Toyota's electric style hero? Toyota and BYD's co-developed Sport Crossover confirmed for production in Europe, but will it come to Australia to take on the Polestar 2?

Toyota Europe has confirmed a new electric car will launch within the next couple of years as part of a slew of EVs and low-emissions vehicles slated for release in the near future.

The Toyota Sport Crossover Concept, first presented at Auto Shanghai in April, was developed by Toyota in partnership with BYD and is aimed at the Chinese and European markets. 

It’s just one of “six dedicated BEV models” Toyota aims to introduce in Europe by 2026.

Toyota says the move is guided by the company’s aim to meet “full carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050”, though the production version of the Sport Crossover will come relatively soon, Toyota Europe expects to launch it to the market in 2025. 

Initially, the Sport Crossover was confirmed only for a launch “in the Chinese market in 2024”.

While the concept should be a relatively close match with the eventual production version, small changes and more details in terms of technical specifications should be revealed closer to 2026. 

Speaking to UK outlet Autocar, Toyota’s Director of Marketing and Product Development, Andrea Carlucci, confirmed the Sport Crossover is longer, wider and lower than the bZ4X, calling it the "perfect style hero" of the new EVs.

"We want to deliver something which is closer to the new cues of Toyota - being a bit obsessed with sportiness, especially at the back with the coupé or fastback design,” Carlucci told Autocar.

At 4.9 metres long, it’s a smidge longer than the likes of a Hyundai Ioniq 6 or a BMW i4, though as a ‘crossover’ style model it could be a closer rival to the likes of the Polestar 2.

The joint development of the Sport Crossover is notable, particularly this week, as BYD’s local importer EVDirect took aim at Toyota’s hybrid tech and flagged an incredibly lofty ambition of outselling the nation’s most popular car brand.

Australians hoping to see the Sport Crossover land here shouldn’t hold their breath for confirmation just yet, if at all.

Toyota Australia is yet to launch its first electric car, the bZ4X, locally after numerous delays. The bZ4X was initially slated for a mid-2022 launch, with local General Manager of Product Planning Rod Ferguson saying at the time “we want it in months, we don’t want it to drag out to years.”

It is now expected to roll into dealerships in February 2024.