Toyota Turns The Most Unexpected Car Into A Time Attack Beast For SEMA

Based on a 2026 model year all-wheel-drive bZ model, the bZ Time Attack Concept exists to explore the performance potential of Toyota’s Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology. The start of the EV's transformation is with a bump from 338 horsepower to over 400 and extends all the way to a bespoke aerodynamics package.

Going Full Race Car
What does this mean? The bZ is transformed from a pedestrian family crossover into a wide, low, race car. But, it's not as simple as giving it wide fenders and as much downforce as possible. Electric vehicles still need cooling, which means a new approach to airflow management. The bZ Time Attack Concept has a one-off widebody and aero system that allowed Toyota to push its rapid prototyping capabilities to meet the SEMA deadline, and combined laser scanning, CAD development, and large-scale 3D printing to come up with an end product.

The fender arches have been digitally modeled, printed at full scale, then hand-finished "for strength and precision." The result is a six-inch track increase to the bZ and a fully integrated aero package that includes side skirts, a front splitter, rear diffuser, and big rear wing. The race car is also lowered by six inches. The bZ Time Attack Concept sits on Tein coilovers and springs, 19x11-inch BBS Unlimited wheels, and gargantuan 305/30ZR19 XL Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 tires.

“Every SEMA build challenges Toyota’s engineering and design teams to outdo themselves from the year before. With the bZ Time Attack Concept, the challenge was greater than ever: transforming an all-electric Toyota vehicle into motorsport reality.”
– Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing.

Toyota's Motorsports Garage team didn't just slap on a set of big brakes; the Alcon system with Hawk pads are adapted from Toyota’s 86 Cup and Corolla TC race programs. According to Toyota, the "custom PPG pearl/metallic white, metallic black, and red tri-color scheme, demonstrates what happens when additive manufacturing and traditional race-car craftsmanship intersect." Inside, a FIA-spec 4130 chromoly cage provides safety and stiffens the chassis, and Toyota uses OMP HTE-R racing seats and OMP harnesses.

All-Electric Race Cars
It sounds like the bZ Time Attack Concept uses the same powertrain, but tuned to balance outright power and battery life. Time attack and hill climb racing are typically short runs, which should suit electric vehicles. While Toyota's press release gives plenty of information on the chassis and body, all we get on the powertrain is that the Toyota R&D-tuned electric motors deliver over 400+ hp, thanks to bespoke ECU calibration.

Toyota's Mike Tripp goes on to say that the bZ Time Attack Concept "is not only a striking visual concept but also a serious performance contender,” and seemingly a guinea pig for what BEV race cars could become:

"The bZ Time Attack Concept isn’t just a concept car - it’s a rolling test bed for the next generation of EV motorsport development."
In a similar vein, the new Toyota Corolla Concept unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show this week had a few GR sport-like hints that made us wonder whether the sedan could possibly be under consideration for expanding the GR lineup. The Corolla Concept on show is an electric vehicle too, and together with this bZ Time Attack Concept, makes us wonder how seriously the automaker is looking into the concept of electric sports cars.