New year, new Toyota C-HR: this is the news of the expected “upper level” of the crossover
Published by The team in News the 11/01/2023 at 11:54
Just a month ago, the Keshiki Forum 2022 took place , the event where Toyota Motor Europe presents the latest news from the Japanese manufacturer. And one of this year's stars proves to be very special for the European team: the C-HR Prologue .
This concept car was designed as part of the European Design Development (ED²) that Toyota maintains in the heart of the Côte d'Azur. And the resulting future commercial C-HR will also assemble its batteries on European soil.
Precisely Toyota maintains that the second generation of the C-HR will be very similar to the concept car . That's why we wanted to revisit the intervention of the design director of the ED², Lance Scott, to delve into the novelties that the Toyota crossover will upgrade.
A crossover with a monstrous presence
With the C-HR Prologue , Toyota wanted to go beyond the coupe-style compact SUV formula that worked so well with the first generation. To do this, ED² has developed the visual concept of Condensed stance monster , something like a "condensed stance monster" which guarantees an impressive presence in a small space.
In this visual concept, design elements push outwards from all angles to show that the vehicle is more grounded. Larger wheel sizes and shorter overhangs also help, which improves road position. In profile, he seems to leap forward, even when stationary, like a cat about to run.
Toyota ensures that the new C-HR will be more spacious than its predecessor, even maintaining the dimensions of a compact (4.30 to 4.50 in length). As we can see in the C-HR Prologue, this could have been achieved with the distinctive triangular tailgate, a recessed C-pillar and more prominent quarter panels.
DIMENSIONS TOYOTA C-HR 2019
Precision organic bodywork
When you want to design something bold and eye-catching, it's easy to get quirky and tacky. For the design of the new C-HR, ED² wanted something as provocative as the first generation, but also elegant and sophisticated . For this he designed the Precision Organic language , resulting from the combination of two seemingly opposite design lines.
On the one hand, we have an organic style , which manifests itself in the fluid and natural surfaces of the bodywork which evolve as we look at the car from different points of view. On the other, a precise style that is found in the most simplified forms of its technological elements and in the sharp edges of its character lines.
It must be said that as a recurring design element, ED² has developed the “ cross diamond architecture ”. To do this, they took the diamond pattern that was already present in the first C-HR, and applied a more fun touch for this second generation.
Browband inspired by the hammerhead shark
A large part of a vehicle's personality lies in the design of the front end, to the point that sometimes you think you see "faces" in this part of the car. Toyota is aware that we live in a time of drastic changes in terms of design, with smaller grilles because less cooling is needed with hybrids, and with narrower and more complex headlights thanks to LED technology.
This is why ED² wanted to create a new design language for fronts which, from this new technological reality, transmit all the personality of its models. Thus came Hammerhead Identity , inspired by the head of the hammerhead shark, and with which this characteristic shape in optics is obtained.
This is a style common to some of Toyota's upcoming vehicles, although the automaker applies it differently to each model so that each has its own personality . In the case of the C-HR Prologue, the horizontal pilot has been replaced by sharper ridges on the nose, while the grille and air intakes are more present than in the 2023 Prius .
Two-tone bodywork? best newt
Undoubtedly, the two-tone bodywork is one of the most eye-catching aspects of the first generation of the C-HR. In the second, it will continue to be present, but more integrated with the shapes and general architecture of the vehicle, and accompanied by a third color accent to highlight certain details .
Thus, the Toyota ED² study makes clever use of colors not only to highlight the beautiful lines and volumes of the vehicle. It also serves to visually illuminate certain spaces and achieve a more balanced elevation. For example, the use of two-tones in the rear half of the vehicle makes the distance between the glass and the wheel arch appear smaller.
It's unclear what colors will be available for the second-gen C-HR, but the Prologue gives us some clues with its color scheme :
- Silver metallic for the front and center of the body.
- Gloss black (called "recycled carbon") for the roof and rear.
- Golden yellow ("sulphur" for Toyota) for the upper spoiler and some lower bumper details.
A sculpted ass to attract attention
The rear of the C-HR Prologue is also a step up from the first C-HR, gaining more prominence where possible. A very different layout of the optics has been made compared to the first generation, with elongated drivers which stem from the C-pillars and extend horizontally below the rear window. All this perfectly integrated into the volumes of the bodywork.
A sculpted indentation just below the LED line transforms the light block into the spoiler itself, mirroring Toyota's backlit emblem . The organic shapes of the bumper are also sculpted, highlighted with red and silver accents.
The entire rear assembly seems framed in this intense sulfur color. It is present in the double upper wing , which in addition to having its aerodynamic function, accentuates the muscular appearance of the C-HR Prologue. And also illuminating the lower part of the bumper, in the form of a diffuser, and which helps to highlight the higher ground clearance of the crossover.
Take it to the next level with technology
State-of-the-art LED optics aren't the only high-tech element present in the C-HR Prologue. The concept car is dotted with various innovations over its predecessor, such as power door handles , flush at the front and concealed next to the C-pillar at the rear.
The side cameras , which function as digital rear-view mirrors, also attract attention. In any case, Toyota could opt for more conventional components in the commercial version of the new C-HR to adjust costs, since its priority is to achieve a model that is truly accessible to everyone.
Not much was shown inside the C-HR Prologue. Perhaps the new curved screens that we have already seen in the bZ Compact SUV will be used for both the dashboard and the multimedia system. What the second-generation C-HR could include is the yoke-style steering wheel , which accompanies the One Motion Grip electronic steering system , and which will finally be available on the European version of the bZ4X .
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions
How could it be otherwise, the second generation of the CH-R will be a hybrid crossover, taking advantage of all Toyota's know - how in this type of mechanics. But in its quest to offer as many electric options as possible , the new model will also offer a plug-in hybrid version .
It will not have a 100% electric version, since this task is reserved for the Beyond Zero family. Concretely, the electric equivalent of the C-HR will probably be the bZ3X, which will be born from the bZ Compact SUV also presented.
As for engine options , we don't have any data but we have several theories. On the one hand, that it retains the variants of the first C-HR of 122 and 184 CV, the latter being more suitable for the plug-in. On the other hand, that it shares the system of the Prius 2023 with 220 CV (between the combustion engine and the electric), to which would be added a more affordable HEV variant with around 140 CV.
Without a doubt, the Toyota C-HR Prologue means raising the bar compared to the first generation. And it will be the same for the commercial version, since Toyota claims that it will be very similar to the concept presented .
(You can see the presentation of the C-HR Prologue from minute 5:30)
There is no launch date yet, but knowing Toyota's times for the first crossover (2 years between the presentation of the prototype and the launch of the commercial version), 2024 could be a good year for the launch of this new Toyota C-HR.
