Toyota looks set to expand its crossover range with a Nissan Qashqai rival based on its C-HR concept car, after disguised mules were spotted testing.
Expected to go on sale early next year, the crossover looks to be sticking closely to the concept's polarising looks in a bid to break into the hotly contested category.
These spy shots show two different prototypes of the same crossover testing on different continents. Both show that the C-HR's two-door coupe style has been translated into a four-door layout.
The car will be made on the manufacturer's TNGA platform, which Toyota hope to build 50% of its models on by 2020, with a four-cylinder powerplant and CVT gearbox, sitting above the RAV4 in Toyota's range. It's expected to be the same size as a Nissan Juke but offer interior space that rivals the Qashqai.
The C-HR was revealed at last year’s Paris motor show. It was distinguished by its heavily flared wheel arches, angular haunches and ‘floating’ rear light clusters, all of which gave it a notably broad stance.
Potential customers are said to have favoured the concept’s looks over more traditional interpretations of crossover themes.
The C-HR’s looks were created in response to a demand from company boss Akio Toyoda for Toyota’s designers to be more adventurous. Recent designs for Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, have shown the initial response to that demand.
The new crossover is expected to be revealed at the Geneva motor show next March.
Toyota’s architecture has been designed to underpin everything from compact to large vehicles in front, rear and all-wheel drive configurations. The next-generation Prius will kick-start use of the TGNA platform.
One of the most significant benefits of the platform structure is that it allows greatly enhanced interior space. The C-HR concept was said to have the interior space of a Qashqai despite having slightly smaller dimensions.
Toyota has also launched a move to upgrade the quality and functionality of its interiors, and this is set to be accelerated as new-generation cars come on stream.
Rumours suggest the crossover could be called Auris Cross, although there has been no official confirmation of this. It was first spied testing in Germany around 18 months ago.
New Toyota UK president Paul van der Burgh declined to comment on specific launch plans but said: “The high growth rate of sales of that sort of vehicle would be very good for us. The concept was excellent and the styling in particular stood out. If such a product were to launch, I’m confident it could be a best seller."
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