Toyota has focused on electrification at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. In addition to introducing the fifth-generation Prius lineup, the automaker premieres the bZ Compact SUV concept. It envisions a small crossover for the brand’s growing lineup of electric vehicles.
The bZ Compact SUV Concept features highly creased and sculpted features. Up front, it features Toyota’s new light signature, which also appears on the new Prius. The styling uses bracket-shaped lamps on each side and a bright strip that extends to the nose. An aggressive front fascia angles outward with the lower edge.
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When looking at the vehicle in profile, you can see the short overhangs. There are thin lines on the roof, windshield and front doors, but get thicker at the rear. In an odd touch, the third brake light is part of a wing above the roof. We generally expect this element to be part of a hatchback.
A sharp crease runs along the edge. The front door handles are body-filled. The rear ones are in the pillar.
The rear hatchback angles downwards to a sharp point. The taillights wrap around its lower edge. A prominent diffuser occupies the lower part of the tail.
Inside, the bZ Compact SUV concept has a minimalist aesthetic. The driver grips a wide, octagonal steering wheel. Like the bZ4X and the new Prius, the instrument cluster sticks to the dashboard. The infotainment display is in the center of the cabin, and below the screen are a few capacitive buttons. The drive selector is a simple column of buttons at the base of the console.
The car has an AI assistant named Yui. Occupants can use voice commands, and the system responds with audio and visual light cues that move around the cabin.
The bZ Compact SUV concept is purely a styling showcase. Toyota has not mentioned the powertrain used for this model.
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Toyota’s current plan is to build five vehicles in the BZ model family. The bZ4X is already on sale, and the bZ3 is currently only for China. It’s reportedly coming to Europe later, though. The brand’s announcement of the bZ Compact SUV concept didn’t specifically say if a production version was coming, but the design fits perfectly with other offerings in the sub-brand.