Toyota's Nissan Qashqai contender on its way

C-HR concept-inspired crossover on track for 2016

Toyota is readying a brand new model for the fiercely contested crossover sector. Set to go up against Nissan’s big-selling Qashqai, it’ll take its styling cues from the striking C-HR concept when it arrives in early 2016.

The C-HR was unveiled at the 2014 Paris motor show, where its broad stance, muscular haunches, flared arches and ‘floating’ tail-lights were given the thumbs-up by potential buyers looking for something a little more eye-catching than the usual traditional crossover designs. Its looks were highly influenced by company boss Akio Toyoda’s recent request for more adventurous styling on corporate products.

Next March’s Geneva motor show is the likely launch pad for the newcomer, which will use Toyota’s new equivalent of Volkswagen’s MQB platform. The new structure is called Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), and among its assets is that it allows for greatly enhanced cabin room. This would theoretically allow a car the size of Nissan’s Juke to have interior space to rival the Qashqai’s.

The name Auris Cross has been suggested for the newcomer, which will sit above the RAV4 in the line-up. It was first spied testing in Germany around 18 months ago.