► New electric Toyota crossover
► The next member of bZ family?
► Concept points to ‘the near future’
Not content with unveiling the brand-new, fifth-generation Prius at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota also whipped the covers off this significant concept car: the slick-looking Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept.
That name is pretty easy to decode: bZ is Toyota shorthand for ‘Beyond Zero,’ the company’s drive to decarbonise and electrify its range in the coming years. So it’s a look at how the bZ4X family can swell to include a compact crossover SUV.
If you think that this show car looks remarkably production-ready, that’s because it is. Toyota calls it ‘a nod to the near future,’ suggesting that it will indeed make the leap from the catwalk to the showroom relatively unscathed. This is not a concept car that’ll retire to a museum after its stint under the bright lights of the motor show.
Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept: why it’s significant
The Japanese car maker has been slow to move into full electrification, preferring to back its hybrids, but it’s now deploying its industrial muscle to play catch-up at speed. Expect the bZ range to expand rapidly in the coming months with five models pledged.
Interestingly, Toyota says that around 30 dedicated battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will feature in its range, suggesting that the bZ sub-brand will only be used to establish its EV creds in the first wave. It seemly likely therefore that normal model names will be offered as electric cars in future, not just the bZ sub-brand.
‘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.’
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What caught our eye on the bZ Compact SUV concept car
This is a slick crossover shape that looks too well finished to be a concept car. Exterior styling is relatively unexceptional though slick in its liquid gun grey metallic paint, but the interior definitely caught our eye.
The bZ Compact SUV’s central digital screen is curved, the display reminding us of the folding screen on a Galaxy Fold4 and Flip4 mobile phone. A small, but striking detail in a clean, modern interior – highlighted by mesmerising graphics from a smart assistant.
The bZ Compact SUV’s seating is made from plant-based and recycled materials while the Yui digital assistant offers voice-operated concierge services, allowing all four passengers to operate the infotainment services onboard.
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