After a lot of hushed movements, Toyota is finally ready to reveal yet more of its upcoming small crossover, the C-HR. This time they have chosen to show the world its first official glimpse at the interior, which they claim is just as bold as the exterior.
C-HR, in case you were wondering, stands for Coupe-High Rider. With that out of the way, the all-new model from Toyota will be arriving on Australian shores in early 2017, slotting in between the Corolla hatch and RAV4, and where it will face competition from the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Nissan Juke.
The design work that culminated in the C-HR’s evolution from motor show floor concept to faithful production model was done at Toyota’s European design centre, with its interior cues taking from their ‘Sensual Tech’ philosophy, and one that should find its way to the rest of Toyota’s offerings before long.
The interior itself is based on layers that informs the placement of the the instrument panel, HVAC controls, central control screen, and other switchgear that’s oriented slightly towards the driver and features a diamond motif that matches the exterior body design.
An 8-inch display is mounted on above the central cluster, integrated into the dashboard in a way that gives the clarity and ease of sight of a floating display design while still appearing wrapped in the dashboard as a single piece. Australian models, however, will be fitted with a smaller 6.1-inch panel that extends from the instrument panel, curiously, and will also have most of the piano black accents seen here replaced with cool-grey inserts.
The ‘layers’ theme also applies to the C-HR’s seats, evidently, with a two-tone design that looks quite sporty and supportive for a crossover, further emphasised by use of multiple materials and textures – something Toyota has done to the rest of the airy cabin as well.
The C-HRs sold in Australia will also have heated seats, smart entry and start system, privacy glass, bi-tone metallic paint finishes, and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. In terms of safety, local models will have pre-collision system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering control, automatic high beam and a reversing camera.
Under the bonnet, the C-HR will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 85kW and 185Nm, mated to either a six-speed manual or CVT sending power to either the front wheels or all four, depending on configuration.
For more on Toyota vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
