A series of future Toyota products and services are making their European debut this week at Kenshiki, a forum event the company is hosting for European media in Amsterdam.
The showcase (kenshiki is a Japanese word for insight) provides a first look at a series of new models due for launch in the coming year. It also introduces Toyota’s new Kinto brand to Europe, which will provide a wide range of mobility services in line with the company’s evolution from traditional car-maker to a mobility provider.
GR Yaris
The new GR Yaris is the second global model (after GR Supra) to be developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing. A pure performance model, it has been created using motorsports technology and experience gained from Toyota’s title-winning campaigns in the World Rally Championship. As well as sitting at the top of the all-new Yaris range – also due for launch during 2020 – it will serve as the homologation model for the snext Toyota Yaris WRC car.
Its features include a dedicated platform, new 257bhp/1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine and a new GR-Four lightweight all-wheel drive system.
Full details of the GR Yaris are available here
Details of the new Yaris range (previously published) are available here.
RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid
The first plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4 will become the new flagship of Toyota’s hybrid line-up when it is launched in the second half of 2020. With equipment specifications to match its range-leading status, it is powered by a 302bhp/225kW, 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid system that can achieve 0-62mph acceleration in 6.2 seconds yet return CO2 emissions from less than 29g/km – performance unmatched by any other plug-in hybrid model in its class.
RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid will also have a new EV pure electric driving mode enabling up to more than 38 miles to be covered with zero emissions and zero fuel consumption (battery and driving conditions permitting). In this mode it will also be able to reach speeds up to 84mph without the internal combustion engine coming into play.
The new model made its debut at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China in November 2019. Toyota has now released further information about its design, packaging and technical features.
Full details are available here.
Second generation Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car
The second generation of Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell saloon is also being seen in Europe for the first time at the Kenshiki forum, following its world reveal at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Revisions to its fuel cell system and a new lay-out of three on-board fuel tanks will help increase Mirai’s driving range by 30 per cent. The new car is built on a modular TNGA platform, contributing to its lower, sleeker and more powerful lines. This also gives the car higher body rigidity, which contributes to more agile handling and responsiveness.
The new Mirai will be introduced later in 2020.
Details are available here.
Introducing Kinto
Kinto is a new Toyota brand dedicated to offering mobility services to users across Europe. It forms part of Toyota’s global vision to evolve into a mobility company by providing all kinds of transportation-related services to people around the world.
Toyota is aiming to increase the mobility services it provides, in addition to traditional private and fleet vehicle sales. Kinto will appeal to new categories of mobility users, including businesses, individuals and even cities. Its activities will include full-service leasing, car sharing, car pool and subscription services and it will prepare for the integration of new automated mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) transport, such as the Toyota e-Palette.
Kinto-branded services will be deployed by market, according to the viability and sustainability of the business case. The initial services to be introduced in some European markets include: Kinto One full-service leasing; Kinto Share car sharing service; and Kinto Join car pooling.
Full details are available here.
ENDS