Toyota is previewing the future design and engineering layouts of its burgeoning bZ (Beyond Zero) electric car line-up with the debut, at the Shanghai motor show, of two new concepts.
No Irish sales... yet
Both the bZ Sport Crossover and the bZ Flexspace will lead to full production models by 2024, but so far, they've only been confirmed for the Chinese market. Neither Irish nor European sales are being spoken of as yet.
The bZ Sports Crossover is a sleek five-door SUV with a coupe-like side profile. Toyota says that it's been designed around the idea of a 'reboot' - not just for Toyota's electric car plans but for drivers who will want a change of pace and mood when they sit in.
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Inside, there's a flat-topped 'yoke' style steering wheel, which looks like a sci-fi development of the one Toyota already offers in the bZ4X. Toyota says that the car's "functions will continue to evolve after purchase, including intelligent features such as driver assistance and automatic parking, so that owners can continuously enjoy a most up-to-date car with all five senses."
The cabin also gets the usual two big screens - one for instruments and one for infotainment - but the infotainment screen gets a new wrinkle; its touch surface is curved over the lip of the dashboard, almost as if the screen is melting down in the heat.
Underneath? No idea - Toyota's staying quiet on that for now, but we can hazard a guess that it's the same e-TNGA platform that's under the bZ4X, which has a 77kWh battery and a range of more than 500km depending on the version.
Toyota is going to link up with Guangzhou Automobile Group to build the production version of the bZ Sport Crossover for China, and it will be working with another Chinese giant - BYD - to make batteries for the Chinese market.
MPV or SUV?
The bigger bZ Flexspace is billed as a 'family-oriented SUV-type BEV' but it looks suspiciously like an MPV by any other name to use (and hurrah for that). The concept of this model, says Toyota, is "Cozy Home," to create a space that families can use safely, comfortably and freely with peace of mind.
Inside, there's lots of space, lots of blonde Scandi-style décor, another pair of massive screens and a flattened-off yoke steering wheel. Toyota says that the priorities for the Flexspace are "large cabin space, ease of use, advanced safety, a reliable cruising range." Sounds like a winning combo to us.
We'll keep you updated as to whether either of these cars, in production form, will be working their way to this side of the globe.