Toyota reveals upcoming C-HR interior

TOYOTA has revealed what its all-important upcoming C-HR small SUV will look like from the inside, with a design theme that builds on the traditional Toyota interior look while adding extra flair that is unique to the new model, it says.

The design concept, dubbed “sensual tech” by Toyota, aims to blend high-tech functionality with a fashionable design flair, to attract a wide range of buyers when the C-HR lands on Australian shores early next year.

The Japanese car-maker offered a first glimpse of the C-HR's exterior in concept form at the 2014 Paris motor show and again at last year's Frankfurt show, but this is the first look at the interior of a car that will be Toyota's foray into the lucrative small SUV segment.

The interior is highlighted by a full-width blue sash running across the dashboard from door to door, and a driver-oriented touchscreen that extends from the top of the dashboard, instead of being flush-fitted.

The 6.1-inch touchscreen is designed to allow a lower-profile dashboard, which Toyota claims increases road visibility.

The blue highlights on the dash and instrument switches are only available for European models, with cool-grey coloured inserts being used for Australian-spec models.

Many of the switches in the cabin continue the diamond-like shape theme, which Toyota says mirrors the angular diamond motif of the exterior design.

The leather seats are upholstered in a two-tone colour scheme – black with accents in pale-mauve that also features on the top of the dashboard and in door trim inserts.

Further ornamentation on the dash is achieved with a glossy “piano black” finish applied to centre console, dash and steering wheel inserts, while the gear lever, air vents and instrument cluster are accented with a “satin silver” trim.

Toyota chief designer Kazuhiko Isawa said that Toyota is focusing on making a car that would add a new flair to the small SUV segment.

“That newness comes from SUV robustness and strength. But we're not trying to make an SUV that's dynamic rather, a dynamic vehicle with SUV-like properties,” he said.

The Australian C-HR will come with safety features such as a pre-collision system with autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assistance, automatic high beam and a reversing camera.

Options include heated seats, keyless entry and start system, privacy glass, 18-inch alloy wheels and bi-tone metallic paintwork.

In terms of size, the C-HR will be positioned between the Corolla and RAV4, measuring 4350mm long, 1795mm wide and 1550mm high.

It will employ a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that generates 85kW of power and 185Nm of torque, between 1500rpm and 4000rpm.

The diminutive three-cylinder will be paired to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The introduction of the C-HR can not come soon enough for Toyota, as the compact SUV segment is the fastest growing vehicle class in Australia, having swelled from fewer than 40,000 vehicles in 2011 to more than 110,000 last year.