Toyota Motorsports Garage Debuts All-Electric "bZ Time Attack" Concept at 2025 SEMA Show
- MM24 News Desk
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Toyota has unveiled its first-ever battery-electric SEMA build, the radical bZ Time Attack Concept, a purpose-built all-wheel-drive machine designed to conquer time attack circuits and hill climbs. Revealed at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, this high-performance EV explores the untapped potential of Toyota's electric platform, featuring competition aerodynamics, motorsports-grade suspension, and a power output boosted to over 400 horsepower.
The concept builds on the foundation of the 2026 model year AWD bZ, which in stock form delivers a respectable 338 horsepower and accelerates from 0–60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. “This year at SEMA, we wanted to push ourselves into unexplored territory,” said Marty Schwerter, lead builder and director of operations at Toyota’s Motorsports Technical Center. “It’s a chance to explore, learn, and create something that shows just how much potential exists within Toyota’s BEV platforms.”
Creating a competitive electric time attack car presented unique hurdles. The team had to tackle the two biggest challenges for any EV race car: managing battery performance under extreme duress and integrating a massive aerodynamic package onto an unfamiliar platform. The solution involved a hybrid fabrication approach, reported Toyota. Toyota R&D collaborated with TRD (Toyota Racing Development) and a network of suppliers, utilizing laser scanning, CAD development, and large-scale 3D printing to bring the aggressive widebody to life.
A key player in this process was Toyota’s Add Lab in Georgetown, Kentucky. Led by Sr. Engineering Manager Greg Stewart and Additive Manufacturing Engineer Dallas Martin, the lab’s rapid prototyping capabilities allowed for the creation of full-scale, digitally-modeled fender arches that were hand-finished for precision. This method drastically cut prototyping time, enabling the team to achieve a stunning transformation. The final result is a car lowered a dramatic six inches from stock, with a six-inch wider track and a full aero suite including a rear wing, front splitter, and diffuser.
Under the skin, the performance upgrades are just as serious. The concept starts with a 2026 Toyota bZ AWD platform, with power delivery tuned by Toyota R&D to deliver over 300 kW (400+ hp) to all four wheels. It rides on TEIN coilovers and stops with an Alcon braking system adapted from Toyota’s race programs. The chassis is stiffened by a full FIA-spec 4130 chromoly cage and rolls on massive 19×11-inch BBS wheels wrapped in 305/30ZR19 Continental tires.
“The goal wasn’t to simply create a showpiece—It was to see how far the new bZ platform could be pushed in a motorsport setting,” stated Marty Schwerter. For Toyota, this concept is a rolling test bed, signaling a serious commitment to electrified performance. “With the bZ Time Attack Concept, the challenge was greater than ever: transforming an all-electric Toyota vehicle into motorsport reality,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Marketing. The bZ Time Attack Concept will be on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 4-7.
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