Toyota has started sales of its bZ3 electric sedan in China. Affectionately called “Electric Corolla”, the three-volume is produced locally in partnership with the manufacturer FAW, which makes a joint-venture with the Japanese automaker. The price of this model can reach 169,800 yuan or R$ 123,000 in direct conversion.
Jokes with the nickname aside, the Toyota bZ3 cannot be considered a possible replacement for the Corolla, since it is significantly larger than the most famous sedan of the automaker. The bZ3 is 4.72m long and has a wheelbase of 2.88m, much more than the 4.63m long and wheelbase of the current generation Corolla’s 2.70m.
In addition, Toyota’s new electric sedan is much more technological and equipped, with the most advanced version of Toyota Safety Sense, in addition to a totally new concept for the interior of the vehicle, the “Digital Island”, which makes the bZ3 completely connected and more attuned to the needs of passengers.
In terms of performance and autonomy, the bZ3 is also not ugly. In its top-of-the-range version, it features an electric motor with 248hp and 30.8 kgf/m of torque, enough to take the sedan from 0 to 100km/h in just 8.4 seconds.
The battery, in turn, is produced by BYD and has 65.2 kWh, providing 616 km of range in the WLTP cycle. Fast charging gives the sedan the ability to replenish the cells from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
According to Toyota, still in pre-sales, the bZ3 had 5,000 units reserved. The expectation is that this number will increase even more, since there is a promotional value of 154,800 yuan or R$ 112,000 for this period.
Electric Corolla coming to Brazil?
The Toyota bZ3 is a car designed, initially, only for the Chinese market. Even if the automaker has already confirmed that it will launch more than 10 electric cars over the next few years and that Brazil is on this route, we will hardly see the bZ3 around here.
It is worth remembering that the company is developing a zero emission model powered by hydrogen and ethanol for our market.
