Third all-electric Toyota bZ model previewed

Toyota has released a single teaser image of yet another member of the Toyota bZ family, suggesting it will shortly unveil a third all-electric car.

The single darkened image of the mystery third EV appears to reveal it has more rakish styling than the bZ3 sedan, suggesting a fastback is in the works.

Differing from the sedan, the unknown concept has a rear decklid that sits high and features a shark-fin antenna.

Other than the image, little is known about the third battery-powered Toyota model, but since it looks like it will share the bZ3 sedan's frontal styling it's safe to assume they will be identical beneath the skin.

That means we expect it to be Volkswagen Passat-sized and perhaps have an even lower drag coefficient than the bZ3's slippery 0.218Cd.

Based on the same e-TNGA architecture as the bZ4X, Toyota says its latest zero-emissions sedan features a low centre of gravity that provides for better handling.

Beneath the skin it's set to get all-new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries sourced from BYD, which is likely to have helped develop the new model with FAW Toyota.

Toyota claims the batteries are safer and more reliable than a conventional lithium-ion battery pack and will still provide 90 per cent of their original capacity 10 years down the line.

Like the bZ3, the new model should easily cover more than 600km between recharges, based on the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle.

Unless we're looking at a Gazoo Racing edition, the fastback is expected to get a single motor that will produce either 133kW or 168kW.

The existence of a fastback or hatch version of the bZ3 makes sense following reports that Toyota is considering selling the bZ3, or a version of it, in Europe – where sales of hatches exceed sedans.

If so, the fastback could be on sale by 2024, which bodes well for Australia as the right-hand drive market UK is set to be among the takers.

This means it could head Down Under to help the bZ4X mid-size electric SUV fulfill the brand's aspiration of establishing “EV leadership” in our market.

Once launched, the Toyota bZ4X, bZ3 sedan and bZ3 fastback – if that’s what it’s called – will be joined by four more electric cars riding on the e-TNGA platform.

They could include a compact car, mid-size sedan, people-mover, smaller SUV and a flagship large SUV.

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