Toyota’s unprecedented hybrid SUV should be revealed this month

Special Asian media reports this week important news about Project D03Bas the future compact hybrid SUV that the brand is developing for emerging countries has become known.

The model in question can be revealed to the world as early as the 15th of this month.

According to unofficial information that began to circulate in countries such as Indonesia, India and Thailand, there are at least three possibilities for the name that the SUV should adopt.

Some media cars are focusing on the future design Icon selection, while others are betting on the Urban Cruiser Icon name, riding on the Urban Cruiser Hyryder that is already on sale in India.

A third possibility is for Toyota to christen the SUV as the Yaris Cross, a model that is already in Europe but has a completely different proposition.

The D03B project shares several features with the Yaris Ativ, the successor to the current Yaris Sedan and built on the DNGA platform developed by Daihatsu for more affordable cars.

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Other speculations are that the unprecedented compact SUV could reach a length of around 4.30 m and provide a spacious cabin for up to 5 passengers thanks to the 2.65 m wheelbase.

This model deserves our full attention as it has a strong chance of being used by Toyota here in Brazil as the next compact hybrid to come into production in Sorocaba (SP).

The SUV in question will be smaller and more accessible than the Corolla Cross hybrid, which is also produced in the interior of São Paulo.

Toyota’s new strategy is to help spread electric technology by offering a low-cost model.

In Asia, the Yaris Ativ has an attractive hybrid option based on a 1.5-litre petrol engine. This solution improves consumption and emissions figures by using only the electric motor to drive the vehicle, leaving the thermal energy unit to act as a generator to charge the system’s main battery.

We can only see if this technology is in Toyota’s plans here.