Toyota debuts bZ Compact SUV concept in LA

TOYOTA pulled the covers off its bZ Compact SUV concept at the Los Angeles motor show, providing a glimpse of what Toyota says the future may look like under its bZ brand umbrella.

With this second model in the bZ series, Toyota says it is aiming to offer exhilarating performance while delivering zero tailpipe emissions.

As well as utilising eco-conscious materials – including plant-based and recycled upholstery – around the cabin, the bZ debuts a new in-car assistant named Yui that responds to occupant commands and requests with audio and visual lighting cues that move around the interior.

The model will present other new technologies to Toyota buyers, mostly centred around in-car connectivity options amongst the stylish and eco-friendly décor.

Stand-out cockpit features include a yoke-style steering wheel and unusual plinth-mounted gear selector, two wireless phone charging pads and a push-button ‘on’ switch.

Both the infotainment array and instrument panel are in digital widescreen format.

Toyota says the aerodynamic model’s wheel-at-each-corner design provides not only an aggressive stance, but also more interior space than traditional SUVs of a comparable size.

“We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of the Beyond Zero moniker,” said Toyota group vice president and general manager David Christ.

“With an aerodynamic design coupled with intuitive tech features never before seen in a Toyota model, the bZ Concept showcases another possible vision of the very near future with our battery electric vehicles.”

While Mr Christ did not reveal powertrain specifications for the bZ Compact SUV, Toyota’s other bZ model – the bZ4X – features the choice of a 150kW front-wheel drive (with 516km range) or 160kW dual-motor all-wheel drive arrangement (with 470km range) coupled in both instances to a 71.4kW lithium-ion battery pack.

The bZ4X is expected to go on sale in Australia from the second half of 2023, although Toyota did not say when the smaller bZ Compact SUV will be available locally.

However the company has confirmed that the model is one of “around 30” dedicated battery electric vehicles (BEV) it will offer globally before the end of the decade, five of which will wear the bZ (Bayond Zero) moniker.

These models are part of an ¥8 trillion (A$98 billion) investment in electrified vehicles and technologies that will elevate Toyota’s global BEV sales target to 3.5 million vehicles annually by 2030 – an increase of 75 per cent on the previous annual sales projection of two million BEVs.

Half of these funds will be devoted to research and development as well as capital expenditure for BEVs, while the other half will be dedicated to hybrid-electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid-electric (PHEV) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV).

The total includes ¥2 trillion (A$24.7 billion) to accelerate the development of more advanced, high-quality and affordable batteries.