Toyota says the bZ Time Attack, its first electric concept car, will help improve EV racing. The bZ has a six-inch wider track and sits six inches lower than the 86 Cup and Corolla TC race cars. The suspension and brakes have been completely changed from those of those cars. The bZ now has an aerodynamic body kit with a big rear wing and a diffuser, and the two-motor engine has been improved to make more than 400 horsepower. Toyota’s SEMA work has mostly been about cool engine swaps. Toyota showed off a GR86 last year with the GR Corolla’s turbocharged three-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. This year, Toyota put a modern turbocharged V-6 in an old Land Cruiser. Putting a NASCAR V-8 engine in an old FJ45 truck was Toyota’s crazy plan two years ago. They called it the “FJ Bruiser.” The Japanese car company is trying something new this year by presenting the bZ Time Attack, its first electric SEMA idea, before the show starts next week. The fully functional prototype of the bZ Time Attack is what Toyota calls a “rolling test bed for the next generation of EV motorsport development.” The model that will be displayed on the car show stands is not just static. This plan is based on the 2026 bZ, which is said to have 338 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. Toyota wasn’t happy with the performance, though, so they used a special ECU program to tune the electric motors to produce more than 400 horsepower. Toyota didn’t give speed numbers, but this should cut the 0-60 mph time by about 4 seconds. Tein coilovers and springs are used in the totally redesigned suspension to improve handling. An Alcon system and Hawk pads from the GR86 Cup and GR Corolla TC race cars are used to enhance braking performance. Toyota also gave the bZ a meaner look with aggressive aerodynamics, a widebody package featuring black 3-D-printed wheel arches that stick out, a tall rear wing, and a sharp front lip. Under the back bumper is a long diffuser that extends, and the front fenders have large vents. The normal bZ Time Attack is six inches higher, and Toyota has added six inches to the track to make it wider. These wheels are 19 inches and have Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 tires with a section width of 305/30. The bZ concept will handle corners well thanks to its bigger track and better suspension. The Time Attack features OMP racing seats with OMP harnesses and a full roll cage that meets FIA standards on the inside, keeping with the race-car theme. The strange push-knob switch from the bZ has been moved to the dashboard, which is the only place where you can tell it apart. The back seats and most of the cabin have been completely stripped down. It’s unlikely Toyota will build a high-performance bZ like the Time Attack. Still, the idea shows that the company wants its upcoming electric cars to be fun and is exploring ways to use electric power in racing.
