Toyota bZ4x launch soon in Malaysia; road testing underway

KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor has recently detailed its multi-pathway strategy that supports the nation’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. The said strategy involves fully electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. While explaining its vision, the automaker also previewed sample units of the Toyota bZ4x EV, which is earmarked to launch in Malaysia this year. 

The upcoming bZ4x will be the first pure-electric vehicle Toyota model in Malaysia. The automaker has begun its testing on local roads.

Let’s get to know the Toyota bZ4x details - 

• The upcoming Japanese EV is based on the e-TNGA platform that can also be found under the all-electric Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ
• It measures 4,690 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,650 mm in height and spans a 2,850 mm long wheelbase
• The units put on display are equipped with a front-wheel drive electric motor delivering 204 PS of maximum power and 266 Nm of peak torque

• The motor is fed by a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, which offers a range of up to 500 km (on the WLTP cycle) on a single charge
• No information is yet available on the local-spec EV’s exterior and interior kit, however, for this, we can look at the version on sale in the Indonesian market
• The Indonesian-spec bZ4X EV comes kitted with LED exterior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, a seven-inch digital instrument panel, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, and a wireless phone charger

• As for safety, it features eight airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. The latter comprises several advanced systems like dynamic radar cruise control, a blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, lane keep assist, and park assist

After launch, the Toyota bZ4x will be squared up against the BYD Atto 3 and the upcoming Chery Omoda 5 in Malaysia.

Also read: Toyota Yaris gets mild updates in Malaysia; two variants on offer