After the launch of the all-electric Toyota bZ4X and the recently facelifted RAV4, many thought the compact crossover C-HR would no longer have a place in the Toyota portfolio. Misconception As the C-HR Prologue concept unveiled in Brussels last week demonstrates, the C-HR is getting a successor. And with a plug-in hybrid drive.
But first to the optics: “Our mission was to go further than ever before,” says Toyota designer Lance Scott. The result is the design language of C-HR Prologue. The work with its edges and beads is quite futuristic and reminiscent of a vehicle from a science fiction movie. Time will tell how this will turn out for us Europeans.
Working very close to the series
In any case, the work is very close to the series and it is evident that Toyota designers are trying to create a uniform look for the new models. We already know about the hammerhead-based pointed front face and hook-shaped daytime running lights from the bZ Compact SUV Concept and the next Prius, where the new C-HR will share technology.
As a result, the crossover is based on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA-C), where engineers reduce weight and increase rigidity. As usual, the Japanese are still very cautious about technical data. All that is known is that a two-liter gasoline engine was installed under the hood, and a transaxle electric motor on the front axle. As with the upcoming Prius, they should probably bring around 223 hp (164 kW) of system performance.
Almost 80 kilometers of electric
Parallels continue with batteries. The new C-HR, which will likely launch in early 2024, will also receive the new battery with an increased capacity of 13.6 kWh. Due to the slightly less aerodynamic body and higher weight, the C-HR won’t be able to cover the 80km range of the oncoming Prius, but it will still be able to cover a reasonable distance purely electrically.