Missed opportunity?
Toyota has unveiled its second model developed primarily as an electric car, which it hangs on the bZ label. Meet the Toyota bZ3, an electric sedan that is packed with hardware and software from the Chinese BYD.
The Toyota bZ4X is the first passenger car developed primarily as an electric model from Toyota. The bZ4X immediately introduced a new label for Toyota dedicated to such EVs: bZ. Today we are introduced to the second bZ-Toyota: the bZ3.
Unlike the bZ4X, the bZ3 is not an SUV but a sedan. His name already points to this, as all crossovers and SUVs within the bZ label have an X after their model name. Fair is fair: the appearance of the Toyota bZ3 is probably no surprise for the fervent visitor of AutoWeek.nl. Previously, AutoWeek could already show you the car on patent image and even in production trim. Now, however, Toyota has introduced the bZ3 itself.
Toyota bZ3
Like the bZ4X, the Toyota bZ3 is on Toyota’s modular electric-only e-TNGA platform. That platform is completely Toyota, but that does not mean that Toyota has developed the car completely itself. The bZ3 uses the so-called Blade Batteries (LFP) from the Chinese BYD. The Toyota bZ3 is therefore the result of a BTET (BYD Toyota EV Technology) called collaboration between BYD and FAW Toyota. Wait a minute, FAW Toyota? Secure. FAW Toyota is Toyota’s joint venture in China with FAW and that points to something important. The Toyota bZ3 is in fact reserved for the Chinese market.
Dimensions and technique
The Toyota bZ3 is 4.73 meters long, which makes it comparable in size to the Tesla Model 3, which is only a few centimeters shorter. The wheelbase of the 1.84 meter wide bZ3 is 2.88 meters. The bZ3 also has to cut through the air very efficiently. At 0.218, the Cw value is comparable to that of cars such as the Lucid Air and Mercedes-Benz A-class Sedan. The latter was long known as the most aerodynamically designed modern passenger car.
According to Toyota, the powertrain of the bZ3 is good for an electric range of more than 600 kilometers, although the manufacturer does not explain the hardware further. From information previously surfaced by AutoWeek from the database of the Chinese Ministry of Transport and Information Technology, we already know that there will be a version with a 184 hp electric motor as well as a flavor with 245 hp of electric power. The top speed of both versions is 160 km/h.
Toyota bZ3
Design and interior
In terms of design, the bZ3 neatly matches the bZ design that the Toyota bZ4X introduced. The bZ3 has almost Mirai-like rear lights and handles recessed in the doors. The interior of the Toyota bZ3 breathes to some extent the atmosphere of the cockpit of its larger SUV brother, although everything is really different. We see a flattened steering wheel at the top and bottom with a small wide digital instrumentation far behind. Unlike the bZ4X, the bZ3 has a large vertically oriented infotainment screen.
Toyota showed no fewer than 15 new concept cars at the end of 2021. This included the bZ SDN, a conceptual version of the Toyota bZ3. Toyota also looked ahead to a new crossover that may function as a new C-HR. We were recently able to show you the new Toyota C-HR extensively on a patent image. Toyota shows another shadowy image of a next new bZ model, a car that it says nothing more about.
The still shrouded next bZ model that is on the way.
The Toyota bZ3 has been developed purely for the Chinese market, so we consider the chance that Toyota will also bring the electric sedan to Europe. Is that a loss? Would you prefer a BZ3 over the bZ4X? Why or not? Give your opinion in the comments!
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl