Toyota Said To Launch Bold-Looking Nissan Qashqai Rival In Early 2016

Toyota is closing in on its C-segment crossover project, aimed at giving

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by Dan Mihalascu

August 10, 2015 at 13:37

Toyota is closing in on its C-segment crossover project, aimed at giving the Nissan Qashqai a run for its money when it launches early next year.

The good news is Toyota’s upcoming crossover will stick close to the striking looks of the C-HR Concept, unveiled at last year’s Paris Auto Show. Autocar learned that potential customers surveyed by Toyota favored the concept’s looks over more conventional interpretations of crossover designs.

The wild-looking C-HR Concept (pictured), which features heavily flared wheel arches, “floating” taillights and angular haunches, was created after Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda asked designers to be more adventurous.

The new Qashqai rival is expected to be based on Toyota’s New Global Architecture, the company’s equivalent of VW’s MQB platform. The new architecture has been designed to accommodate a wide range of models, from compact to large vehicles, in front, rear and all-wheel drive configurations.

The new platform is said to allow more efficient packaging, with the C-HR Concept featuring a more spacious cabin than the Qashqai despite a slightly smaller footprint. The new crossover may debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016.