Following its mid-November preview at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept is making headlines again to celebrate its Euro debut. The electric crossover made an appearance at the Kenshiki Forum in Brussels, Belgium, and Toyota is ready to talk a little more about its EV. It is one of the six Beyond Zero Badge models that it plans to introduce in the Old Continent by 2026. The EV is designed and manufactured in France.
Shown here alongside the plug-in hybrid C-HR Prologue Concept in a fresh photo, the bZ Compact SUV Concept has the following dimensions: 4,538 mm (178.6 in) length, 1,888 mm (74.3 in) width (and mirrors without). 1,560 mm (61.4 in) high. Those wheels measure an impressive 21 inches, though we’re not entirely sure they’ll stay that big for later production models.
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It’s slightly smaller than the RAV4, and just like the other bZ models Toyota has released or is working on, it’s been conceived strictly as an EV from day one. The overall design doesn’t stray too far from the C-HR Prologue we mentioned earlier. However, you will immediately recognize which crossover is a purely electric model by the front LED light bar fitted to the bZ Compact SUV.
The minimalist interior does away with almost all conventional controls by integrating the vehicle’s functions into a generously-sized infotainment system. Below the touchscreen are a few shortcuts, providing quick access to climate control, navigation, and music settings. We also see a home button on the far left with a gear icon to access the main menu.
Since round steering wheels are apparently old-fashioned, the bZ Compact SUV Concept has an octagon-shaped wheel. It ditches the corporate logo, replaced by an off-center “Toyota BZ” script. Both the touchscreen and the digital driver’s display appear to be curved on the bottom, indicating that the automotive industry is ready to take advantage of flexible display tech.
While the second-generation C-HR will hit the market “soon,” Toyota hasn’t said when it plans to introduce the electric crossover. This tells us that a market launch is unlikely before 2024.