What seems to happen when we are anticipating a new model of any vehicle? The vehicle is tested somewhere in a supposedly remote location with what is to be a layer of camouflage over it that is supposed to keep us from being able to see what the car will really look like. Such was the case with the new Toyota Subcompact Crossover SUV (yes, another one of those) that was seen testing with a Scion xB. In no way can automakers continue to expect us to believe they really think they are hiding much at all from us with this covering.
Of course we can’t see the detail lines, the area in the back that looks like a spoiler, or possibly an antenna, nor can we see what badge is on the front, but the rest of the vehicle is pretty obvious as you can only camouflage a vehicle so much and still be able to test it. The speculation so far is this new SUV will be based on the new Toyota C-HR that was shown at the Paris auto show last year, but this testing SUV looks a bit different, so what exactly are we going to be treated to?
If you look at photos of the two together, the one hiding under the wrap does offer a similar silhouette to the concept version that was shows in Paris, but it also shows four doors instead of two. Does this mean we will be treated to an SUV coupe with two doors that is built to be a sporty vehicle along with a four door version that is more family friendly? That is still to be determined and will only show itself as Toyota moves forward with this project and lets more and more details be revealed.
There is room for this crossover to make its way to the bottom of the lineup for Toyota and be placed below the RAV4 in regards to size, but rumor has it this could also be a vehicle that carries the Scion badging and be unleashed as a third new model in their lineup which includes the new iM and iA. As the speculation continues we get the fun of deciding what this new SUV is going to be and what badging it will wear while Toyota keeps doing what they love to do, show ups something that will arrive later and let us keep talking and thinking about it.
It may be my cynical nature or just an observation, but it seems if a car company really didn’t want to reveal information about a model or show it testing they could do it easy enough without going to the trouble of covering it up in this manner and letting us think about it. Although, this form of testing and release of information is only good for the vehicle in question as we consider what it might be and the car company, in this case Toyota, gets to enjoy the anticipation and attention they can prey on until the release of the new product. Very smart and only slightly sneaky.
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