Toyota has released a teaser of its RAV4 Hybrid, which contains little else than a picture of the model’s rear clearly showing the lettering ‘Hybrid’.
The only additional information that the Japanese carmaker has revealed in the teaser is that the CUV is to be launched at New York Auto Show on April 2.
Toyota is being extremely enigmatic with the model. However, one feature recognizable from the rear shot is the different design of the LED tail light.
The current tail light is a wrap-around type with white indicator lamps lined up in the middle of the hatch. Amber lamps are located at the corners. In the new model, the indicator lamp is clear and two strips of light run toward the center.
Toyota plans to sell more crossovers in the near future and RAV4 has been a strong product for the company.
Last year the company rolled out 267,698, a year-on-year increase of 22.7 percent. Last month the company sold 41,767 CUVs — a 25.3 percent rise year-on-year.
Experts in the automobile sector are intrigued by the timing of Toyota’s move to launch the CUV.
Last year the US market for the green vehicles had been subdued and a complete turnaround hasn’t happened yet.
And Toyota has for years been rumoured to be launching a greener variant of RAV4. The company had put off a launch saying it would monitor market demand before launching such a model.
It may be surmised that the carmaker sees an opportunity now.
Ajith Kumar S