Toyota and Lexus Unveil 24 New Models for 2026

Miami Herald

20-05-2025

Toyota has big product plans for the coming year, the automaker set to roll out two dozen new, refreshed and special models this year. But the plans could be impacted by the new Trump auto import tariffs.
All told, there are 24 new products in the pipeline for the Toyota and Lexus brands, starting with some already unveiled, like the 2026 GR Supra MkV Final Edition and GR86 Yuzu Edition. But there's a veritable tsunami of models to follow, with an emphasis on "electrified" products.
During a media briefing that drew more than 150 auto writers to Toyota headquarters in Plano, Texas, company officials rolled off a rapid-fire list of some of the offerings in the works including:
The 2026 Toyota Camry Night Shade Edition, with a Midnight Black Metallic exterior design elements, unique 19-inch wheels and gloss black badging;The 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX Special Edition. Influenced by a sporty Corolla hatch offered back in 1987, it gets a unique spoiler and larger wheels;The 2026 Corolla Cross, a mid-cycle update for both the gas and hybrid models, getting new paint colors, new wheel options, updated grilles and larger digital displays.
The Corolla Cross is part of a growing line-up of electrified products, noted David Christ, the head of the Toyota division. With the imminent demise of the Supra, that will leave just one product in the automaker's entire U.S. line-up, the GR86, without at least a hybrid or all-electric option.
As recently as 2023, conventional and plug-in hybrids, fuel-cell vehicles and EVs accounted for barely 30% of Toyota sales in the U.S. That surged to 45% last year and, Christ told Autoblog, "This year we expect it will go to more than 50%." One big reason: a tripling of EV options through the Toyota brand alone.
The original Toyota bZ4X will get a significant update for 2026. To start with, "You may notice something is missing," said Christ. Going forward, the all-electric crossover's badge goes with a simpler bZ. Design tweaks will be modest. It's the technology that matters, starting with a larger, 14-inch digital display and new twin wireless smartphone chargers.
Under the skin, there will be two battery pack choices, a 288-mile max 57.7 kWh option, and a 74.7 kWh alternative delivering an EPA-estimated 314 miles. Toyota claims you'll be able to go from a 10 to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 30 minutes with a fast-enough public DC quick charger. As for the drivetrain itself, bZ gets a more than 50% increase in power, the all-wheel-drive option making 338 horsepower which, said Toyota, will get you from 0-60 mph in just under 5 seconds.
While Toyota previously revealed images of the updated bZ, we were present at the first public showing of the 2026 bZ Woodland. More station wagon-like in design, it offers a more roomy interior, with extra cargo space, higher ground clearance, at 8.3 inches, a 3,500-pound towing capacity and a variety of other useful features for those who might want to take it out to the cabin. That includes standard SofTex seating and a Multi-Terrain Monitor.
The Woodland package comes standard with a 375-hp AWD twin-motor drivetrain and the standard bZ's larger, 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack – though range is a lower 260 miles, according to preliminary estimates. The new bZ variant adopts the North American Charging System port, making it possible to now plug into the Tesla Supercharger network. With a fast enough DC public charger it will get from a 10 to 80% state-of-charge, said Toyota, "in around 30 minutes."
The third new Toyota-branded EV coming to the US revives the C-HR badge that we last saw more than a half-decade ago. The compact coupe-crossover is the American version of what will be known as the C-HR+ in Europe. Think of it as "a car with attitude," suggested Christ. It will also be a lot more roomy than the original gas C-HR, thanks to moving its drivetrain under the load floor, with 25.4 cf of cargo space behind the rear seats.
Like the bZ Woodland, the 2026 C-HR will come with standard all-wheel-drive, two motors delivering a combined 338 hp, enough to hit 60 in about 5 seconds. Its 74.7-kWh battery pack gets an estimated 290 miles of range and, like bZ and bZ Woodland, charging times are estimated at as little as 30 minutes.
The Toyota brand didn't entirely hog the spotlight on Monday. Cynthia Tenhouse, the vice president of marketing for the Lexus brand, announced several new models for 2026.
These include a performance version of the Lexus IS. Dubbed the 2025 IS500 Ultimate Edition, it will be one of the last naturally aspirated performance luxury cars on the market. The 5.0-liter package pushes out 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. It will feature niceties like 19-inch BBS wheels and Brembo brakes. Only 500 will be available for the US market.
Two new models were shown in the flesh – er, sheet metal – on Monday, starting with the updated 2026 Lexus RZ. Like the more mainstream Toyota bZ which shares its eTNGA platform, the 2026 RZ gets a big boost in power, and the larger 74.7 kWh battery pack – which also can charge in as little as 30 minutes while yielding as much as 300 miles range, depending upon trim.
There will be three distinct variants: the RZ 350e, 450e and the new 550e F-Sport which punches out a peak 402 hp from its twin motors. The 550e will introduce a new M Mode which will simulate manual shifting using steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and, said Tenhouse, provides "simulated engine sounds" to help a driver know when to shift.
The other introduction saw the debut of a "longer but lighter," eighth-generation Lexus ES. One of the first two product lines offered by Lexus at its 1989 debut, the 2026 ES is notable for being offered in both conventional hybrid and all-electric forms, a first for any model from Toyota or Lexus.
The 2026 Lexus ES350h will be offered in both all- and front-wheel-drive pairing a 2.5-liter inline-four with the latest version of Toyota hybrid-electric drive system. There will be two all-electric versions, the front-drive 350e delivering an estimated 300 miles per charge. The 500e will sacrifice a bit of range for all-wheel-drive and better performance. Both use the 74.7 kWh battery pack and should charge in around 30 minutes.
The next-generation ES will roll into US showrooms, said Tenhouse, "during the first half of 2026."
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