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NEW TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID
Prestige, comfort and efficiency
By launching the new RAV4 model range we introduce our first hybrid compact SUV in Europe.
Its full hybrid drive system combining a 2.5 litre petrol engine with a powerful electric motor, the new RAV4 Hybrid is available in both front-and all-wheel drive variants.
Developing total system power of 197 hp, the new RAV4 Hybrid marries a seamless, 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 8.7 seconds to class-leading fuel consumption of only 4.9 l/100 km* and remarkably low, highly tax-efficient CO2 emissions as low as 115 g/km*.
Reinforcing the uniquely quiet, refined and sophisticated driving experience offered by Toyota’s Hybrid technology, the new RAV4 further benefits from enhanced ride comfort and driving dynamics, a quieter cabin environment, stronger, more dynamic exterior design, improved interior sensory quality and functionality, and all the latest innovations in safety and advanced technology.
The Toyota Safety Sense system features a newly developed set of active safety technologies; a new Panoramic View Monitor displays a 360 degree, bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings to aid parking and slow speed maneuvering; and the restyled interior benefits from the enhanced functionality of both a 4.2” multi-information screen set between the combi-meters and a 7”, full-colour centre console screen incorporating the Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system.
Hybrid Heritage From Revolutionary Idea to World-leading Technology
The idea of an alternative powertrain for cars was already alive at Toyota in the 1960s. But it is in the early 90s that we actually initiated a production-based development programme of environmentally-responsible automotive technologies.
With the 1997 launch of the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, we instigated a modern day revolution in automotive electrification, and a major industry milestone in vehicle powertrain development and sustainable mobility.
Following the launch of the third generation Prius in 2009, the model became the first full hybrid vehicle available as a complete, stand-alone model range; the 2012 addition of Prius+ and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid creating the Prius Family.
Successive generations of Toyota’s Hybrid powertrains became ever more powerful, yet lighter and more fuel and CO2 efficient. We’ve further expanded our hybrid model line-up with the introduction of the Auris Hybrid in 2010, the Yaris Hybrid (the only full hybrid vehicle in the B-segment) in 2012 and the practical Auris Hybrid Touring Sports in 2013.
Today, cumulative TOYOTA hybrid sales in Europe almost total in 1 Million since the European launch of the first Prius in 2000.
Whereas, Toyota Motor Corporation has sold over 8 million full hybrid vehicles worldwide. This is more than any other manufacturer. Concrete, tangible proof of Toyota’s hybrid powertrains environmental record, is that these sales have already contributed to an estimated reduction in automotive emissions of approximately 58 million tonnes of CO2.
RAV4 Heritage
From Niche Model to Global Car
Toyota can rightfully claim to have created the compact SUV market with the launch of its first Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive (RAV4) in 1994.
When the first generation RAV4 was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show that year, it was quite different to a traditional 4×4. Launched as a compact (3.695 M) 3-door model, the first ‘Urban 4WD’ featured a relatively small, 2.0 litre engine mounted transversally within a monocoque bodyshell, and all-rounded independent suspension. The compact SUV market was born.
In 1994, Toyota sold 53,000 units of RAV4. The following year the sales figures doubled, then tripled the year after that, in 1996. Since then, annual sales have steadily grown with each successive generation, turning Toyota’s pioneering compact SUV from a niche model to a global car. In 2013, RAV4 sales figures outstripped those of 1994 by a factor of 10.
Today, available in 170 countries, four generations of RAV4 have sold more than 6 million units around the world, 1.5 million of them to European customers.
Since 1994, the C-SUV segment has changed and matured. Where early customers often bought compact SUVs as an alternative to sporting hatchbacks and coupes, today’s segment growth is fuelled by families looking for a more engaging and fashionable but nevertheless practical alternative to MPVs and estate cars.
The Power of Two
The perfect response to the demands of a more mature, sophisticated and competitive C-SUV market, Toyota’s new RAV4 Hybrid combines the 20 years of experience in compact SUV evolution with the latest generation of our innovative, full hybrid powertrain technology.
The new RAV4 Hybrid marries dynamic styling, premium interior quality, ingenious packaging and versatility with a full hybrid powertrain offering improved driving feel for an even more a sophisticated driving experience.
The new RAV4 hybrid offers class-leading fuel consumption figures and remarkably low CO2 emissions, promoting significant taxation and Benefit-in-Kind savings.
Driving dynamics – Enhanced Ride Comfort and Steering Feel
The new RAV4 model range benefits for numerous measures designed to enhance ride comfort and driver involvement without sacrificing either stability or controllability.
The linear-type shock absorber had been changed to combine degressive- and choke-type valves, allowing for better adaptation of damping force to differing vehicle speeds and road conditions, and improving ride comfort. The coil spring constant has also been optimised to create a flatter ride feel.
The steering gear box benefits from an increase in rigidity of the installation faste-ning points, promoting a better steering feel.
