Toyota has released the first official images and videos of a new SUV, confirming that the full presentation will take place on February 10. An analysis of the teaser allows for several key conclusions:
Updates and Details from the Teaser
The latest visual materials confirm previous assumptions that this is a three-row seating model. At least in the version shown, the interior is configured for six or seven seats, with individual chairs in the second row.
The teaser also reveals several important details: a large panoramic glass roof, USB ports integrated into the base of the C-pillar, and a digital instrument cluster paired with a large tablet-style infotainment screen mounted on the center console.
The window design, with a small triangular base at the front, matches patent images found earlier. This reinforces the idea that this is the production version of the bZ Large SUV concept, which could potentially be named Highlander.
Model Origin and Brand Strategy
Toyota’s mysterious teaser has finally taken shape, and it points to a large vehicle. All available information leads to the already confirmed three-row electric SUV, production of which is planned in Kentucky this year.
A few years ago, Toyota clearly announced a new wave of 15 vehicles, which at the time were electric. In 2023, the company confirmed that a large three-row electric SUV is part of this plan. The model is based on the 2021 bZ Large SUV concept, internally called bZ5x and planned for production launch in the USA. There is a high probability that this is exactly what Toyota showed today.
Patent Images and Possible Name
Comparing patent photos of the concept, especially the rear, with the new teaser reveals similarities in body lines, light signatures, and overall proportions. Toyota has not confirmed the name, and this is where it gets most interesting. The company is gradually moving away from active reliance on the “bZ” branding, while signaling a broader reboot of its EV strategy.
Toyota has already confirmed plans for US production of a three-row electric SUV, which will be assembled in Kentucky with batteries from its North Carolina plant.
Industry observers widely refer to it as the bZ5X, although Toyota itself has not officially confirmed this name. This is expected to change very soon. If the model becomes the new Highlander, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise. Using a recognizable name, perhaps with an addition like bZ Highlander, for the electric platform could be a smart move. It’s a name customers already trust, and as Ford showed with the Mustang Mach-E, familiar branding can significantly help launch a new electric vehicle.
Market Context and Future
Toyota already has the Grand Highlander, so converting the original version to electric could be a clever move to keep both models with their own distinct characters, especially since the larger gasoline-powered Grand Highlander is clearly outselling its sibling. Last year, sales of the standard Highlander fell by more than 37 percent, while Grand Highlander sales grew by almost 91 percent.
Of course, the model could be named bZ5x, Grand Crown, or even bZ Highlander GR Sport. We will likely learn more next month in California, with vehicle production expected in the first half of 2026. This launch comes against the backdrop of significant changes in Toyota’s global electric vehicle strategy, as the company tries to combine technological innovation with the proven strength of its iconic names. The success of this model could be an indicator of how ready the audience is to accept electrified versions of classic family cars, especially in a competitive market like the American SUV segment.