LA show: Toyota’s next RAV4 revealed early
BY TERRY MARTIN | 27th Nov 2012
A series of slightly grainy images that look to have been lifted from an official brochure surfaced on the internet overnight and look to be legitimate, spread across a plethora of blog sites including carstyleblog.com and Volkswagen enthusiast website vwvortex.com that appear to be among the first to have posted the pictures.
Shots of a near-production vehicle in final-stage testing have also surfaced, showing among other things that the new-generation RAV4 has adopted a conventional liftback-style tailgate and had its spare wheel relocated to a more practical position (for accessing the cargo area, not the spare) underneath the rear floor.
Significantly, the new model has also emerged with a sleeker, sportier design that borrows heavily from the latest Corolla’s European styling influences.
The interior has a similar feel to the current model, although the sharper-angled design theme carries into the cabin on the dashboard and door trim, for example.
The centre stack has been completely revamped, with higher-mounted controls, new positions for the air vents and plenty of faux metallic trim.
Toyota heralded the fourth-generation RAV4’s transformation with a teaser video released earlier this month, although the Japanese manufacturer is still to reveal full details.
The redesigned soft-roader is scheduled to arrive in Australia in February, powered by a choice of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines – the 3.5-litre V6 is expected to be dropped – and continuing with front-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.
Overseas reports indicate that Toyota will include a 2.5-litre petrol engine in the mix, along with a new six-speed automatic transmission.
