The Toyota C-HR will arrive in showrooms during the first quarter of next year; but hold on to your money for now because unless you live in Australia you’re out of luck. And Toyota Australia has announced that the SUV will be offered in two premium grades.
The C-HR’s aggressive exterior is the first Toyota to exhibit a diamond architectural theme with faceted gemstone-like shapes, fluid surfaces and elegantly integrated detailing.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the C-HR represents the next step in the evolution of “SUV” because it does not fit neatly into a category of vehicles that originally focused on the ‘U’ for off-road utility.
“C-HR is a car for people who want something special – those who desire the innovative dynamism and emotional appeal that a traditional SUV cannot offer,” Mr Cramb said.
“It has four doors and a hatch, but it’s not a hatchback; it’s compact while having a large interior and room for five; it has a high driving position, yet it’s not a boxy off-roader.
The higher of the two local grades for C-HR will be called Koba, a tribute to the car’s global chief engineer, Hiroyuki Koba.
Local models will feature advanced safety features including a pre-collision system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering control, automatic high beam and a reversing camera. Additional features for the Koba variants include heated seats, a smart entry and start system, privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The C-HR combines a powerful lower body and raised ground clearance with the slim and sleek cabin profile of a coupe. Wheel arches project prominently at all four corners to emphasise the new car’s strength and rigidity.
The slender upper grille flows from the Toyota badge into the sleek, aggressive wing extremities of the headlamp clusters and wraps around the front corners of the vehicle.
The C-HR’s coupe-like styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated within the C pillar and the sweeping roofline that projects into a large, aerodynamic spoiler. The strongly tapered cabin integrates a top-hinged tailgate and prominent rear light clusters.
Inside, Toyota has debuted a “sensual tech” design concept that combines high-tech functionality with a sensual and fashionable style.
Operating switchgear is slightly oriented towards the driver and an asymmetrical centre console design ensures all controls are within easy reach. Australian models will feature a 6.1-inch touch-screen display and new two-tiered front-seat design.
Diamond-shaped switches evoke the exterior styling cues and the diamond theme is also visible in the door trim pattern, the headliner and the needles of the driver’s analogue instrument dials. Decorative elements are finished in high-quality piano black and satin silver trim with clear blue illumination for the instruments and switches.
