The automaker will begin selling both new BEVs in China within the next 12 months
April 25, 2024 at 2:18 am
- The Japanese car manufacturer has not yet revealed detailed details about both models.
- Toyota previewed these two electric SUVs last year with the bZ Sport Cross Concept and the bZ FlexSpace Concept.
- The bZ3C was developed together with BYD and FAW and the bZ3X was developed with the help of Guangzhou Automobile Group.
These are the next two battery-electric vehicles Toyota will sell in China. They are called bZ3C and bZ3X and were debuted at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show.
Toyota introduced these two models at China’s premier auto show last year, but at the time they were concepts known as the bZ Sport Crossover Concept and bZ FlexSpace Concept. The production versions are very similar to these concepts and Toyota aims to sell both in the Chinese market next year.
Read: Toyota boss believes electric vehicles can only capture 30% of future car market
Given that China is currently the world’s top market for battery electric vehicles, one would have expected Toyota to reveal a whole host of details and specifications about the bZ3C and bZ3X, but at the time of writing this had not yet happened. As a result, little is known about the two models, such as how much they will cost or the intricacies of their electric powertrains.
What we do know is that the bZ3C was developed in Toyota in collaboration with BYD, FAW and Toyota’s Intelligent ElectroMobility R&D Center. It’s a stylish crossover that bears some resemblance to the bZ4X and Prius sold worldwide, but with a slightly more sophisticated exterior design. The most striking elements include the sharp LED daytime running lights and the single, curved LED taillight.
Like many other BEVs on the market, the bZ3C’s interior is dominated by a huge central infotainment display in the center of the dashboard, while a digital instrument cluster is also visible. It has an overall simple and minimalist design, likely inspired by Tesla, and features eye-catching ambient lighting.
The bZ3X is much larger than the bZ3C and takes on a more traditional SUV shape. However, there is nothing traditional about the front end with its slim headlights and lack of a traditional grille. It also stands more upright than the bZ3C and has distinctive taillights. As is fashionable these days, there is also an LED light bar at the rear.
The bZ3X’s interior appears much more spacious than its sibling, but it also features a large infotainment display. Other key components visible include a two-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster and two mobile phone charging pads. A generous panoramic glass roof was also installed.
According to Toyota, both models are “equipped with the latest driver assistance systems.”