- Developed for China, the stylish electric crossover was previewed by a concept last year.
- It features a 268-hp electric motor and uses batteries sourced from BYD.
- Production starts soon at Toyota’s FAW plant, adding to its expanding EV lineup.
This is our best look yet at the production version of the Toyota bZ3C, an eye-catching EV developed for the Chinese market in partnership with local brands BYD and FAW. It looks almost identical to the model that was showcased five months ago, and production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Photos and details from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveal the bZ3C is 4,780 mm (188 inches) long, 1,866 mm (73.4 inches) wide, and stands 1,510 mm (59.4 inches) tall with a 2,880 mm (113.3-inch) wheelbase. It tips the scales at a hefty 1,920 kg (4,232 lbs), and while it takes obvious design inspiration from other Toyota models, including the latest Prius, it does have its own unique shape.
Read: Toyota bZ3C And bZ3X To Join China’s Crowded EV Market
Providing the front fascia with a burst of character are lobster-claw-shaped LED headlights connected by a light bar. Interestingly, the finalized design of the bZ3C ditches the small black air vents on the front quarter panels, which had been present on the car that Toyota brought to April’s Beijing Auto Show. Beyond that, everything else looks the same, including the split roof spoiler, the LED taillights/light bar, and the door handles sitting flush with the bodywork.
The technical details are perhaps of more interest than the design. The crossover will use a lithium-iron-phosphate battery sourced from BYD’s FinDream battery division, and although no capacity has been released at this stage, the EV should be good for a range of between 500-600 km (310 – 372 miles) on the CTLC cycle. This battery will feed a single electric motor with 268 hp (200 kW), enough to propel the bZ3C to 99 mph (160 km/h).
Customers will be able to choose between 18-inch and 21-inch wheels. A prominent LiDAR mounted to the top of the front windshield will also be an option.
While these images don’t show the car’s cabin, photos from April revealed it will have a digital instrument cluster, a large central infotainment display, a floating center console, and ambient lighting.
Production of the bZ3C is set to begin at Toyota’s joint-venture facility with FAW in the coming months. This latest addition to Toyota’s expanding EV lineup in China will complement the existing bZ4X SUV and the bZ3 sedan, marking another step in the brand’s aggressive push into the electric vehicle market.
