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Toyota is likely to add at least one more mid-sized SUV to its line-up, the company’s European executive vice-president has suggested, as it tries to plug a gap in its range between the C-HR and the RAV4.
The C-HR has been a hit in Europe, where its edgy styling has proven a great draw to ‘conquest’ customers from rival brands. But senior Toyota official Matt Harrison has told Auto Express that the company sees additional potential for a further entry in the class - potentially a more conventional SUV, like a Nissan Qashqai, that is smaller than the RAV4 but still more practical than the C-HR.
“The way we see the segments expanding, some are so big frankly that you can’t cover them with one product,” Harrison said. “You need a couple of entries, at least, within the segment. C-HR is a good example; with C-HR, we’re successfully delivering eight per cent segment share with a product that is an emotional choice. It’s chosen for style, design and driveability rather than outright practicality.
“But there’s a whole huge chunk of the C-SUV segment that we don’t really appeal to. We’re playing at the top end of the C-SUV segment and fishing into the premium segment, almost. So we see further opportunities with SUV products, frankly.”
He added, “Between now and 2025, there is ambition for Toyota’s European sales to reach 1.4 million. That will come through two or three additional products that aren’t known yet, which will further extend our crossover and SUV line-up.”
Click here for our in-depth review of the Toyota RAV4 SUV...
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The C-HR has been a hit in Europe, where its edgy styling has proven a great draw to ‘conquest’ customers from rival brands. But senior Toyota official Matt Harrison has told Auto Express that the company sees additional potential for a further entry in the class - potentially a more conventional SUV, like a Nissan Qashqai, that is smaller than the RAV4 but still more practical than the C-HR.
- SEE MORE Toyota C-HR review
“The way we see the segments expanding, some are so big frankly that you can’t cover them with one product,” Harrison said. “You need a couple of entries, at least, within the segment. C-HR is a good example; with C-HR, we’re successfully delivering eight per cent segment share with a product that is an emotional choice. It’s chosen for style, design and driveability rather than outright practicality.
“But there’s a whole huge chunk of the C-SUV segment that we don’t really appeal to. We’re playing at the top end of the C-SUV segment and fishing into the premium segment, almost. So we see further opportunities with SUV products, frankly.”
He added, “Between now and 2025, there is ambition for Toyota’s European sales to reach 1.4 million. That will come through two or three additional products that aren’t known yet, which will further extend our crossover and SUV line-up.”
Click here for our in-depth review of the Toyota RAV4 SUV...
Continue reading...