Toyota BZ3X e-SUV revealed at Beijing motor show

New BZ3X EV is a five-seat SUV that is being evaluated for international markets, including Europe.

Published On Apr 26, 2024 12:00:00 PM

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Toyota BZ3X e-SUV revealed at Beijing motor show

Toyota has unveiled a new electric SUV, dubbed the bZ3X, at the Beijing motor show. A blocky five-seater developed in collaboration with Toyota’s Chinese joint venture partner, GAC, the bZ3X said to prioritise interior space and comfort. The bZ3X was unveiled at Beijing alongside the bZ3C, a fastback version of the sedan of the same name.

bZ3X gets minimalist interior and latest ADAS suite
Tech specs have yet to be revealed
Likely to use bZ3C sedan’s BYD-sourced battery

Its minimalist interior relegates most controls to a large infotainment touchscreen, in keeping with the Chinese market’s appetite for uncluttered interiors and digital functionality. Toyota claims that the bZ3X offers “the latest driver assistance systems”, although it has yet to clarify what level of assistance is offered by the car. Similarly, it has yet to detail technical specifications for the SUV.

Toyota’s other electric cars – the bZ4X and Chinese-market bZ3 sedan, which use batteries supplied by BYD – are both based on the e-TNGA platform, suggesting this is most likely the platform underpinning the bZ3X. This hasn't been confirmed, however. The SUV is expected to use the same BYD-sourced lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack as the sedan, which yields a range of around 600km.

That is thanks in part to the sedan’s low drag coefficient of 0.22Cd, a product of aerodynamically friendly cues such as flush door handles and various air channels around its exterior.

Both the bZ3C and bZ3X will go on sale in China next year, and a company spokesperson told our sister publication Autocar UK that the latter is currently undergoing a “detailed evaluation” ahead of a potential European launch.

Also see: Beijing motor show 2024 image gallery

Toyota EVs for India

Although an India launch for the Toyota bZ3X is unlikely, the Japanese brand is working on a mass market battery electric that is based on the Urban SUV concept. Expected to arrive late in 2025, the EV will share a number of aspects with Maruti Suzuki's eVX, and rival the Hyundai Creta EV, Tata Curvv EV, and the upcoming Duster-based EVs from Renault and Nissan.

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