The Toyota bZ4X concept for electric vehicles is emerging to see the Japanese brand’s entry into the emerging crossover EV segment. The company plans to launch the production version by mid-2022 with production taking place in Japan and China. Unfortunately, the carmaker is not yet ready to share US market details about the vehicle, saying information will come “later”.
The bZ4X carries a small hexagonal grille in the lower part of the front panel and vertical gills in the corners, but otherwise there are no openings in the front. The narrow headlights each have four LED elements and a strip for the daytime running lights at the top.
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In profile, the bZ4X has intricate sculpture that includes a protruding portion that runs along the shoulder line and a crease in the lower portion of the door that nods upward at the rear fenders. The C-pillar has a steep rake that creates a sharp shape when viewed from the intersection from the side.
The rear of the bZ4X follows the tendency to use a full-width strip for the taillights. Horizontal stacked LEDs create a futuristic look for the lamps.
Inside, the driver looks through the steering wheel at a digital instrument cluster that sits at the end of a gutter. The design looks like a way to prevent glare on the screen while maintaining an open design. A wide infotainment screen is at the top of the center console and the buttons for managing the HVAC system are below it. The center console includes a button controller for the ride modes, buttons to turn on the assist systems and an infotainment screen touch panel with a blue glow.
Toyota does not discuss any drivetrain details other than to say that the bZ4X is four-wheel drive. The model is the result of a joint development with Subaru, and it runs on the e-TNGA platform for electric vehicles.
The ‘bZ’ moniker stands for ‘past zero’ and is Toyota’s name for an emerging family of EVs. The company has already applied for trademarks for the bZ1X via bZ5X names, in addition to those without the ‘X’, which indicates that it will not have a four-wheel drive.
Toyota plans to have seven models worldwide in the bZ family by 2025, and they will count between 15 electric vehicles in total. The automaker also aims to have about 70 products with some form of electrification by this time. There is even an electrified pickup truck on the way.