Toyota Motor Corporation has recently announced that it will be producing and selling a small electric-powered sedan in China. The brand plans to begin this endeavor by the end of the year, and the said sedan will be made in partnership with BYD Co. Ltd. Another company, FAW Toyota, is also pitching in by providing its dealership network to sell the aforementioned EV.
The upcoming Toyota bZ3 EV sedan for the Chinese market
Known as the Toyota bZ3, it assumes a five-seater sedan layout that uses BYD-made batteries. And just like the bZ4X crossover, the first model in the bZ lineup of electrified vehicles, the upcoming bZ3 sedan uses Toyota’s electric-Toyota new Global Architecture (e-TNGA).
The batteries that BYD will be supplying for the said model however, is touted to be more compact and lighter compared to the one that the bZ4X uses. But despite that smaller size, this BYD battery for the bZ3 can offer a maximum cruising range of up to 600 kilometers according to Toyota.
Its liftback sedan body style suits the bZ series design language
Toyota and BYD are also currently looking into ways to ensure that the said batteries can maintain up to 90 percent of its capacity even after 10 years of use. Batteries after all, do age and will lose their capacity over time. So hopefully, their research on battery aging suppression will become a reality on this upcoming EV sedan.
The brand also made sure to provide a stable ride for the bZ3 by positioning the said batteries at a low center of gravity. At the same time, this also reduces the stress on the vehicle’s body from daily use. Toyota also brought in its expertise that it earned from decades of experience in motorsports, by tuning the steering, brakes, and pedals to offer a fun driving experience.
Specs are yet to be released, but we do know that its getting a portrain-style touchscreen
Toyota is yet to share the detailed specs of the upcoming bZ3 for the Chinese market. We still do not know just how powerful its EV powertrain is. Likewise, the brand is yet to release further information regarding its safety features and onboard amenities.
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