Togg T10X - this is how the Turks dream of becoming a VW rival
You probably build more cars than the Italians, the French, or the English. But only now is there finally a Turkish brand. And since its debut, the TX10 has been very successful in Turkey and is expected to arrive in Germany soon.
No, Gürcan Karakas isn't delusional: "The world doesn't need another startup for electric cars." But regardless of how many Chinese companies are flooding the market or how many well-meaning entrepreneurs in the US are starting new car brands, there's at least one influential figure behind the scenes who isn't satisfied: Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Driven by national pride and seeking a growth engine, the Turkish president has long demanded a Turkish Volkswagen - and in 2018, former Bosch manager Karakas delivered. In Bursa on the Bosphorus, he brought together industrial heavyweights from key industries, from trade to telecommunications to machinery, and founded "Türkiye'nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu," or Togg, with which his home country can finally plant its flag on the global automotive map, instead of just assembling 1.5 million cars a year for companies like Renault, Ford, or Fiat.
Just 18 months after its founding, Togg presented two prototypes, and now a factory in Gemlik on the Asian side of the Bosphorus is producing the T10X crossover, with a sedan, the T10L, to follow in 2025.
Togg T10X takes on VW ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq
At 4.60 meters long, the T10X takes on cars like the VW ID.4 or Skoda Enyaq - and fits into this environment not just in size, but also in form. After all, its design comes from former VW design chief Murat Günek, who, together with Pininfarina, created a car that, thanks to its useless but elegant grille, looks less futuristic than many Chinese newcomers, is well-proportioned, and is appealing, albeit a bit forgettable.
At least until you open the doors, get in, and take your place behind the wheel. No, not because of the spaciousness. Despite its skateboard platform's generous 2.98-meter wheelbase, the Togg isn't a giant, and its trunk space is only average, at 441 to 1,515 liters. But Togg thinks beyond the car and sees it as a smart device that can also drive.
Sure, many companies say this, and neither the wide screen spanning the entire vehicle width nor a music generator that composes individual sounds from 2,000 instrumental titles using artificial intelligence will convince many customers. And digital art has been seen before, albeit more often in luxury cars than in the mid-range.
But Togg goes much further into the virtual world than any Western manufacturer: Thanks to a relatively closed market, a unique internet niche similar to China, and many powerful partners, Togg has created a digital ecosystem with its own currency, an industry-spanning bonus system, and its own web store, where you can book flights, buy electricity, or even pay your taxes from the car.
Sure, here's the translation:
Regardless of whether it's just a gimmick or the purpose of the exercise: Even a digital device needs to drive if the wheels are not just for decoration. And since Togg has to displace many well-known brands, the Turks have not skimped on conventional technology. This applies to the drive with one or two Bosch motors, each with 218 hp and 350 Nm, which can accelerate the two-tonner to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 185 km/h. It also applies to the comfortable driving behavior with a sovereign suspension and a host of assistants that are far less nervous and thus annoying than those of the Chinese. And it especially applies to the batteries. The T10X offers 52.4 or 88.5 kWh, which can reach up to 523 km in normal driving conditions, and outperforms the old guard in charging: 22 kW at the alternating current and 180 kW at the direct current, something that VW & Co. cannot yet offer consistently.
A Bestseller in Turkey
Yes, Karakas knows that he cannot automatically secure a smooth ride with all the political support. Especially not in an electric developing country like Turkey. But at home, Togg has already proven the doubters wrong last year: In just eight hours, they sold as many electric cars as all brands combined did in the entire previous year. After 18 hours, the annual production of 20,000 cars was sold, and to ensure that this is not a flash in the pan, Togg has ordered 1,000 fast chargers with 180 kW, with which the company is building its own charging network in Turkey, similar to Tesla.
And if the CEO now dares to venture abroad and starts this adventure in Germany, he is not only relying on a successful design, electric technology on par with VW & Co., and a version of its ecosystem adapted for Europe with local players, but also on the pride of a huge Turkish community. After all, statistics show that there are over three million people with Turkish roots in Germany alone. If even a fraction of them buys a Togg, Karakas will have secured his future. After all, he can only produce around 2,000 to 3,000 cars for export this year.
Togg T10X - Technical Specifications
Four-door, five-seat SUV- Length: 4.60 meters, Width: 1.87 meters (Width with mirrors: N/A), Height: 1.68 meters, Wheelbase: 2.89 meters, Trunk volume: 441-1515 litersRWD Standard Range: Electric motor, 160 kW/218 hp, Maximum torque: 350 Nm, Battery capacity: 52.4 kWh, Rear-wheel drive, Combined range (WLTP): 314 km, AC charging: 11 kW, DC charging: 180 kW, 1-speed automatic transmission, 0-100 km/h: 7.4 s, Vmax: 185 km/h, Consumption: 19.5 kWh/100 km, CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, Price: N/AAWD Long Range: Electric motor, 160 kW/218 hp, Maximum torque: 350 Nm, Battery capacity: 88.5 kWh, Rear-wheel drive, Combined range (WLTP): 523 km, AC charging: 22 kW, DC charging: 180 kW, 1-speed automatic transmission, 0-100 km/h: 7.8 s, Vmax: 185 km/h, Consumption: 19.1 kWh/100 km, CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, Price: N/AAWD Long Range: Two electric motors, 320 kW/435 hp, Maximum torque: 700 Nm, Battery capacity: 88.5 kWh, All-wheel drive, Combined range (WLTP): 468 km, AC charging: 22 kW, DC charging: 180 kW, 1-speed automatic transmission, 0-100 km/h: 5.8 s, Vmax: 185 km/h, Consumption: 19.7 kWh/100 km, CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, Price: N/A
Togg's aspirations extend beyond the Turkish market: The company aims to compete globally, with Germany being a primary target for export.
With the success of the Togg T10X in Turkey, the company has set its sights on challenging well-established brands in the European market, such as Volkswagen and Skoda.
