NEW SPARK
Major car brand discontinues diesel motor & replaces it with EV-only model… and unveils new electric people carrier
It's all-change for Toyota's Proace offerings
A MAJOR car brand has discontinued a diesel motor and will replace it with an EV-only version.
Toyota has stopping production of its diesel Proace Verso to go electric-only - and the new Proace City Verso is poised to hit the streets.
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A Toyota spokesperson said: "With these latest introductions, the Proace family offers battery electric versions across the board – medium-duty and compact vans and people carriers.
"Proace Verso becomes an all-electric range with the ending of sales of diesel-powered models, while Proace City Verso is making its debut in the UK line-up."
The new electric Proace Verso comes in a nine-seat Shuttle form and there is a choice of body length, either medium, 4,959mm, or long, 5,309mm.
It’s equipped with a 136PS electric motor and a 50kWh battery and has a range of up to 143 miles.
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The battery is capable of being recharged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes, if using a rapid DC power supply.
An infotainment system with sat-nav and a seven-inch touchscreen, driver’s seat height adjustment and lumbar support and dark-tinted rear windows are all standard features.
Curtain airbags and a multi-function roof which includes controls for rear cabin air conditioning are fitted in the cabin.
Smartphone integration can be enabled by both Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
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The Proace Verso EV comes with an on-the-road price tag of £42,998 for the medium length version while the long-body model costs £43,488.
Meanwhile, the Proace City Verso EV is a five-seater fitted with the same all-electric engine as its larger sister model.
The 50kWh battery, like the bigger version, is fitted under the floor to ensure cabin space isn’t reduced.
Buyers get the choice of four versions to pick from - the entry level Shuttle model or the Family grade, with either medium, 4,403mm, or long, 4,753mm, body lengths.
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The Shuttle is equipped with an 11kW onboard charger, air conditioning, rear privacy glass, Bluetooth and four airbags.
While the Family has a larger, 10-inch multi-information display, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a pre-collision system, automatic air conditioning and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The Shuttle’s on-the-road price is £34,113 while the Family comes in at £37,701, for both the medium and long body lengths.
Orders for the Proace City Verso can be taken now with deliveries expected from March.
Other Proace models with diesel options - for example the Proace Active - are still available.
Meanwhile, a motoring expert has revealed the best used EVs you can buy for as little as £5,000.
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