This Monday, Toyota said more all-electric bZ models will be launching in Europe and teased a plug-in hybrid version of its C-HR subcompact crossover. Meanwhile, Toyota is discontinuing sales of the compact C-HR SUV in Canada. As reported by driving.ca, a Toyota Canada spokesman confirmed that C-HR production will end after the 2022 model year.
The C-HR debuted on Canadian shelves in 2017. In 2021, its biggest year ever, 8,176 were sold. It was succeeded by the all-new Corolla Cross, which made its debut in the middle of 2021.
The Corolla Cross can be had with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD); it is also available as a Hybrid vehicle, but the C-HR can only be had with FWD. The base price for a front-wheel-drive (FWD) Corolla Cross is $24,890, while the AWD version will set you back $26,290.
The Europe-only Toyota C-HR Plug-in
Already available as a hybrid in Europe, the C-HR now comes in a plug-in hybrid variant with batteries built there. In a sneak peek at an upcoming generation, Toyota revealed the C-HR Prologue Concept on Monday. Larger wheels, reduced overhangs, an interlocking grille with narrow headlights, and a three-tone paint job all indicate that this concept is based on the production vehicle.
The modern C-HR and this concept both originated in Toyota’s European design lab in the south of France. While it’s becoming increasingly evident that Toyota has no plans to bring the C-HR to Canada, the company has not yet commented on whether or not the C-HR plug-in hybrid will be offered in the United States.
Other Toyota Electric Cars Update
Toyota’s new “Beyond Zero” brand includes the all-electric 2023 BZ4X, built in partnership with Subaru and set to go on sale soon in Canada; it is also rumoured to be one of six BZ models that will be offered in Europe by 2026, all in service with the company’s goal of making its European operations carbon neutral by 2040.
Toyota believes that in order to minimize CO2 emissions over the next 10 to 15 years, it is best to employ a mix of battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hybrid electric vehicles due to the current low supply and high costs of battery materials, and lack of infrastructure.
One of the new cars for Europe might be a production version of the bZ Compact SUV Concept, which made its debut at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show. While the bZ3 sedan also rides on the e-TNGA chassis, its battery and propulsion technology are supplied by Chinese company BYD, hence, a different version of the car would be exported to Europe. Other clues may be found in the swarm of designs Toyota showed off in December of 2021.