Improved NVH for a Quieter Cabin
With a particular emphasis on rear seat occupant comfort and ease of conversation within the cabin, the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) performance of the new RAV4 has been comprehensively improved.
The surface area of the floor silencer has been increased by some 55%, the rear finish plate reshaped, and sound absorbing material added in several locations around the rear deck, reducing road, tire and exhaust noise.
The sound insulation efficiency of both front and rear doors has been improved through an increase in sound absorbing material and the addition of door trim outer insulator, further lowering wind and road noise.
And the instrument panel silencer size has been increased to reduce the transmission of engine noise into the cabin.
Innovation – Safety and Advanced Technology
The new RAV4 range is equipped with ‘Toyota Safety Sense’, a newly developed set of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic situations.
Combining a camera and millimetre-wave radar for a high level of detection performance, the RAV4’s Toyota Safety Sense system features a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with a Pedestrian Detection function, Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Automatic High Beam (AHB) technology.
New RAV4 will continue to offer Blind Sport Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert within its safety equipment on top of newly introduced Toyota Safety Sense.
Panoramic View Monitor
A new Panoramic View Monitor uses four cameras, mounted on the underside of each door mirror, and the front and rear of the new RAV4 to display a 360 degree, bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings.
Unique to Toyota, the system may be activated to give a clear, 3D visualisation of the surroundings whilst the vehicle is still parked, before a gear is selected and the parking brake released.
The monitor can display a composite view which combines the images from any of the four cameras, as well as the path guidance lines of the Rear View Monitor system, providing an invaluable aid to parking and slow speed manoeuvring.
The system’s wide, 180 degree front and rear view screen projections allow the driver to check blind spots to the front and rear sides of the vehicle. The side cameras remain operable even when the door mirrors are retracted. And a panoramic zoom view function allows for the closer observation of nearby objects that would otherwise be difficult to see.
4.2” Multi-information Screen
The newly designed instrument binnacle of the RAV4 is equipped with a 4.2” colour TFT (Thin Film Transistor) multi-information screen. Controlled by the steering wheel switch gear, with the possibility to coordinate its display with that of the 7” full-colour centre console screen, the multi-information screen offers a wide variety of functions and displays.
These include the customisation of vehicle settings, trip computer information, Smart Stop & Start telemetry, a hybrid powertrain energy monitor, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time AWD vehicle posture and steering lock indication.
Exterior Design – Stronger, More Dynamic Image
The front of the new RAV4 reflects its stronger, more dynamic styling with a po-werful, more prominent execution of Toyota’s Under Priority and Keen Look design language.
The Toyota logo is prominently set within a slender upper grille which anchors new, Keen Look LED or halogen headlamp clusters, both of which incorporate LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) to give the new compact SUV a readily identifiable frontal signature.
The middle grille has been widened, and the lower, trapezoidal grille significantly enlarged in keeping with Toyota’s Under Priority family model styling. The extremities of both middle and lower grille combine to form deep, foglamp-housing pockets placed at the very extremities of the front bumper to emphasises the RAV4’s wide, stable front track.
The front underguard has been restyled to give it a stronger visual emphasis, reinforcing the new SUV’s rugged, off-road credentials.
To the side, a new wheel arch and rocker garnish places a cleaner, bolder emphasis on a vehicle profile further enhanced by a choice of new 17” and 18” alloy wheel designs.
The rear of the vehicle features new rear lamp clusters incorporating LED techno-logy, giving the new RAV4 a high-tech light signature. The bumper has been restyled to give it greater prominence and place a greater emphasis on the vehicle’s width and broad stance. And the rear underguard has also been redesigned to give it greater visual prominence.
The model range flagship, the RAV4 Hybrid may be identified through the use of exclusive, hybrid blue logos and ‘Hybrid’ badging, as well as model-specific 17” alloy wheels.
The new RAV4 will be available in choice of nine exterior body colours, of which two -Dark Red metallic and Blue metallic- are new.
Interior Design -Improved Sensory Quality and Functionality
The sophisticated and stylish architecture of the RAV4 interior has been enhanced to combine better functionality with greater visual harmony and consistency and improved sensory quality.
The driver’s instrument binnacle, centre console and gear lever surround console have been redesigned, the dashboard, door panel and centre armrest trims restyled, and new, more consistent, premium quality finishes adopted throughout.
The driver’s instrument binnacle now features a prestigious, twin analogue dial design incorporating a 4.2” multi-information screen. The centre console panel has been redesigned to incorporate a large, 7” multimedia system touch-screen.
The dashboard, door panel and centre armrest trims have been restyled for greater comfort and tactility, and matt black and neutral silver finishes applied throughout for improved sensory quality. Further interior visual harmonisation has been achieved through the use of consistent, blue back-lit instrument, and ambient, lighting.
An expanded range of interior colour schemes will be available, including four high grade leather upholstery choices, Beige and Grey being refreshed in colour and style while Tan being the new offer.
*Subject to final homologation
Do not miss the Toyota booth in Hall 8, stand D19.
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