Japanese automotive giant Toyota has announced upgrades to the bZ4X electric SUV in Australia, including a new 74.7kWh battery and increased power as part of a global refresh of its EV lineup.
Toyota unveiled overnight an expansion to its EV lineup which included a new electric variant of its C-HR+ based on the company’s the e-TNGA platform, a new dedicated BEV Lexus model called the RZ, and various battery and power upgrades to the bZ4X, depending on region.
In Australia, the bZ4X line-up will all gain the larger 74.7kWh battery which Toyota says will deliver improvements to battery and motor performance and driving range.
While updated range data has been promised for closer to release in Australia, Toyota did promise that the 2WD bZ4X will see its front motor output increase from 150kW to 165kW.
The AWD bZ4X gets an even bigger bump, with a 92kW increase in combined output to 252kW, which should put it more in line with other sport-focused SUVs currently available in Australia.
This boost in output for the AWD bZ4X also enhances the car’s performance, with its acceleration from 0-100km/h bumping up by 1.8 seconds to 5.1 seconds.
Toyota’s engineers have also improved the battery thermal control and pre-conditioning to offer better charging performance in cold temperatures.
Both updated models are expected some time in the fourth quarter.
Toyota also promised some design upgrades for the Australian bZ4X line, including a “completely updated” cabin “with a more modern and premium design” that is focused around a new 14.0-inch multimedia screen.
The exterior of the bZ4X also gets a few tweaks, including what Toyota describes as “a more unified iteration of Toyota’s Hammerhead front design language” intended to give the car a more streamlined and sleeker look. New gloss black fenders will also enhance the premium feel of the car.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.