GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Toyota C-HR for Oz
New 1.2-litre turbo engine to power Toyota Australia's all-new baby SUV from early next yearToyota may be late to the compact SUV party, but it's confident of blowing its rivals out of the water when it enters Australia's booming mini-crossover market early next year.
The Japanese brand revealed its all-new small SUV — which will continue the CH-R concept's name into production, but not its radical styling — at the Geneva motor show overnight, and confirmed it will go on sale in the first quarter of 2017.
When it does, it will be powered by a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that develops 85kW of power at 5200-5600rpm and maximum torque of 185Nm over a broad 1500-4000rpm, paired to a stepped CVT automatic or six-speed manual and available in both front- and all-wheel drive configuration.
Measuring 4350mm long, 1795mm wide, 1550mm high and riding on a 2640mm wheelbase, Toyota's answer to the Mazda CX-3 will come standard with key safety features including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a reversing camera.
Expected to be priced similarly to other rivals such as the Mitsubishi ASX and Honda HR-V (both of which start from under $25,000), the C-HR will be a big seller, according to Toyota Australia's Public Relations Manager, Mike Breen.
Talking to motoring.com.au in Geneva at the C-HR's global premiere, Breen said: "We're a bit late to the party, but we'll make up for lost time."
He said Toyota has high expectations for the compact SUV and is confident it can rival segment leaders in terms of overall sales.
"That's our plan," said Breen. "We'll elbow our way into the segment."
That segment — small SUV — is absolutely pumping in Australia, with sales up 27.4 per cent year on year — from 87,352 units in 2014 to 111,275 in 2015.
Although the production C-HR isn't as adventurous as the concept, Breen said its progressive design would be the first of many from Toyota, which appears to be taking a leaf out of the Lexus style book.
"It is absolutely a break-out design," he agreed. "That's the Akio Toyoda influence. I think Toyota has been known as mainstream and conservative for, well, forever. So it's time to break that mould and become a little more 'out there' with design.
"I think Akio's realised that and that's the direction they're travelling," said Breen.
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