Toyota to launch the most affordable electric SUV on the market? Here's everything you need to know!
Photo credit: Toyota
It seems that Toyota is up to something pretty big here! According to sources, Toyota is gearing up to launch one of the most affordable electric SUV's on the market.
Just recently, Toyota has introduced their most economical SUV (bZ3X) to China. Set to be priced at RMB $109,800 or $15,150 USD, this slick electric vehicle might be one of the hottest things on the road this year.
Upon launching their new product, Toyota received an astounding 10,000 orders within the first hour alone!
So, what makes this electric vehicle so special? Let's dive in to some of it's groundbreaking features!
Breaking down the Toyota bZ3X
Alright, this beauty is loaded with a bunch of neat features.
For starters, the bZ3X features a 14.6-inch center touchscreen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, which is widely used in China's electric vehicle market. The LiDAR-equipped versions incorporate Momenta's 5.0 smart driving system, which features Nvidia Orin X chips and full-scenario NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) without requiring high-definition maps.
Toyota offers the bZ3X with a single electric motor producing either 150 kW or 165 kW (201 or 221 hp), with driving ranges of 430 km, 520 km, and 610 km under China's CLTC cycle (302 to 428 km EPA)
The interior is Tesla-like and minimalistic, with a large 14.6″ screen dominating the cabin.
The bZ3X joins Toyota's bZ lineup, which includes the bZ4X SUV and the bZ3 sedan. Japanese automakers, including Toyota, have historically struggled to compete in China's rapidly growing EV sector. The bZ3X will undoubtedly help
The electricity is stored in a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which comes in three variants: 50.0 kWh, 58.4 kWh, and 67.9 kWh, good for 430 km, 520 km and 610 km range under CLTC conditions.
Check out some photos of the bZ3X just below:
Can I buy this in North America?
Simply, the answer is no. While the the bZ3X certainly mimics similar aesthetics to the Tesla Model-Y, it will be strictly exclusive to the Asian market.
What do you think of the Toyota bZ3X? Answer our poll to get in on the conversation!
Source: Motor Illustrated
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