GAC-Toyota starts pre-sales of the bZ3X in China

Japanese car giant Toyota and its Chinese partner GAC have started pre-sales of an electric SUV called the bZ3X in China. It is available from the equivalent of around 13,000 euros. However, the car will probably not come to Europe.

The electric car, which was first shown at Auto China in Beijing in April, is now available to pre-order online in three variants: the 430 Air+, 520 Pro+ and 620 Max. The pre-sale prices are between 100,000 and 200,000 yuan (13,000 to 26,000 euros). For a deposit of 2,000 yuan (260 euros), customers can benefit from priority delivery. The official market launch is scheduled for March 2025 and with it the first deliveries.

The vehicle is based on the GAC Aion Architecture Electric Platform (AEP) 3.0 and is therefore closely related to the GAC Aion V model, which GAC plans to bring to Europe in about a year and which we have already been able to test.

The bZ3X is powered by an electric motor from Guangzhou Nidec Auto Drive System, a subsidiary of Japanese drive specialist Nidec. It offers an output of 150 kW and is powered by a 50 kWh LFP battery pack in the basic 430 Air+ version. According to the CLTC cycle, this gives the SUV a range of 430 kilometres. Given their names, the two other equipment variants are likely to achieve CLTC ranges of 520 km and 620 km respectively. The battery should take 24 minutes to charge from 30 to 80 per cent at the fast charger.

The dimensions of the GAC-Toyota bZ3X are 4.60 metres in length, 1.88 metres in width and 1.65 metres in height. The wheelbase is 2.77 metres. The car runs on either 18-inch or 19-inch rims. The kerb weight is stated as 1,690 kg.

Externally, the GAC-Toyota bZ3X presents itself in the design language of ‘pure electric aesthetics’ with split headlights, concealed door handles, a panoramic roof, blackened side mirrors, side sills and wheel arches. A crystalline light strip consisting of 112 LEDs acts as a daytime running light and enables eight interactions such as starting, switching off, charging and locating the vehicle.

The bZ3X has a complex assistance system called Momenta 5.0 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS), which is powered by the Nvidia DRIVE AGX Orin X chip and is realised via 27 sensors, including 11 high-resolution cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, 3 millimetre-wave radars and a lidar, without relying on high-resolution maps. More than 25 ADAS functions are supported, such as speed limit assist, traffic light assist, remote parking and blind spot monitoring, to name but a few.

The cockpit features a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, an 8.8-inch LCD instrument panel and a 14.6-inch screen with floating central control, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip and supporting voice recognition.

The rear row of seats is equipped with air conditioning vents and a folding armrest. Wireless mobile phone charging, 32-colour ambient lighting, seven SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbags and an 11-speaker Yamaha audio system are also included. In addition, the front seats can be folded down at the touch of a button. This is intended to turn the vehicle into a ‘cosy home’ – the advertising images show two parents stretching out lengthways in the vehicle during a break and playing with their small child.

The bZ3X is initially available to order in seven colour variants: Sky White, Pure Snow White, Distant Mountain Gray, Bright Moon Silver, Vast Black, Sky Pink and Cyber Gold.

carnewschina.com