Toyota has launched the all-new Mirai in an extended demonstration program that will see 20 examples leased by pioneering organisations and businesses.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said Toyota was a firm believer that hydrogen fuel cell technology could play a central role in reducing emissions and it was committed to helping drive towards a cleaner society.
“When we launched the Prius hybrid 20 years ago, we started a drive towards helping reduce emissions from our vehicles through a process of electrification,” Mr Hanley said.
“Today, we offer hybrid powertrains in seven vehicle lines and we have sold more than 200,000 Toyota hybrids over the past two decades.
“With the introduction of the zero-emission Mirai FCEV and its use by pioneering organisations, Toyota is continuing that journey as we aim to achieve zero emissions from our vehicles by 2050 under the global Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050,” he said.
The new Mirai is being offered on a 36 month/60,000km lease contract costing $1,750 per month for three years, which includes fuel.
The launch of the new Mirai follows a small-scale trial program that was initiated in 2018 with ten examples of the first generation Mirai. Those trials were conducted in collaboration with local Melbourne councils and utility companies with the cars refuelled from a mobile hydrogen refueller.
The first trial partner was Hobson’s Bay City Council in Melbourne’s west, which used the three vehicles for council staff to carry out their work in the community with other organisations to trial the Mirai including energy companies AusNet Services and Mondo and Moreland City Council in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
With the new generation Mirai launched in Japan late last year and the development of Victoria’s first permanent hydrogen production and refuelling facility at the Centre of Excellence in Altona, Toyota Australia has moved ahead with a larger demonstration program importing 20 examples of the new car.
The new Mirai is a sleek and stylish, five-seat, rear-drive four-door sedan that uses an advanced hydrogen fuel cell powertrain that generates zero carbon emissions.
Its coupe-like aesthetic is both stylish and functional with the long low front end, tapered roofline and short rear end helping to contribute to a low drag co-efficient of 0.29cd.
At the heart of the car is an advanced fuel cell powertrain that comprises a 128kW 330-cell fuel cell stack, three compressed hydrogen tanks, a lithium-ion battery and integrated electric motor and rear transaxle.
Mounted under the bonnet, the 128kW fuel cell stack draws in air that is purified and fed into the fuel stack where the oxygen combines with hydrogen in a chemical reaction to produce electrical energy, with water vapour as the only emission.
The hydrogen is stored in three carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tanks that have a combined capacity of 5.6kg giving the Mirai a range of approximately 650km.
Electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack is fed to either the battery, that is mounted behind the rear seat, or directly to the electric rear-drive motor, depending on requirements.
The electric motor is housed in a rear transaxle that combines the motor, transmission and differential in a lightweight, compact, integrated unit. Maximum power output is 134kW with a peak torque of 300Nm.
Clever packaging of the driveline components has ensured that the car now seats 5 and is slightly longer, wider and taller than the current generation Camry. Inside, the stylish contemporary design denotes the new Mirai as a premium sporty sedan with a broad sweeping soft-touch synthetic leather dash with all controls, instruments and switchgear located for easy ergonomics and visual clarity.
An 8-inch digital instrument cluster incorporating a 4.2-inch multi information display (MID) offers all essential speed, fuel and vehicle operation information with easy access to a variety of functions via the steering wheel-mounted controls.
Sitting atop the centre console is a large 12.3-inch touchscreen display that, in addition to the switchgear on the steering wheel, provides control of the latest generation multimedia system that incorporates satellite navigation, Bluetooth® connectivity and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. A premium 14-speaker JBL® audio system delivers outstanding sound reproduction.
As a premium sedan, the new Mirai is very well equipped for comfort and convenience with dual zone climate control, keyless smart entry and start, refined synthetic leather upholstery and trim, and power adjustable front seats.
Complementing its sports styling is an equally dynamic driving experience with multilink front and rear suspension, electrically assisted steering and ventilated front and rear disc brakes providing an optimum balance of handling, stability and ride comfort.
Safety has also been a priority with the Mirai featuring the latest generation Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance technologies including pre-collision system with day/night pedestrian and day cyclist detection, emergency steering assist, lane trace assist, lane departure alert, intersection turn assist, road sign assist (certain road signs), auto high beam and adaptive cruise control.
In addition to this, the new Mirai is also fitted with blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, parking support brake, seven airbags and a panoramic view monitor to ensure excellent all round vision when parking.
