Toyota’s funky rival to B-segment
crossovers such as the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 is flashy enough as it is, but
here are even more extreme examples.
The star car here is the C-HR TRD, which wears a
suite of accessories bearing the Toyota Racing Development name. This two-tone
red car with black roof adds on a front spoiler, rear spoiler, trunk lid
spoiler, front grille garnish, prominent black overfenders, 17-inch gloss black
wheels and plastic garnish between the rim spokes (the silver bits). The
package costs 75,900 baht.
Also on display is the C-HR wearing a full
Modellista kit. This pearl white example looks fetching from afar, but closer
inspection reveals rather garish bits – the fake “gills” on the front wing make
no attempt to look legitimate, and the twin pipes are as simulated as they
come. Nice rims, though. The Modellista parts aren’t yet available in Thailand
officially, but there will be no shortage of private importers.
The C-HR is made at Toyota Motor Thailand’s Gateway
plant in Chachoengsao, which exports the B-segment SUV to over 100 countries,
including Malaysia. Two engine options are available here – a naturally
aspirated 1.8 litre and a hybrid 1.8 litre. The 1.8 Dual VVT-i motor makes 140
PS and 175 Nm of torque, and is paired to a CVT automatic with seven virtual ratios.
As is the norm in Thailand, the engine is E85 compatible.
The hybrid model combines a 2ZR-FXE Atkinson-cycle
1.8 litre engine (98 PS/142 Nm) with an electric motor with 72 hp and 163 Nm.
Max combined output is 122 hp, but there’s plenty of torque from rest. The
battery that powers the motor is a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) unit.
Toyota claims fuel economy of 24.4 km/l and CO2
emissions of 95 g/km. Toyota’s hybrid system is well-proven, but there’s a
five-year warranty for the system and 10-year warranty for the hybrid battery
for peace of mind.
The 1.8L can be had in Entry and Mid trim levels,
while the Hybrid comes in Mid and Hi variants. The base 1.8 Entry (979,000
baht) comes with auto halogen projector headlamps, LED tail lamps,
17-inch alloys, black fabric seats, seven-inch touchscreen audio (USB, AUX,
Bluetooth) and seven airbags (front, side, curtain, driver’s knee). The top
non-hybrid C-HR, the 1.8 Mid (1.039 million baht), adds on fog
lamps, leather and keyless entry/push start.
The Hybrid Mid (1.069 million baht) will
net one all of the above plus full LED headlamps, full LED tail lamps and
T-Connect telematics. The top 1.8 Hybrid High (1.159 million baht)
gets the full works, further adding on navigation and the Toyota Safety Sense
pack.
