SOMETIMES the most meaningful concepts on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show are those based on existing vehicles. The Toyota C-HR Hy-Power Concept is a case in point.
At first glance there isn’t much to separate this hot-hybrid from the regular C-HR that is already proving popular.
The Toyota C-HR Hy-Power Concept shares much of it’s styling with the standard model. Admittedly it’s quite a funky style that doesn’t appeal to all, but the ability to stand out in a crowded market segment isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It certainly makes it easier to find in a crowded car park.
The team behind the Toyota C-HR Hy-Power Concept project wanted to create a car that didn’t rely on add-on elements so they went with amplifying the inherent qualities of the production car’s design through colour, finish and detailing.
A new Dark Carbon silver paint with a matt finish accentuates the C-HR Hy-Power’s sharp lines and deeply sculpted surfaces. The effect is heightened by the use of gloss black elements, including the lower front lip spoiler, the area above the Toyota emblem on the front of the car and the wheel arch trims. Dark chrome sustains this effect across the window frames and in the 20-inch alloy wheels.
The interior reflects the exterior themes with seats finished in black leather with orange headrests and bolsters. The design is replicated on the inner door panels, which also feature orange arm rests. A further flourish is provided by the orange finish for the highlight trim that extends the full width of the instrument panel and frames the Toyota Touch 2 multimedia touchscreen.
The heart of this concept lies in the use of a new hybrid powertrain that offers more power and performance than the 120bhp system featured in the current production Toyota C-HR. This reflects a significant development of Toyota’s technology that will see higher performance hybrid options being made available in all its core models.
More details regarding this expansion of hybrid will be revealed early in 2018.
Which is fine, but what we really want to know is when can company car drivers take advantage of the extra performance whilst still retaining the tax benefits of driving a hybrid? Over to you, Toyota.
