Summary
– Toyota’s bZ large SUV concept could potentially turn into the future bZ5x
– Americans have a strong preference for large SUVs, with Toyota lagging behind in offering an electric family SUV with space for seven passengers
– Toyota is set to release two three-row electric SUVs, including the bZ5x tailored for the U.S. market
– The bZ large SUV concept features a similar design to the bZ4x but with a more mature appearance
– The Toyota family SUV is expected to be produced at the Georgetown, Kentucky plant and compete with models like the Kia EV9 with production likely starting in 2025 or 2026.
Article
Toyota is rumored to be working on a bZ5x, a large SUV concept that could transform into a future electric family SUV with space for seven passengers in the United States. Despite the growing popularity of electric vehicles, Toyota has lagged behind other automakers such as Rivian, Kia, Mercedes, and Tesla who already offer electric family SUVs. Currently, Toyota only offers the bZ4x crossover, and the Lexus RZ450e and Subaru Solterra, which are essentially the same vehicle underneath with different styling.
In mid-2024, Toyota has two three-row electric SUVs in the pipeline. One is a ground-up model tailored for the U.S. market, rumored to be the Toyota bZ5x. The other is the successor to the current gas-powered Highlander, which may evolve into an EV-only nameplate. Details about the Highlander EV are scarce, and there is a possibility that Toyota may streamline the two projects into one. The focus is on the bZ5x, which is expected to be a significant addition to Toyota’s electric SUV lineup.
The bZ large SUV concept showcased by Toyota in 2021 looks like a mature version of the bZ4x, with a dual-tone paint scheme and sleek design elements such as wraparound rear taillamps. While official details about the bZ5x’s battery and powertrain configuration have not been released, it is expected to feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system suitable for its size and class. Toyota has been working on various battery programs, including new liquid electrolyte technologies and solid-state batteries, with claims of up to 620 miles of range for future models.
Toyota is investing billions of dollars in manufacturing electric vehicles and producing batteries locally in the U.S. The three-row electric SUV, including the bZ5x, will be manufactured at the brand’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant, with plans to make it the “epicenter of lithium-ion battery production in North America.” The facility will also support battery production for other Toyota and Lexus models, with similar Lexus models in the pipeline. Production of the bZ5x is expected to begin in 2025 or 2026, and it is positioned to compete with other electric family SUVs on the market.
The price of the Toyota bZ5x is expected to be higher than the bZ4x, which starts at around $43,000, with the range-topping trim costing approximately $47,000. The bZ5x is expected to compete with the Kia EV9, which is priced between $55,000-$74,000. Toyota is hoping that the success of the bZ5x will help overcome its reputation as a laggard in the EV race due to delayed EV plans and anti-climate lobbying. The upcoming electric SUV is seen as an opportunity for Toyota to prove its commitment to decarbonizing its fleet and silence critics.
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