Toyota Shows bZ Compact SUV Concept in Los Angeles
The all-new 2023 Prius is not the only reason why Toyota came to the Los Angeles Auto Show this year. The Japanese automaker has a cool little EV concept to display.
The bZ Compact SUV hints at a new addition to Toyota’s electric offensive, which started with the launch of the bZ4X crossover earlier this year (technically, the first Canadian units are days away from landing in driveways).
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According to David Christ, VP and General Manager at Toyota Motor North America, the company is only beginning to scratch the surface of the “Beyond Zero” sub-brand. This particular concept aims to showcase how styling will be a big part of future bZ models.
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The name may be pretty boring, but the vehicle itself has a very attractive look and athletic stance. The headlights on the bZ Compact SUV are similar to those of the next-gen Prius, foreshadowing a new design trend at Toyota.
The coupe-like profile is emphasized by the rear door handles built into the C-pillars. Aerodynamics were a key part of the development process in an effort to achieve maximum energy efficiency.
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Stunning Interior
More than the exterior, it’s what’s inside the latest Toyota concept that captures the attention. The radical layout doesn’t look anything like a production model, with a dashboard that extends around the entire cockpit and features a pair of curved displays—one in front of the driver and another above the centre console. The only physical controls that remain are for the transmission.
Occupants can interact with a personal assistant called Yui in much the same way they would do with Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa. Furthermore, Toyota has incorporated a number of recycled and vegan materials to minimize the vehicle’s enviromnmental footprint.
![](https://i.gaw.to/content/photos/55/05/550510-toyota-donne-un-apercu-de-son-avenir-avec-ce-concept-electrique.jpeg?460x287)
Missing Specs
Because the Toyota bZ Compact SUV is no more than a design study at this point, the automaker is not sharing any specs whether it’s power, range or charging capability.
That being said, we’ll likely see a production model inspired by this vehicle sometime in the next few years. Until then, Toyota needs to focus on meeting the growing demand for EVs across Canada.