2022 Mirai guarantees safe and convenient driving with Toyota Teammate

MANILA: The second generation of the Toyota Mirai, a rear-wheel drive luxury fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with distinctive coupe-like styling, takes another step toward the future of driving with available Toyota Teammate advanced driver assistance technology.

The Toyota Teammate concept is based on the idea that people and vehicles can collaborate to achieve safe, convenient, and efficient mobility. The Toyota Teammate has two functions: Advanced Drive and Advanced Park. Advanced Park will come standard on Mirai Limited, while Advanced Drive will be available as a paid upgrade.

The Advanced Drive function is developed to assist drivers by precisely monitoring driving conditions to plan and execute acceleration, braking, and steering commands under the driver's active supervision. It can also keep the vehicle in its lane, follow other vehicles, change lanes, get around specific interchanges and traffic bottlenecks, and overtake slower vehicles.

The Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) recognizes Advanced Drive as a Level 2 system, meaning that the driver remains to execute some of the dynamic driving tasks while the feature is active. Under certain conditions, this technology enables hands-free driving on limited-access highways while maintaining eyes-on-the-road operation. This function can help the driver by minimizing weariness while driving for extended periods of time, allowing the driver to pay more attention to the surroundings and thus increase safety.

When activated and supervised by the driver, Advanced Park controls steering, acceleration, braking, and gear changes when parallel parking or backing into a parking space, allowing the driver to park hands-free. Using 360-degree sensing, which merges the functions of complete-circumference cameras and ultrasonic sensors, the system also gives a bird's-eye view display to allow the driver to monitor the vehicle's position relative to any obstructions during Advanced Park operation.

The first-generation Mirai (2016-2020) was the first FCEV to be marketed to the public in North America. The second-generation Mirai is a total redesign of the first, with a striking look, more immersive driving performance, a zero-emission range of 402 EPA-estimated miles, and technology that takes the future of mobility into the present.

As an FCEV, the Mirai produces its own electricity onboard by mixing hydrogen with oxygen from the outside air, with the only byproduct being water. When the accelerator pedal is pushed, electric power from the fuel cell and/or battery is immediately transferred to the rear-mounted AC synchronous electric motor, which drives the rear wheels. While the vehicle is being driven, the fuel cell system mixes accumulated hydrogen with oxygen from the air, resulting in an electric current and water that is emitted through a vent pipe beneath the car.

A lithium-ion battery stores the electricity produced by the Mirai's fuel cell and regenerative braking system. There's no need to charge a large battery, which, even with quick charging, might take several hours in an EV. Instead, the FCEV driver just fills the tank with hydrogen, just like what millions of gas vehicle drivers do every day.

The starting MSRP for the 2022 Mirai XLE grade is US$49,500. Customers may avail an Advanced Technology Package that includes a Bird's Eye View camera, Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking, and front seat foot illumination for an additional US$1,410.

The MSRP for the Mirai Limited grade starts at $66,000. The Toyota Teammate Package can be added for $5,170. It includes Advanced Drive with 10-year subscription (with extensions of the Safety Connect, Dynamic Navigation, and Destination Assist trials), a 2-year extension of the Remote Connect trial, a 12.3-inch color TFT LCD gauge cluster, a 120V/100W power outlet, and dual-bulb LED headlights.

Special colors, such as Oxygen White, Heavy Metal, Supersonic Red, Hydro Blue, are available for US$425. 20-inch Super Chrome Alloy wheels are available for US$1,120.

Every purchase of 2022 Mirai comes with up to $15,000 worth of complementary hydrogen.

Photos from Toyota

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