Toyota kept its promise and brought a concept duo to the showroom floor in Shanghai, previewing two out of the 10 new BEV launches in the Chinese market by 2026. The bZ Sport Crossover and the bZ FlexSpace concepts feature a high-riding stance and Toyota’s typical BEV styling language. The automaker confirmed that the production versions will follow in 2024, but didn’t say if they will become available to other markets outside China.
The Toyota bZ Sport Crossover Concept is the sportier of the two thanks to its aerodynamic body, large-diameter wheels, and coupe-SUV stance, aimed to lure younger customers from the Gen Z. It looks longer and sleeker than the bZ Compact SUV Concept from last year, while adopting familiar styling cues including the “hammerhead shark” face, the duo-tone body, and the heavily sculpted profile.
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The minimalist interior features a yoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, and a central touchscreen that is curved. There is also ambient lighting and storage compartments around the cabin, with red perforated upholstery for the seats. Toyota said that the model is equipped with “intelligent features such as driver assistance and automatic parking” and hinted at over-the-air update capabilities that will improve its functions after the purchase.
The company didn’t reveal any details about the underpinnings or the electric powertrain of the bZ Sport Crossover. However, it said that the R&D project was undertaken in collaboration with BYD Toyota, FAW Toyota, and TMEC (Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing). The production version that will follow next year will be manufactured in China by FAW Toyota Motor, which also produces the bZ3 sedan.
The Toyota bZ FlexSpace Concept is a family-focused proposal, with a taller SUV body and a roomier cabin. While we don’t have the dimensions of the vehicle, it is clearly larger than the bZ4x, with a bulkier stance and cleaner styling. It also adopts a grille-less hammerhead shark face with full-width LED headlights and a special pattern on the lower part of the bodywork.
The interior is quite futuristic thanks to the transparent screens of the digital cockpit, the light-colored upholstery, the touch-sensitive areas on the center console, and the illuminated stripes on the dashboard. The designers’ goal was to create a “cozy home” atmosphere for “families, friends, and couples”, while development is ongoing. Toyota didn’t give us details about the specifications but promised “ease of use, advanced safety, a reliable cruising range, and various intelligent functions”.
The bZ FlexSpace was developed in collaboration with GAC Toyota and TMEC. The production version is also coming in 2024, and will be manufactured in China by GAC Toyota Motor which also builds the bZ4X for the local market.
