Auto China 2024: Toyota bZ3X and bZ3C EVs Bow

Bowing at Auto China 2024 this week were both the Toyota bZ3X (left) and bZ3C (right) EV crossover SUVs.

Japanese automaking giant Toyota weren’t ones to be left out at showing off its new metal at this week’s Auto China 2024 show in Beijing. Bowing at its stand were two new electric vehicles (EVs) – the bZ3X SUV and the bZ4C fastback crossover.

The bZ3X EV SUV is based on the bZ FlexSpace Concept shown last year. Toyota remains tight-lipped about technical details, but this is widely tipped to underpin the e-TNGA platform and a BYD-sourced battery.

Starting with the bZ3X, this crossover SUV offering was jointly developed by Toyota and its Chinese joint-venture partner GAC. Based on the bZ FlexSpace Concept, the model is said to prioritise interior space and comfort above all else, and it features a minimalist interior.

The latter design decision is meant to sate the growing appetite of the Chinese market for neat, clean and uncluttered cabins. This explains why most of the controls on board are relegated to the large infotainment touchscreen interface primed front and centre in the dash.

Also typical of EVs for the Chinese market is the promise of having the latest active driver assistance (ADAS) features that enable high degree of semi-autonomous driving. However, Toyota were coy when it came to detailing this front for the bZ3X.

Typical of many EVs today, the bZ3X features plenty of aero-friendly traits like flushed door handles.

On board, the bZ3X prioritises space and comfort. It also features a minimalist design to sate the demand for such in the Chinese market.

Toyota also kept mum about the bZ3X’s technical specifications, though we suspect this crossover underpins the same e-TNGA platform as the bZ4X and the China-only bZ3 saloon. The latter two harnesses batteries supplied by Chinese NEV-making giants BYD.

On that note, the bZ3X is expected to adopt the same BYD-supplied lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which should yield at least 599 KM of range.

Fuelling said range figure too is the bZ3X’s low-drag design figure, which is aptly evident in the crossover’s aero-friendly design featuring cues like flushed door handles, clever use of ducts and vents to channel airflow efficiently, and aerodynamic wheels.

The bZ3C follows up from teh bZ Sport Crossover Concept that was also shown last year. This is essentially the lifted fastback twist to the China-only bZ3 saloon that Toyota produces.

Moving on to the bZ3C, this sleek yet lifted fastback twist to the China-only bZ3 sedan is based on the bZ Sport Crossover Concept shown at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show. Unlike the X, the C is developed jointly by Toyota alongside BYD, and Toyota’s other Chinese joint-venture partner FAW.

Little has changed from said concept in this near production-ready version, apart from the switch to conventional side mirrors and a softened front fascia. The latter also boasts linked C-shaped light clusters, whereas the softened front bumper closely mirrors the latest-gen Prius.

Again, there are various low-drag design traits present that are aimed at boosting this EVs range further.

On board, the bZ3C also adopts a neat, clutter-free minimalist design, but it presents that with a sportier red-hued motif instead.

On board, the unit displayed at Auto China 2024 boasted a racy red-hued interior motif. It also conforms to the minimalist, clutter-free design trend dictated by Chinese market demands, featuring a sizeable infotainment display interface front-and-centre of the dash.

High counts of ADAS  features – enabling high-degree of semi-autonomous driving – is again expected here. Reputable sources online indicate that the bZ3C will see this powered by a Lidar suite primed on board too.

Predictably, Toyota is poised to put both the bZ3C and bZ3X into production in China later this year, with Chinese market sales expected to kick off early next year. However, the larger bZ3X is also tipped for possible entry in overseas market, particularly Europe (EU), and possibly others too.