After what would be considered an unsuccessful launch of the bZ4x, Toyota has unveiled its second electric vehicle (EV) in the bZ family, the bZ3.
The all-electric sedan was jointly developed with China’s BYD, but unlike the bZ4X will only be sold in China.
Set to take on the Tesla Model 3, the bZ3 is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, the same platform used for the bZ4X SUV. This platform will provide “more pleasant driving, including more responsive performance, with a low center of gravity and excellent handling stability,” Toyota explains.
The bZ3 will be able to travel 373 miles (600km) on a full charge based on China’s CLTC rating schedule. That driving range is thanks to a low 0.218 drag coefficient and a BYD Blade LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery pack, the size of which was not disclosed by Toyota.
The Japanese automaker did say that the BYD battery will come with a 10-year warranty, guaranteeing that it will retain 90% of its original capacity during that time.
Also not disclosed was the power output, but China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) website says the car will be offered with either 178 or 238 horsepower configurations.
On the inside Toyota says the bZ3 features what Toyota calls a “Digital Island” system that integrates a large vertical center display.
Toyota didn’t announce a price for the bZ4X, but CarScoops reports it will start at around ¥204,000 (~$38,000 CAD/$28,000 USD), quite a bit cheaper than the Model 3 in China which now starts at ¥265,900(~$50,100 CAD/$36,600 USD) after Monday’s price cuts.
The reveal of the bZ3 comes when Toyota is reportedly considering a major overhaul of its EV strategy to make up for years of dragging their heels in joining the EV revolution.
