Daihatsu's new Terios hits Geneva

TOYOTA mini-car subsidiary Daihatsu has announced it will present a redesigned version of its tiny Terios at next week’s Geneva motor show.

The good news is the all-new Terios, after 300,000 sales across more than 110 nations, is a strong possibility to eventually slot into Toyota Australia’s 4WD range below the larger new RAV4 compact off-roader.

The new Terios first broke cover as a Japanese domestic market model earlier this year, badged as both a Daihatsu and a Toyota.

If selected from a range of possibilities to become a sub-RAV4 offering for Toyota Australia, it’s not expected to arrive here within 12 months.

Although details on the new 4WD tiddler will remain scarce until its February28 reveal, Daihatsu says the redesigned Terios features a "high-output high-torque" 1.5-litre engine, a turning circle of just 9.8 metres and a full-time 4WD system with a mechanical, centre-locking differential – something the new RAV can’t claim.