Toyota’s small crossover just got a huge upgrade. The new Aygo X is the first full hybrid in its segment, and according to Toyota, it’s the cleanest of any non-plug-in car on the market. It’s also getting the GR Sport treatment for the first time. Here’s our first look.
Meet the new Toyota Aygo X Hybrid
Another popular Toyota model is getting electrified. The Aygo is Toyota’s smallest vehicle sold outside of Korea, and for the first time, it will be available as a hybrid.
Toyota unveiled the new Aygo X Hybrid on Monday, boasting it has “the lowest CO2 emissions of any non-plug-in car on the market.”
The Aygo X arrives as Toyota’s smallest full hybrid. Based on its new GA-B platform alongside other improvements, the new model is more powerful, efficient, and fun to dive than ever. Like the new Yaris and Yaris Cross, the mini crossover will feature a new hybrid powertrain, replacing the 1.0L gas engine from the outgoing model.
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For the first time in a hybrid vehicle, Toyota is using two stacks of battery cells, fitted beneath the rear seats. The setup opens up more interior space.
Toyota Aygo X Hybrid (Source: Toyota)
Toyota claims that the improvements deliver “class-leading CO2 emissions of 86 g/km,” based on the latest WLTP data.
The hybrid model packs 116 DIN hp, 44 hp more than the outgoing version, which is good for a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) acceleration time of under 10 seconds.
Toyota Aygo X Hybrid (Source: Toyota)
The cleanest non-plug-in car?
With new noise-damping components, dash silencers, and an updated exhaust system, the new Aygo X is quieter and smoother to drive (or ride in).
Toyota gave the mini crossover a new look inside and out. A new hood, headlamps, and front grille design give it a more sporty, modern look, closer to its other updated models, such as the Crown.
Toyota Aygo X Hybrid interior (Source: Toyota)
If you’re looking for an even more sporty, fun-to-drive model, the hybrid is getting the GR Sport treatment. For the first time, the Aygo X will be available with a GR Sport variant. The new model draws inspiration from Toyota’s world championship-winning Gazoo Racing team, featuring an exclusive Mustard color scheme and a black hood design.
Other upgrades include a new “G-pattern” front grille and GR Sport alloy wheels. Inside, you’ll find GR badging and logos with a black and grey accent.
The shock absorbers and coil springs are fine-tuned for better handling and control. According to Toyota, the improvements are “specifically engineered for an exciting driving experience with no impact for ride comfort” on city streets.
Not only does the new model feature a more efficient powertrain, but Toyota has also cut emissions from every stage of vehicle use, including production and distribution.
Toyota estimates that the improvements reduce lifetime carbon emissions by 18% compared to the outgoing gasoline model. The “ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain” is the main factor, but new materials and other processes help reduce emissions.
The new Toyota Aygo X Hybrid is set to go on sale in Europe at the end of 2025. More details, including prices and final specs, will be revealed closer to launch. Check back soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota’s new Aygo X Hybrid may have “the lowest CO2 emissions of any non-plug-in car on the market,” but will it be enough?
Several fully electric ultra-compact vehicles are hitting the market that produce even fewer emissions, and are often cheaper to produce.
For example, BYD launched the Dolphin Surf last month, the European version of its top-selling EV, the Seagull, which is sold in China for under $10,000. Next year, BYD plans to launch its first kei car, or mini EV, in Japan, which could pose a huge threat to Japanese brands.
In fact, there’s already one mini EV, the “mibot” from startup KG Motors, that has sold out in Japan. The startup is already on pace to sell more electric cars in Japan than Toyota.
Toyota is launching a slate of new EVs in Europe already with the new bZ4X, C-HR+, and Urban Cruiser, but the company is standing by its commitment to all powertrains. Will it ultimately prove costly as BYD and other EV leaders continue to gain traction? We will find out shortly.
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While much of the Western world is still figuring out how to get more people on electric bikes, China just flipped a switch, and the results are staggering. Thanks to a generous nationwide trade-in program rolled out around six months ago, China has seen an explosive surge in electric bicycle sales, with over 8.47 million new e-bikes hitting the road in the first half of 2025 alone.
