Toyota has given its new Urban Cruiser small SUV its European debut at the Geneva motor show, the latest addition to its distinguished 4x4 vehicle heritage.
The new model is aimed firmly at the urban all-road market, where European sales have almost doubled since 2002. Scheduled to go on sale in the UK during the first half of 2009, it responds to customer demand for stylish SUVs with lower fuel bills and CO2 emissions: Urban Cruiser is expected to come in below the 140g/km emissions benchmark.
Urban Cruiser draws on Toyota’s rich history of SUVs, which began in 1951 with the launch of the legendary Land Cruiser and went on to feature the landmark RAV4 in 1994 – the model which created the European compact SUV market.
The new Urban Cruiser is designed as an aspirational urban SUV that is very close in spirit to the discontinued three-door RAV4 with its compact dimensions, clever packaging, practicality and four-wheel drive transmission.
Muscular Styling
Urban Cruiser has the rugged, muscular appearance expected of an SUV, but with five-door practicality and compact dimensions that make it suitable for driving around town. It measures 3,930mm long, 1,725mm wide and 1,540 tall, with spacious accommodation for five inside, plus ample luggage space.
A high belt line, additional bumper protection, prominent lower door sills and pronounced wheel arches give the vehicle a robust appearance. The headlamps flow back from the front grille, out towards the wings, further accentuating the car’s wide and tough road stance.
Turn indicators are recessed into the door mirrors and the rear lamp units extend into the rear wings and tailgate. The show car is fitted with five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and a special Ice Blue paint finish.
Urban Cruiser will play a significant role in cutting the overall emissions of Toyota’s model range to an average 140g/km by 2009.
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