Live blog – 2014 Paris Motor Show : Toyota C-HR Concept

C-HR Concept: a strong hint at a future design direction for Toyota cars

Making its world debut and capturing everyone’s attention at the show is a vision of our future with Hybrid – the synthesis of 20 years of creativity – the C-HR Concept car. Just as the RAV4 brought a fresh and unique view to the 4×4 market in 1994, the Toyota C-HR Concept represents Toyota’s unique view of the compact crossover segment.

Introducing an expressive new, diamond architecture styling theme to the segment, the new concept is packed full of eye-catching details that have been sculpted to represent the facetted surfaces of a precision-cut gemstone.

The new look which was a result of a global cooperation of design centres, represents a further development of our Under Priority and Keen Look design identity, but introduces new styling themes that hint at a future design direction for Toyota vehicles.

Sat beneath its coupe profile with its floating spoiler-tipped roofline, and dramatic bodywork, sits a new platform designed to satisfy customers’ demands for state-of-the-art handling and control. In conjunction, a new advanced full hybrid powertrain offers a uniquely engaging driving experience, whilst delivering outstanding efficiency.

The purpose of all concept car designs is to gauge reaction to new styling and design direction, so with head-turning looks, agile driving dynamics and advanced powertrain, we hope that a compact crossover like the C-HR will become a reality for Toyota.

Elsewhere on the stand, our vision for mobility in the future is impossible to miss. In contrast to many other manufacturers, we do not believe there is one ultimate technology for the future, we feel the best way of powering a car will depend entirely on how the customer intends to use it.