. Inside, red accents, GR logos, and suede seats scream “track-ready,” even when you’re just headed to the supermarket.

🔌 Living the EV-Hybrid Dream

With updated hybrid-only variants also on the menu, Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to electrification gives buyers the freedom to choose how they go green—without compromising on practicality or performance.

Where to Find the 2025 Toyota RAV4

Ready to explore the next evolution of the SUV that changed the game?
Check out the official launch from Toyota: Visit Toyota UK
Want the inside scoop? Hear the team break it down on the podcast: How To Kill An Hour Podcast

Lexus Levels Up: The All-New ES is Sleek, Smart, and Seriously Electrified

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The new Lexus ES has officially touched down in Europe, and it’s not just another saloon—it’s a sophisticated showcase of luxury, tech innovation, and electrified engineering. Whether you’re a hybrid devotee or ready to plug in, the eighth-generation Lexus ES is set to redefine what it means to ride in elegance.

🧠 Intelligent Inside and Out

The ES debuts with Lexus’ first fully digital driver cockpit, seamlessly blending the 14-inch LexusConnect multimedia display with the 12.3-inch instrument panel and Lexus Link+ app. This means everything from real-time charging info to cabin temperature control is at your fingertips—literally. Plus, with voice command and over-the-air updates, you’re always in sync without lifting more than a finger.

And let’s talk about those “Hidden Switches”—Lexus’ way of saying, “Why clutter when you can class it up?” These tactile controls stay concealed until needed, glowing softly like magic under the dash. It’s minimalist, it’s clever, and it’s oh-so-Lexus.

⚡ Power Meets Purpose

In its mission toward carbon neutrality, Lexus now offers the ES in both self-charging hybrid and full battery-electricflavours. Take your pick:

  • ES 300h / 350h Hybrids: Refined 2.5-litre four-cylinder powerhouses with up to 247bhp and both FWD and AWD options.

  • ES 350e / 500e EVs: Fully electric stunners pushing up to 338bhp, with up to 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds.

With a range-enhancing low-slung battery design and access to over 870,000 charging stations across Europe, range anxiety is so last season.

✨ Clean Tech x Elegance

“Clean Tech x Elegance” isn’t just a design philosophy—it’s a lifestyle. Outside, the ES’s spindle body and twin-L LED signature lights scream sophistication. Inside, it’s a cocoon of calm: reclining rear seats, ottoman-style leg support, ambient Bamboo Layering light effects, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround system deliver a first-class experience, whether you’re behind the wheel or being driven.

And yes, it’s larger than the previous ES—longer, wider, and taller—but it’s also more nimble thanks to platform updates from Lexus’ Shimoyama facility. This means it handles like a dream while giving passengers serious stretch-out space.

🛡️ Smarter, Safer, Sharper

The all-new ES goes big on safety with the latest Lexus Safety System+. Highlights include:

  • Driver Monitor System that can detect yawning or phone use 👀

  • Emergency Response System that stops the car and calls help if you’re unresponsive 🚨

  • Blind Spot Detection for cyclists and motorcycles 🏍️

  • Adaptive High-beam System with vertical and horizontal control for extra night-time precision 🌙

Where to Find the Lexus ES

Discover more about the new electrified luxury of the Lexus ES on the official Lexus UK website
Want to hear what we think about it? Check out the podcast on How To Kill An Hour

🚙 “Toyota’s Electric Adventure Wagon: Meet the All-New bZ4X Touring – Built for Families, Powered for the Wild”

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Toyota just dropped the curtain on its latest electric marvel, and it’s not your average eco-car. Say hello to the bZ4X Touring—an extended, adventure-ready sibling of the original bZ4X SUV. With more room, more power, and rugged style, this battery electric vehicle (BEV) is dialled in for sporty family lifestyles, epic road trips, and everyday chaos in between.

Family First, Features Second to None

Tailored for action-packed family life, the bZ4X Touring is 140mm longer and 20mm taller than its predecessor. That might sound subtle, but it packs a punch—specifically a 33% boost in boot space, now clocking in at 600 litres. Whether it’s bikes, backpacks, or the dog crate, there’s room for it all.

Inside, it’s smart and stylish, featuring a new centre console, a larger 14-inch multimedia screen, and fresh City Moss upholstery that channels the rugged vibes of the outdoors. Navigation is BEV-optimised too, guiding you to nearby charging points based on your range and charge level.

Power Up: More Juice, More Zoom

The bZ4X Touring comes with a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery and a targeted range of up to 348 miles (WLTP). That’s school runs, weekend hikes, and IKEA trips—all on a single charge.

Choose your power:

  • FWD model: 221bhp (165kW)

  • AWD version: A whopping 376bhp (280kW), making this the most powerful Toyota BEV to date.

And if you’re thinking of hauling a caravan or a pair of jet skis? This SUV’s got a 1,500kg towing capacity. Rugged much?

Fast Charging, Cold Weather? No Problem.

Toyota brings serious tech upgrades: a new water-cooled battery system and preconditioning function ensure optimal charging even in chillier climates. Plus, fast-charging peaks at around 150kW, and onboard charging supports either 11kW or 22kW, depending on the model grade.

Adventure Looks Good on You

With grained black wheel arches, black alloy wheels, and Touring-specific roof rails (max load: 70kg), the bZ4X Touring looks the part. The rear’s been reworked too, with LED lights and a lower bumper giving it a more outdoorsy, modern vibe. And yes, there’s a slick new Brilliant Bronze colour option too.

Built to Last, Guaranteed to Go Far

Toyota’s BEV battery game is strong. The bZ4X Touring comes with up to 10 years or 650,000 miles of battery cover, thanks to the Battery Care Program—as long as you stick to the annual battery health check. That’s peace of mind with every plug-in.

Where to Find the bZ4X Touring

Ready to take your family adventures electric?
Explore the bZ4X Touring on the official Toyota UK website
Want the inside scoop from the guys? Hear the full chat on the How To Kill An Hour podcast