Toyota’s first all-electric SEMA build steps onto the stage
The bZ Time Attack Concept marks Toyota’s first-ever battery-electric vehicle to debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. Built from the 2026 model-year bZ all-wheel-drive platform, the concept demonstrates the company’s exploration of high-performance electric vehicle engineering. The car is designed specifically for track-based disciplines such as time attack competitions and hill climbs.
Toyota states that the concept serves as a test bed to examine how electric powertrains can be developed for motorsport applications. The foundation vehicle already delivers 338 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time of 4.9 seconds in production form. Engineers have tuned this version to produce more than 400 horsepower, directed to all four wheels.
This build is not a future production model but a one-off engineering exercise. Toyota positions it as part of its continued effort to understand the dynamics of electric vehicles under extreme use, with an emphasis on battery performance, aerodynamics, and chassis integration.
Aero engineering meets additive manufacturing
The rear diffuser of the bZ Time Attack Concept is a product of extensive aerodynamic development and additive manufacturing. The widebody and full aero suite were digitally modeled using laser scanning and CAD design before being 3D printed at full scale and hand-finished. Toyota’s Add Lab in Georgetown, Kentucky, played a key role in this process by enabling rapid prototyping and reducing development time.
Engineers from Toyota Research and Development, Toyota Racing Development, and several advanced suppliers collaborated to integrate aerodynamic elements within the vehicle’s electric platform. This approach required rethinking airflow management and thermal balance, as electric vehicles generate different cooling demands compared to internal combustion counterparts.
The finished components, including the diffuser, rear wing, and side skirts, were fabricated to provide both downforce and structural integrity. Toyota reports that the vehicle sits six inches lower than stock, with a six-inch wider track, maximizing the performance benefits of the new aero package.
The bZ platform reimagined for motorsport
This angle highlights how the production bZ’s overall silhouette remains recognizable, yet nearly every exterior panel has been modified. The car’s stance and proportions are altered significantly through a wider body and more aggressive aerodynamic fixtures. The black, red, and pearl white tri-color paint scheme reflects Toyota’s corporate racing livery and distinguishes the concept as a competition-focused build.
According to Toyota, the car’s re-engineering effort was comprehensive. In addition to the redesigned bodywork, the concept incorporates a reinforced chassis and full FIA-spec 4130 chromoly roll cage. The body panels were produced using large-scale 3D printing and hand finishing, showing a blend of modern manufacturing and traditional motorsports craftsmanship.
The vehicle’s mechanical setup features TEIN coilovers and springs, as well as Alcon brakes paired with Hawk pads—components borrowed from Toyota’s 86 Cup and Corolla TC race programs. Together, these upgrades are intended to produce consistent handling characteristics under sustained high-load operation.
Focused aerodynamics and functional detail
The bZ Time Attack Concept’s rear design centers around aerodynamic efficiency. The large wing and multi-fin diffuser are intended to provide downforce stability at high speeds and during cornering. Toyota’s engineers describe the challenge of packaging such elements on an EV platform, where airflow must balance both aerodynamic and cooling needs for the battery and motor systems.
Rather than adapting off-the-shelf parts, Toyota used a hybrid approach to design and fabrication. Through a combination of CAD modeling and 3D printing, the team was able to make iterative design adjustments rapidly. This method reduced traditional lead times and enabled closer coordination between engineering and design divisions.
Toyota reports that the build’s aerodynamic system was tested to ensure durability under extreme track conditions. Every component—from the endplates to the rear diffuser—was produced to withstand high levels of downforce without compromising body structure.
Electric power meets motorsport calibration
Under the hood, the bZ Time Attack Concept features Toyota R&D-tuned electric motors delivering more than 300 kW, equivalent to over 400 horsepower. The powertrain is managed through a custom ECU calibration designed for consistent torque delivery and regenerative braking behavior suitable for circuit conditions.
This setup represents a notable increase over the standard all-wheel-drive bZ model’s 338 horsepower. The calibration and cooling systems were optimized to maintain performance through repeated high-load cycles, which are typical in time attack and hill climb events. Toyota has not disclosed the specific battery capacity or range of this prototype, as it was engineered for performance testing rather than efficiency metrics.
The vehicle’s suspension and braking systems were specifically selected to complement the added output. Coilovers and racing-grade brakes support the heavier mass of the EV platform while providing predictable control during aggressive maneuvers.
Retaining Toyota’s EV identity
Inside, the bZ Time Attack Concept retains the familiar BEV control layout of Toyota’s production bZ models. The dash-mounted selector and drive mode controls remain visible, emphasizing the connection between the concept and its production origins. Despite its stripped-down nature, the cockpit still includes core EV functionality for drive mode selection and energy management.
Toyota notes that the intent was to showcase a motorsport-ready adaptation of an existing BEV platform, rather than a complete redesign. By preserving recognizable production components, the concept maintains relevance to the vehicles customers can purchase.
This approach allows Toyota to gather data on how production-level components perform when subjected to competition-level forces. It demonstrates how an electric crossover architecture can be adapted for experimental performance testing without altering its underlying identity.
Safety and structure take priority
The cabin of the bZ Time Attack Concept features dual OMP HTE-R racing seats equipped with OMP harnesses. A full FIA-spec 4130 chromoly roll cage integrates into the chassis, improving rigidity while meeting motorsport safety standards. The interior is stripped of unnecessary trim, wiring, and insulation to reduce weight and accommodate the safety structure.
Toyota’s Motorsports Technical Center and Motorsports Garage team focused on balancing safety with performance during construction. Each weld and joint within the cage is designed to meet competition-grade requirements. The minimal interior surfaces are left exposed to allow for easier inspection and maintenance.
While the car is not homologated for professional series use, it was engineered to demonstrate Toyota’s understanding of race-ready safety design for future electric performance projects. The inclusion of full restraint systems and race seats reinforces the concept’s functional rather than aesthetic purpose.
A proof of concept for electric competition
Viewed from above, the bZ Time Attack Concept emphasizes the extent of its aerodynamic and stance modifications. The increased track width, lower ride height, and widebody arches show how far the project diverges from the base model. Toyota used these proportions to examine how weight distribution and aerodynamic balance interact on a high-powered electric platform.
Marty Schwerter, Toyota’s lead builder and director of operations at the Motorsports Technical Center, stated that the project’s goal was not to produce a showpiece but to test the limits of the new BEV platform in a motorsport context. The engineering team faced challenges unique to electric competition cars, particularly in battery management and aerodynamic packaging.
The finished product reflects Toyota’s stated interest in exploring future performance possibilities for electric vehicles. It also illustrates how additive manufacturing and digital design are becoming increasingly central to concept and prototype development.
Toyota broadens its electrified performance portfolio
The bZ Time Attack Concept joins Toyota’s larger effort to expand its all-electric and electrified lineup. Alongside this concept, Toyota plans to introduce the new bZ Woodland and the C-HR BEV for the 2026 model year, both intended to extend customer options in the electric segment.
Toyota says the bZ Time Attack Concept fits within its broader theme for SEMA 2025, “Powered by Possibility,” which includes vehicles representing every powertrain category—gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel cell electric. Each build reflects a different aspect of Toyota’s ongoing work in powertrain development.
As displayed at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 4–7, 2025, the bZ Time Attack Concept serves as both a research tool and a public statement of intent. Toyota indicates that the lessons learned from this project will influence how its future electric vehicles are engineered for both performance and reliability.