The program, which offers subsidies to riders who trade in their old, often outdated electric bikes for newer, safer, and more efficient models, has sparked a new e-bike sale boom in a country already dominated by e-bike travel. In major provinces like Jiangsu, Hebei, and Zhejiang, over one million new e-bikes were sold in each region in just six months. That’s a tidal wave of e-bike sales.
The incentives vary depending on location and the model being traded in, but for many consumers, the subsidies cover a substantial portion of a new e-bike’s price – enough to turn a “maybe next year” purchase into a “right now” upgrade. And these aren’t just budget bikes either. The program has driven demand for higher-quality models with better batteries, safer braking systems, and more reliable electronics, accelerating both adoption and innovation across the industry.
The move has proven successful in replacing the millions of older models with lower-quality lithium-ion batteries that had posed safety risks around the country. Instead, China has pushed for higher-quality lithium-ion batteries, a return to a newer generation of higher-performance AGM batteries, and even interesting new sodium-ion battery options.
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Most e-bikes in China look more like what we’d consider seated scooters
According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, more than 8.4 million consumers have participated in the e-bike trade-in program so far, contributing to a sales increase of 643.5% year-over-year and more than doubling sales month-over-month. Meanwhile, production of new electric bicycles rose by nearly 28%, as manufacturers scrambled to meet demand. The sales boosts have already been seen in the financial reports of major industry players like NIU.
And it’s not just the big players benefiting – over 82,000 small independent e-bike dealers reported average sales increases of ¥302,000 (around US $42,000), giving a serious boost to local economies.
What’s particularly striking here is how fast this happened. The program was officially launched late last year as part of a broader effort to stimulate domestic consumption and phase out outdated vehicles and appliances. But while most analysts expected gradual growth, the e-bike sector responded much more quickly. In less than a year, the trade-in subsidies have reshaped the electric bicycle market, creating a consumer-driven boom that shows no signs of slowing.
For those of us watching from outside China, it’s hard not to wonder what might happen if other countries tried something similar. While most families in Chinese cities already own an electric bike and thus see this as an opportunity to trade it in for a newer model, Western countries like the US are still figuring out how to stimulate commuters into buying their first e-bike.
It’s too soon to know exactly how long the boom will last or whether the momentum will carry into 2026 and beyond. We’ve seen bicycle industry bubbles grow and burst before. But one thing’s clear: with the right incentives, even modest ones, it’s possible to ignite real, large-scale change. China just proved it with nearly 8.5 million new e-bikes to show for it.
And if you’re wondering what it looks like when a country takes electric micromobility seriously, this is it.
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Today was the official start of racing at the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025! There was a tremendous energy (and heat) on the ground at NCM Motorsports Park as nearly a dozen teams took to the track. Currently, as of writing, Stanford is ranked #1 in the SOV (Single-Occupant Vehicle) class with 68 registered laps. However, the fastest lap so far belongs to UC Berkeley, which clocked a 4:45 on the 3.15-mile track. That’s an average speed of just under 40 mph on nothing but solar energy. Not bad!
In the MOV (Multi-Occupant Vehicle) class, Polytechnique Montréal is narrowly ahead of Appalachian State by just 4 laps. At last year’s formula sun race, Polytechnique Montréal took first place overall in this class, and the team hopes to repeat that success. It’s still too early for prediction though, and anything can happen between now and the final day of racing on Saturday.
Congrats to the teams that made it on track today. We look forward to seeing even more out there tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some shots from today via the event’s wonderful photographer Cora Kennedy.
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The numbers are in and they are all bad for Tesla fans – the company sold just 5,000 Cybertruck models in Q4 of 2025, and built some 30% more “other” vehicles than it delivered. It just gets worse and worse, on today’s tension-building episode of Quick Charge!
We’ve also got day 1 coverage of the 2025 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix, reports that the Tesla Optimus program is in chaos after its chief engineer jumps ship, and a look ahead at the fresh new Hyundai IONIQ 2 set to bow early next year, thanks to some battery specs from the Kia EV2.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
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