Toyota's electric Kluger? Large three-row SUV design leaked for new three-row Toyota electric SUV to rival Kia EV9

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Patent design images that match with an existing concept have been leaked from Chinese government documents.
Chris Thompson
Senior Journalist
7 Jun 2023
2 min read

What looks to be one of the most important models from Toyota's plan to release 30 electric vehicles by 2030 appears to be on the way after patent design images have leaked from China.

Toyota's plan included the reveal of more than a dozen concept cars representing the brand's intended models, including the likes of the bZ4X, other bZ models since confirmed for China, and several yet-to-be revisited models.

One of the latter, the largest SUV in the series, now looks to be the focus for the brand as a matching patent design has been published by Chinese car news site Autohome.

It comes as no surprise, after Toyota last week announced it would begin production of an "all-new, three-row, battery electric SUV" in its Kentucky, USA plant from 2025 onwards.

Officially known only as the bZ Large SUV for now - though referred to as bZ5X by those anticipating its likely name - the model remains relatively mysterious aside from its design apparently being close to production intention.

But its size and three-row layout lead us to suspect this is what might eventually replace (or become the next version of) the Kluger large SUV - or the Highlander as it's known overseas.

Its patent designs, which were likely published quietly by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, show camera rear mirror mounts like the concept instead of traditional glass wing mirrors, while its wheels and trim all match up too.

Officially known only as the bZ Large SUV for now - though referred to as bZ5X by those anticipating its likely name - the model remains relatively mysterious aside from its design apparently being close to production intention.
Officially known only as the bZ Large SUV for now - though referred to as bZ5X by those anticipating its likely name - the model remains relatively mysterious aside from its design apparently being close to production intention.

The only key difference is the patent drawing showing none of the interior, though its body is still long enough to include the third row as seen in the preview bZ Large SUV, all but confirming its connection to the upcoming 2025 SUV.

It's yet to be confirmed if the SUV will be built elsewhere, which would greatly increase the likelihood of it being available in right-hand drive for markets like Australia.

Chris Thompson
Senior Journalist
Racing video games, car-spotting on road trips, and helping wash the family VL Calais Turbo as a kid were all early indicators that an interest in cars would stay present in Chris’ life, but loading up his 1990 VW Golf GTI Mk2 and moving from hometown Brisbane to work in automotive publishing in Melbourne ensured cars would be a constant. With a few years as MOTOR Magazine’s first digital journalist under his belt, followed by a stint as a staff journalist for Wheels Magazine, Chris’ career already speaks to a passion for anything with four wheels, especially the 1989 Mazda MX-5 he currently owns. From spending entire weeks dissecting the dynamic abilities of sports cars to weighing up the practical options for car buyers from all walks of life, Chris’ love for writing and talking about cars means if you’ve got a motoring question, he can give you an answer.
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