Making its world debut at the 2016 Geneva motor show, the Toyota C-HR gives Toyota a new presence in the crossover market.
Designed to stand out both within the Toyota line-up and in its segment, it represents Akio Toyoda’s determination to allow greater stylistic freedom and promote engineering creativity in order to achieve eye-catching designs and enhanced driving pleasure.
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The unique character of the Toyota C-HR demonstrates the flexibility of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) for vehicle developers in the three key areas of design, powertrain and dynamics, allowing them to deliver a fresh take in the increasingly popular crossover segment.
As a result, the Toyota C-HR remains remarkably true to the general features of the concept-cars that attracted so much public attention at Paris in 2014 and Frankfurt in 2015. The coupe-like lines are a testimony to the resolve of its designers to create a style that stands out in the Toyota range, and to establish a new direction for mid-sized crossovers.
See also: Toyota C-HR: Concept Car vs Production Car
2016 Toyota CH-R: Hybrid and TNGA
The Toyota C-HR also brings innovation to its segment through the introduction of a hybrid powertrain. Using Toyota’s very latest 1.8-litre hybrid system, the driving experience is matched to a level of efficiency previously unseen in the crossover segment.
Finally, guided by Chief Engineer Hiroyuki Koba’s vision “Response, Linearity and Consistency” the driving dynamics have been deliberately benchmarked on the precision and control experienced at the wheel of a modern C-segment hatchback, thanks to the refinement of the TNGA platform and its low centre of gravity.
The aim was to allow the Toyota C-HR to carry its speed through corners, with excellent body control and steering fluidity. Toyota C-HR is designed not only to be enjoyable when flowing through busy city traffic but also on the open road independent of the surface condition.
Toyota C-HR: A Coupe-like Design
The Toyota C-HR introduces a distinctive styling featuring a body with a diamond architectural theme with wheel arches projecting prominently at all four corners to emphasise the new crossover’s strength and rigidity. The Toyota C-HR’s modulated structure combines the powerful lower body and raised ground clearance with the slim and sleek cabin profile of a coupe.
The front represents a further development of Toyota’s Under Priority and Keen Look design identity. The slender upper grille flows from the Toyota emblem into the sleek, aggressive wing extremities of the headlamp clusters and wraps fully around the front corners of the vehicle.
The lamp clusters incorporate full LED lighting with light guides and sequential turn signals, giving the Toyota C-HR its own unique visual signature. Below, the enhanced three-dimensionality of the bumper that’s integrated with the wheel flairs and the trapezoidal lower grille architecture reinforce the Toyota C-HR’s wide, firmly planted stance.
The movement of the blacked out rocker panel towards the front and rear wheel, along with the shoulder axis that runs through to the front and rear emphasize the fast-looking, “lift-up” feel of the thin body. The Toyota C-HR’s coupe-like styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated within the C pillar, and the powerful projection of the sweeping roofline into a large, skeletal frame rear spoiler.
To the rear, the strongly tapered cabin integrates the back door while securing luggage space. This contrasts with the pronounced flaring of the wheel arches to give the new crossover a wide and extremely powerful stance. Standing proud of the tapering body work, prominent rear light clusters may also be equipped with LED lamp technology to give the Toyota C-HR an equally expressive rear light visual signature.
This car is the result of a global cooperation between design centres on three continents and was managed by Project Chief Designer Kazuhiko Isawa. The original exterior design was created by Calty, the Toyota design studio in California.
Toyota C-HR: Responsive and Frugal Powertrains
The Toyota C-HR will be equipped with two powertrains in the UK including the latest-generation full hybrid power plant: With CO2 emissions of less than 90 g/km it is unrivalled within its segment.
Delivering 122 DIN hp, this new hybrid powertrain is more efficient and lighter, and offers sharper performance than previous hybrid systems. Detailed design changes to the engine have resulted in a thermal efficiency of 40% – a world-beating performance for a petrol unit. Other hybrid system components have been made lighter and smaller, and have been repositioned for optimum packaging, further contributing to the car’s lower centre of gravity.
Alternatively, the Toyota C-HR is available with the new 115 DIN hp/85 kW 1.2 litre turbo engine, (first shown in the Auris). This will have a choice of 6-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable automatic Transmission system, which is developed to meet expectations in response and direct feel for European customers familiar with manual and automatic gearboxes. The CVT is available in front-wheel or 4-wheel drive versions. A 2.0-litre CVT-only model will also be available but only for certain markets, (not for UK).
Toyota CH-R: pictures from the Geneva motor show
Our photographer was on hand at the Geneva motor show to take some great photographs of the Toyota C-HR as it was unveiled.
See the moment the Toyota C-HR was unveiled at the Geneva motor show.
The front of the Toyota C-HR shows the further development of the Toyota Under Priority and Keen Look design identity.
Toyota C-HR stands for Coupe-High Rider, again highlighting its sleek, crossover design.
The Toyota C-HR will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey, while the hybrid powertrain will be produced at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s engine plant in Deeside, North Wales.
Toyota C-HR Dimensions
The Toyota C-HR sits in the heart of the C-Crossover segment. What this means is that the Toyota C-HR is just 4cm shorter than the previous generation RAV4 and longer than the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke.
Overall length 4350mm
Overall width 1795mm
Overall height 1565mm (Hybrid = 1555)
Wheelbase 2640mm
All information is correct at the time of publishing
What will the starting price be?
Hi Tommo,
Thank you for your post. C-HR price and specifications will be released later on this year, so keep an eye on our blog for the latest news. Many thanks.
Why no hybrid AWD in the UK? Surely in our climate there is the market and need
Hi Ruadhan,
Thank you for your post. Prices and specifications can change and will be confirmed later on this year. Therefore we would suggest keeping an eye on our blog for the latest news. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions please let us know.
The website above only mentions the 1.2 turbo engine in CTV form as being available in AWD. Will you please confirm AWD will be available on the manual gearbox of this engine.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your post. Prices and specifications can change and will be confirmed later on this year. Therefore we would suggest keeping an eye on our blog for the latest news. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions please let us know.
Hi, why not AWD with the hybrid in the UK, surely there’s the market with our climate?
Hi Ruadhan,
Thank you for your post. Full technical specifications and grades will be made available throughout this year, therefore stay tuned to our blog for more news. Many thanks.
Thanks Charlotte, it looks awesome but 4wd hybrid would make it even better for me!
What are the expected tyre size options for this?
I see the Geneva show car has 225/50/R18 but will there also be a higher profile tyre e.g. 17 inch? And please can you make the higher profile tyre available as an option in several car grades, not just the entry level version?
Hi JayZ,
Thank you for your post. Full technical specifications and grades will be made available throughout this year, therefore stay tuned to our blog for more news. Many thanks.
concept looked cooler
Are you taking provisional orders for 2016 delivery in UK?
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your post. Full technical specifications, grades, and order dates will be made available throughout this year, therefore stay tuned to our blog for more news. Many thanks.
Please make a hybrid AWD version of this car
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for your post. We will pass your comments on to our product department. Hope this helps and if you have any more questions please let us know.
Please make the hybrid available in awd for the UK
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your post. Please keep an eye on our blog for all the latest news and features. Many thanks.
The original concept of this was truly amazing, it is truly sad they destroyed it. Why put the time and effort into a car that everyone loved and turn it into just another suv/crossover. I was really looking forward for the C-HR to come out to purchase one for myself however with the new model that wont be happening….