Is this Toyota’s future baby electric car or the next C-HR?

There’s a new small electric SUV on the horizon from Toyota, but what will power the vehicle remains a mystery.

Toyota showed off its upcoming electric vehicle range in late 2021, with the BZ Small SU EV concept appearing to take many of its bold design cues from the C-HR.

However, it’s unclear whether the small SUV will be offered under the company’s ‘BZ’ family of electric cars – perhaps as the BZ2X – or if a hybrid version will be offered with a more recognisable name, such as the C-HR.

Another school of thought is the model could be an electrified version of the Yaris Cross.

These digital renderings, created by artist Avarvarii, provide a glimpse of what the small SUV could look like when it hits the road – based on patent images uncovered by Drive earlier this month.

Unlike the concept, which had a blanked-off front-end, the vehicle in the patent drawings depicts a grille, suggesting the need for a radiator to help cool a petrol-powered engine.

The two flaps located on the rear quarter panels could also point to a plug-in hybrid – with one being used for petrol, and the other for an electrical connector. Though we do know Toyota has fitted dual flaps to at least one electric vehicle overseas.

At this stage, Toyota is remaining tight-lipped on its mysterious model – but given the recent publication of the patent filings, it’s likely an announcement will be coming soon.