The big star of the Olympic Games is a small electric car

These small cars on the lawn of the Stade de France may have surprised you. A great product placement by Toyota.

No, the Toyota bZ4X did not join the Japanese athletics team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Even though motorsport has been an Olympic discipline , that time has long passed. This has not prevented certain models from making a notable entrance on the lawn of the Stade de France. They are miniature models designed to support the athletes and officials.

The bZ4X is Toyota’s first 100% electric model. With a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, this coupe SUV boasts a WLTP range of 500 km in rear-wheel drive and 460 km in all-wheel drive. The models used during the athletics events are also electric, but the comparison ends there as they are radio-controlled cars at 1/8th the size of the originals.

Radio-controlled cars have long been present in stadiums. Their small size and speed are perfectly suited for tasks like transporting various sports equipment. They are notably used in Rugby to bring the tee to the kickers during penalty or conversion attempts. The Parisian team Stade Français has made it the 16th player on the field at the Stade Jean Bouin, the crowd favorite who eagerly awaits each of its appearances.

During these Olympic Games, the small Toyotas are used to retrieve discs, hammers, and javelins thrown over 80 meters by the athletes. This saves time and additionally prevents officials from being in danger by limiting their time spent on or near the throwing areas. Admit it, this deserves a limited edition, doesn’t it?

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