Toyota has revealed the first images of the C-HR concept, its three-door show car precursor to a vehicle anticipated to compete with rival Nissan’s compact crossover offerings when it makes its debut in production form next year.
Toyota says the C-HR concept vehicle is the company’s “innovative vision for a compact crossover model”. From what we see in the pictures, it appears to be Toyota’s take on a Juke rival rather than the Qashqai as we previously reported.
Judging from these photos, we like the overall shape of the concept car and its detailing; its raked roofline and floating pillars; angular bodywork; and expressive taillamp design, which hover over the rear haunches. The floating elements especially are on par with current design trends.
According to the company, the C-HR concept is a further development of Toyota’s ‘Under Priority and Keen Look’ design identity while simultaneously introducing themes which hint at a future design direction for the Japanese automaker’s vehicles.
The concept introduces an expressive ‘diamond architecture’ design theme — the lower bodywork has been sculpted to represent the facetted surfaces of a precision-cut gemstone. Contrasting the highly-facetted lower body, protruding wheel arches and aggressive rear shoulder, is a low, sharply sloping roof that lends a poised dynamism to the profile. The large, aero-inspired floating rear lamp clusters allude to the power beneath the concept hood, accentuating the rear haunch.
Toyota says the C-HR concept “combines a powerful new design language with an engaging driving experience and a hybrid powertrain”, which has a positive ring to it. But we’ve tried to buy the Brooklyn bridge before and been swindled. We’ll have to wait get behind the wheel of the production version and hit the road to make our assessment.
