2025 Toyota bZ7 large sedan arrives

Toyota has launched a its flagship all-electric sedan, the 2025 Toyota bZ7, that has been built to rival the likes of the Tesla Model S in China.

Making its debut at the recent Shanghai motor show, the large electric family sedan is the first car produced as part of Toyota's joint venture with GAC, a Chinese car-maker that intends to launch in Australia.

China sales of the new Toyota sedan will kick off later in 2025.

Heavily inspired by the 2024 Toyota bZ7 concept, the production version sports a pair of slimline C-shaped LED headlamps that sit above the main beams tucked away within the lower bumper.

Clearly equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR scanning system, it's thought the new Toyota will come with advanced driverless tech that benefits from another technical partnership with Huawei.

Featuring a pronounced fastback rear profile, the new Toyota bZ7 gets a full-width LED light bar and a high-mounted brakes light, plus a small boot lip and appears to borrow plenty from the latest Prius when it comes to styling cues.

Simple side surfacing and large streamlined 21-inch alloy wheels, plus enclosed door handles are all evidence of efforts designed to ensure a low-drag shape in a bid to boost its cruising range.

Within, there's a round three-spoke steering wheel, instead of a yoke, a high free-standing infotainment touch-screen, a digital instrument cluster, wireless charging pads and – naturally – a huge panoramic sunroof.

According to Toyota the new bZ7 is the first car ever to run Huawei’s HarmonyOS operating system that has yet to be launched but should herald huge advances in connectivity, speed, response time and functionality.

Full technical details were not released at the show but beneath the skin it's thought the Toyota will use a BYD-sourced Blade lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.

When it comes to size, it's thought the bZ7 will measure in at around 5000mm long making it a BMW i5 or AUDI E5 rival – and also a prime rival for the Tesla Model S.

Pricing for the Toyota bZ7 in China has been confirmed to kick off from 170,000 yuan ($A36,000).

Despite expressing an interest in the new bZ7, Toyota Australia said it has "no current plans" to introduce the latest large all-electric family sedan Down Under.

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