Toyota hopes for a smoother start with its redesigned bZ all-electric SUV

The bZ is the second generation vehicle in Toyota's "beyond Zero" lineup. In an increasingly competitive EV landscape, Toyota hopes its newly redesigned and renamed Toyota bZ can stand out. As brands from Subaru to Volkswagen continue to expand all-electric offerings, Toyota is placing its bets on a single EV model for the American market. The change in name may be partly in hopes of distancing the new model in consumers’ minds from the original bZ4X, which began stateside sales in 2022, only to be met with recalls and buybacks . Toyota, for its part, states in a press release that the branding change is just “simplifying the name for customers.” Toyota is hoping for a fresh start and has brought several key improvements to the table. The new bZ will have an estimated range of 314 miles, up from just 252 in the previous model. There is also a significant horsepower boost for all-wheel drive models, reaching 338 hp, and a modest 20-hp boost for front-wheel drive models, measuring in ... Read full article.