Revealed back in March, the facelifted Toyota bZ4X is now being previewed at the ongoing Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) ahead of a local launch at the end of the year. Another prohibitively expensive EV for the archipelago? Not so fast, because this one will actually be CKD locally assembled.
The move, PT Toyota Astra Motor said, is part of the carmaker’s pledge to support the government’s policy of accelerating EV adoption while “strengthening the empowerment of the national industry.” The company is also promising a more affordable bZ4X as part of the localisation (along with greater availability of spare parts), meaning it should cost a damn sight less than the 1.19 billion rupiah (RM307,400) asked by the outgoing model.
It will also be a better EV than the last one. According to Antara News, the new bZ4X will be offered solely in front-wheel-drive form, with power now up 20 PS to 224 PS (165 kW); a commensurate increase in battery capacity (marginally increased to 73.1 kWh) also bumps up the range by 73 km to 573 km on the WLTP cycle.
Meanwhile, the bZ4X’s polarising design has been ever so slightly homogenised. Toyota’s distinctive “hammerhead” horizontal front blade has been retained, but the LED daytime running lights are now C-shaped, while the main headlight projectors have been cast off, integrated into the vertical air curtains. Elsewhere, the massive angular plastic wheel arch trims are now painted either in gloss black (shown here) or body colour. New wheels are also on, measuring 20 inches in diameter here.
Inside, there’s a redesigned dashboard, sporting a new 14-inch touchscreen that incorporates the air-con controls and physical temperature control knobs, similar to what you’ll find on Lexus’ models. You also get a completely revised centre console featuring twin 15-watt Qi wireless chargers for the first time.
Under the skin, the revised suspension settings and adjustments to the bodywork have delivered lower noise and vibration levels and improved comfort and driving dynamics. The available Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of driver assists include adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
With CKD local assembly in ASEAN now a viable option, could Malaysia follow suit? Remember, UMW Toyota Motor previewed the car several times (we’ve even driven it) ahead of an expected local launch last year, but appeared to have pulled the plug at the last minute, likely due to uncompetitive pricing next to the advancing Chinese opposition.
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not that i care for this car as the reviews are not overwhelmingly positive, but it should be an indication that toyota malaysia is sleeping at the wheel as other countries in se asia are previewing and launching new toyota models left and right while umwt malaysia only pushes some dumb ‘special edition’ trd model OR some other perodua rebadge lol.
Maybe you just keep it in Japan.
the interior cannot be more toyota than it is