Spied: 2017 Toyota C-HR, Bound For 2016 Geneva Motor Show

Following the debut of the Toyota C-HR Concept Concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, prototypes of the production C-HR model has already been spotted within the vicinity of Germany’s Nurburgring circuit.

The C-HR concept previews Toyota’s upcoming crossover model that will compete against the Honda HR-V.

The production model C-HR is expected to make its global debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March, before going on sale later that year as a 2017 model.

Compared to the concept car, this road-going C-HR prototype appears to be far more production ready, with the most obvious difference from the concept car being its visibly larger rear doors.

The concept car debuted in Frankfurt with a very coupe-like styling in the rear half of the car, disguising the four-door car as a two-door.

This prototype however, appears to use conventional door handles for the rear doors, while the rear-side windows are made smaller with a sharply rising kink as the lower window lines flow towards the rear.

The rear of the car is heavily disguised so it is difficult to tell if the production C-HR will stay faithful to the concept car’s radical looking rear-end.

As the C-HR Concept wore blue-tinted Toyota badges in front, the car will almost certainly be offered with a hybrid option, with a powertrain that is likely to be shared with the recently launched, all-new fourth generation 2016 Toyota Prius.

Peeking underneath the C-HR, its exhaust muffler’s installation appears to be similar to that used on the Prius, so there is a high possibility that the C-HR will also adopt the Prius’s double wishbone rear suspension.

The car is almost certain to be built on Toyota’s latest TNGA platform.   

Will it be coming to Malaysia?

It’s too early to tell if this model will be available in Malaysia. At the moment, the C-HR appears to be a Europe-only model. The concept car’s debut location, as well as that for the upcoming production model’s (Geneva), seems to suggest that this is a very Europe-focused model.

We have already reported earlier that UMW Toyota is looking at the Toyota Sienta, expected to be launched in Malaysia in late-2016/early-2017, as its answer to the dominating Honda HR-V. The Sienta is not a crossover but a lifestlye MPV whose image is youthful enough to attract the crossover buyers crowd.