In contrast to other automakers that are transforming into all-electric brands within the next few years, Toyota still doesn't offer a single battery-electric car outside of China. Toyota's CEO has also been cynical about electric cars, fearing they will require huge investments and may not be as environmentally friendly as we think. In the US, Toyota's closest equivalent to an EV is the hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Mirai, which recently underwent a complete redesign.

The Japanese automaker has also focused on expanding its plug-in hybrid lineup with new models such as the RAV4 Prime. Toyota's reluctance to join the EV bandwagon will finally end soon as the automaker recently confirmed two fully electric cars will join its US model lineup this year.

Next week, Toyota will also preview its future electric family in the form of a new concept car called the X Prologue. Details are scarce, as the only information we have to go on is a teaser image showing a close-up of the concept's front-end as "a small preview of what's next." At the front, the closed-off grille suggests the X Prologue has a fully electric powertrain, but no technical details were announced. The teaser image also shows the concept's C-shaped LED headlights joined by a central light bar.

Toyota hasn't announced which body style the concept will have, but it will most likely preview Toyota's first electric SUV that was teased last year.

Based on the bespoke e-TNGA electric platform co-developed by Subaru, Toyota's new EV will be a midsized SUV that will take on the Tesla Model Y. Based on leaked patent images, the styling is expected to be inspired by Subaru's electric design study shown last year. Toyota's e-TNGA platform can also support front-, rear- or four-wheel drive layouts as well as different battery sizes and electric motor setups. It could even be able to host Toyota's forthcoming solid-state batteries.

It isn't clear if the X Prologue will enter production, but we'll find out more when the covers come off the concept next week on March 17.