[Toyota C-HR News]

Toyota’s C-HR will be the first full hybrid in the subcompact crossover segment and it has just been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new C-HR will rival the Honda HR-V, Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-3 with its futuristic design that closely resembles last year’s concept model. In order to stand out in this highly competitive segment, Toyota would have to do something new and that is where the newly developed TNGA platform comes in. The full hybrid variant will have a 122-hp 1.8-liter gasoline engine under the hood which features a thermal efficiency of 40% and on top of this, its C02 emissions will be 90g/km or less. Owners of the new C-HR will be able to boast about their segment leading emissions numbers.

Maybe you don’t want a hybrid, well Toyota has you covered. They will sell a full gas variant alongside the hybrid and running it will be a turbocharged 1.2-liter engine borrowed from the Auris with 114 horsepower output. It’ll can be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable automatic Transmission system depending on your preference. If you prefer CVT over manual and if you’re not living in the UK, you’ll have the option of choosing a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine.

As for trims, a more expensive version will be available with full LED headlights, sequential turn signals and light-emitting diode taillights but not much is known beyond that.

Toyota will launch the Euro Spec C-HR in the second half of the year and in North America early next year.

 

[TubeMan]

Did they get any interior shots? Also very excited about the sequential turn signals; Toyota didn't just go with an edgy body they went all out on the exterior and these signals are usually reserved for luxury cars.

 

[Guy]

I remember that Lincoln made the MKZ sedan the same price whether you got the petrol version or the hybrid version. Any possibility that wil be the case here? Do you think that the hybrid will be priced higher than the petrol version?

 

[SiR]

Always had a feeling Toyota would offer a gas model, I remember seeing somewhere they said they'll still focus largely on gasoline engines and merge into hybrids, but take it slower with the EV route

Could we see this as an EV one day?

 

[TubeMan]

Toyota seems to be going in the hybrid direction more than full electric. i'm hoping they price it somewhere close to the RAV4, which starts around $24,000.

 

[SiR]

Yeah that's what i'm seeing so far but hopefully once they do go the EV direction that this becomes one of the first SUV/CUV's they have to join it.

Unless they do what BMW did and build entirely new vehicles as EV's.

 

[TubeMan]

Probably build a new platform for electric vehicles because I'm not sure if the C-HR is optimized for a large amount of batteries. Gas is fine and I'm sure it's fuel sipping too.

thermal efficiency of 40%

Sounds pretty good and above average.

 

[SiR]

new platform, maybe, but they will indeed need to build a new car rather than taking something they already have like the HC-R and just fit it with an electric powertrain along with everything that completes it.

 

[Guy]

I'm sure whatever the new platform is, it will be useful for more than just the C-HR. Any idea what else a new platform like this could underpin in the future?

 

[SiR]

Lexus was said to be coming out with a compact crossover so that's another thing that plays into this, and it all happened after we heard about the HC-R. Easy connection to make and easy thing to see come to market. Stupid move if Lexus doesn't follow through with it.

 

[TubeMan]

I like how they kept the hidden door handle for the rear doors but it looks a bit awkward to grasp and pull.

 

[SiR]

Yeah they're lucky the design easily allowed for that to happen and its a treat to us since a lot of high end vehicles have hidden door handles, at least we don't have to feel left out when it comes to that part of design.