Toyota bZ5 electric sedan uncovered
Brand T’s second EV in Australia after Toyota bZ4X SUV could be four-door based on bZ SDN conceptToyota’s next EV may have just been outed by Chinese media via design patent renderings that appear to show a production model of the Toyota bZ SDN concept unveiled last December.
Reportedly developed in tandem with Chinese brand BYD, the production bZ SDN is expected to be known as the Toyota bZ5.
If the nameplate of the incoming 2022 Toyota bZ4X is any guide, the 2023 Toyota bZ5 should emerge as a small-to-medium sedan that will be primed to take on the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2.
According to CarNewsChina, the bZ5 will measure 4725mm long, 1835mm wide and 1475mm tall, with a 2880mm wheelbase.
That places the bZ5 in between the current Toyota Corolla sedan and Toyota Camry in terms of overall length, but the wheelbase is 55mm longer than the Camry’s.
Some outlets have speculated the bZ5 will be the Corolla sedan’s electric successor, but we’ll wait until the car has been revealed to draw any such conclusion.
In terms of appearance, little has changed between the bZ SDN’s design and that of the rendered Toyota bZ5, with all of the concept’s key attributes – full-width lighting signature, L-shaped air dams, channelled bonnet and concave bumper inserts – present on the patent filing.
The front lighting signature is matched at the rear by a full-width brake strip which underlines a subtly integrated lip spoiler.
There’s an extra bit of sophistication with the floating roofline and elevated beltline, while the alloy wheels have evolved from an aero-honed to more traditional multi-spoke design. These are reportedly 18-inch rim wrapped in 225/50-profile rubber.
The obvious disparity is the render’s lack of wing mirrors, but both it and the concept share smooth flanks with hidden door handles.
Powertrain details are still to be confirmed, but count on synergies across the bZ range.
The Toyota bZ4X will be available in single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations, drawing power from a 71.4kWh battery pack that enables a range of up to 500km in 2WD form.
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