By: IOL Motoring Staff
Paris - Looking like it belongs more on a Dakar stage than your local suburban pavement, the new Toyota C-HR Concept is dripping with Toyota's "emphatic new design language."
In fact, Toyota describes it as an "early hint" of a vehicle that the company would like to bring to a showroom near you.
Naturally the design would be toned down to some degree, but providing the designers don't use too much sensible restraint, Toyota could end up with a rather bold new weapon that could even steal some of the Nissan Juke's thunder in the funky crossover market.
Given speculation abroad that this concept previews a new Auris-based crossover, the final product could be a bit bigger than the Juke, however it is still expected to slot beneath the Rav4 on Toyota's price ladder, which could mean a sub-R300 000 starting price (in today's money) if the vehicle lands in South Africa.
Not much has been revealed about the concept vehicle's mechanical composition - except that it will be a hybrid. The production version, though, would likely offer a wider range of conventional petrol and diesel engines.
As for its exterior design, Toyota refers to a "diamond" styling theme, complete with lower bodywork that's been sculpted to create "faceted surfaces" intended to remind us of a gemstone.
The front of the car shows how Toyota is evolving its current design theme and likely gives us a realistic look at the face of future Toyotas, while the rear end takes a more radical approach with its "floating" taillights that emphasise the vehicle's broad shoulders.
Great. Now just shut up and build it, Toyota.