Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Toyota changes direction on electric cars: Alphanumerics like bZ4X to be replaced by real names like Urban Cruiser and LandCruiser likely to differentiate from BYD, MG and GWM: Report

Toyota Toyota News Toyota BZ4X Toyota BZ4X News Electric Best Electric Cars Hybrid Best Hybrid Cars SUV Best SUV Cars Toyota SUV Range Electric Cars Hybrid cars Plug-in hybrid Car News
...
2025 Toyota Urban Cruiser
John Law
Deputy News Editor
17 Jan 2025
4 min read

Toyota looks to be ending its bZ4X naming conventions, at least in Europe, following the launch of its new cut-price electric SUV.

The Urban Cruiser will be built in India and is the production version of the bZ Urban SUV concept shown back in 202(2?). It is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but the UK is an important market for the Suzuki e Vitara twin.

According to Toyota Europe Director of Marketing and Product Development Andrea Carlucci, it’s a sign of things to come following "a clear request from Europe that was very much heard and followed by Japan", he told Autocar.

Toyota launched its first battery electric vehicle with the naming conventions put in place by its broad reaching line of concepts. The oddly capitalised ‘bZ’ stands for “beyond zero", referencing emissions, while ‘4’ denotes the size class and ‘X’ marks out as an SUV.

In China, the bZ naming convention looks to continue for Toyota, where the Japanese brand has launched the bZ3, bZ3C — a C-HR-like model — and the bZ3X.

"We have a number of models. If you start multiplying by technology, by segment, the nameplates tend to proliferate too much. We wanted to rationalise this," Carlucci explained to Autocar.

Toyota typically used names rather than alphanumerics, though there are some exceptions such as the current C-HR (Coupe High Riding) and MR2 (Midship Runabout Two-seater) sports car.

The Urban Cruiser takes its name from an early 2000s van-like car and it sounds like Toyota Europe will continue this strategy. Question is: what’s next?

At the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Toyota showed off two EV Concepts that were closer to production, the FT-Se sports car and FT-3e large SUV, the latter is expected for production sooner.

2026 Toyota FT-3e produciton render (image: BestCar)
2026 Toyota FT-3e produciton render (image: BestCar)

Measuring 4.86M long and riding on a 3000mm wheelbase, the FT-3e points to a Kluger-sized electric vehicle, potentially with up to three rows though its edgy, bold styling might mean it ends up a more niche, upmarket alternative to the Kia EV6.

An exterior information panel to display charge and it will launch with new battery technology. The pack is promised to be 20 per cent cheaper to produce, while a 900-volt architecture allows a 20 minute fast charge of a battery that allows 650km WLTP range.

Toyota Australia has promised three electric cars on sale by 2026, including bZ4X. Presumably, the Urban Cruiser could join though it is not yet confirmed. What could this new model be called, or will it be a Japan-only luxury Crown special?

2026 Toyota FT-3e produciton render (image: BestCar)
2026 Toyota FT-3e produciton render (image: BestCar)

We know Toyota is also evaluating the potential of an electric LandCruiser, potentially more like a Range Rover Sport. Toyota is also reviving famous nameplates from the back catalogue, such as Celica, MR2 and Starlet, for combustion engined models.

There’s one big reason for this, Toyota has heritage in its nameplates, something that upstart Chinese brands that favour alphanumerics do not. You can see a similar tactic at Ford and now Acura, with more certain to follow.

Toyota has all manner of names trademarked in Australia so only time to tell what the next electric cars will be called. In the meantime, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are the stronger focus for Toyota’s local arm.

John Law
Deputy News Editor
Born in Sydney’s Inner West, John wasn’t treated to the usual suite of Aussie-built family cars growing up, with his parents choosing quirky (often chevroned) French motors that shaped his love of cars. The call of motoring journalism was too strong to deny and in 2019 John kickstarted his career at Chasing Cars. A move to WhichCar and Wheels magazine exposed him to a different side of the industry and the glossy pages of physical magazines. John is back on the digital side of things at CarsGuide, where he’s taken up a role as Deputy News Editor spinning yarns about the latest happenings in the automotive industry. When he isn’t working, John can be found tooling around in either his 2002 Renault Clio Sport 172 or 1983 Alfasud Gold Cloverleaf.  
About Author

Comments