Toyota C-HR nears production phase, to hit Japan market by end-2016



Toyota has unveiled new details of the Toyota C-HR compact crossover that is to be sold in Japan. The Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 rival will go on sale as soon as the end of this year, which is much sooner than initially thought.

Stylistically, the production version will look almost identical to the model which debuted earlier this March. Two engine options are offered in Japan; a turbo petrol and a hybrid. It has a cabin space measuring 1,715mm (not to be confused with wheelbase) and a width of 1,455 mm; the turbocharged C-HR rides at a height of 1,565mm, whereas the hybrid sits 15mm lower at 1,550mm. The C-HR will also be the first ever Toyota model to come with a unique LED-based sequential turn signal. 2017-toyota-chr-2

As for the engines, the Japanese market will get a 1.2-litre turbocharged mill that makes 112 hp and 185 Nm of torque. The hybrid powertrain is the same as the Prius – a 120 hp 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol hybrid. Two variants of each powertrain make a total of four trims available for purchase. The S and S-T denote standard variants, while G and G-T are the ones with all the bells and whistles. The “T” moniker stands for turbocharged.

Another surprising addition here is the use of double-wishbone suspension setup for the rear axle, with SACHS shock absorbers offered as standard. It also boasts a minimum turning radius of 5.2 metres, comparable to that of a regular hatchback.2017-toyota-chr-5

All C-HR variants sold in Japan will be equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P active safety system. This includes Pre-collision System, radar cruise control, Lane Departure Alert (with steering control), Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. As such, expect a 5-Star rating in the Euro NCAP crash safety test.

With the rest of the world getting the Toyota C-HR in 2017, its Malaysian debut could well take place sometime towards the end of 2017. Judging by the popularity of subcompact crossovers in this land and with a new plant in Klang scheduled to open by 2019, a locally assembled C-HR certainly makes for an interesting proposition.


IMAGE GALLERY