Strictly speaking, Toyota Canada is wrong when it says its RAV4 "created" the compact SUV or sport-cute market when it debuted 11 years ago.
But there's no denying that the RAV4 brought a legitimacy and buyer attention to a segment that had been something of a small-ticket sideshow at the time and helped turn it into one of the fastest-growing
parts of the auto scene, coming from virtually nothing to almost half of all SUV sales in the country today. So just about every brand has a sport-cute in its lineup today, and if it doesn't it's probably rushing one to market right now.
As a result of all the efforts of other companies, RAV4 has lost a lot of its marketing snap, with sales falling slightly for the first eight months of the year compared with the same time in 2004.
In typical fashion, Toyota Canada says it will rewrite the segment with the launch of the next RAV4, which might be on sale across the country by the end of 2005.
"The RAV4 is one of the most significant vehicles ever to roll off a Toyota assembly line," says Tony Wearing, one of Toyota Canada's three managing directors. The third-generation RAV4 "promises to redefine the very popular compact SUV market segment it created," he adds, and so it's "fitting that the RAV4 will be built in Canada when our Woodstock plant enters production in 2008."
Increased consumer interest is supposed to come from a number of factors, not the least of which is that buyers will be getting a bigger (it can be ordered with seven seats), more comfortable and better equipped RAV4 for likely about the same money -- $25,000 -- to start, with lots of chances to spend more if you're so inclined.
No details are available on dimensions, equipment levels, or pricing were available when this story was written, by the way, and they may not be available for some time.
Toyota is also going to lighten up on the vanilla performance characteristics, promising "power and handling systems that deliver higher performance." There's also the introduction of a hotrod 3.5-litre V-6 as an option, so they seem to be serious about expanding RAV4's appeal beyond the firm's regular buyer base.
But first they hope to bring in the crowds with RAV4's new exterior shape, which follows the subcompact Yaris as the second offering from the
Japanese firm to bring the delights of the Japanese firm's "Vibrant Clarity" design philosophy to the public arena.
Wearing says this philosophy "infuses all new Toyota vehicles with a bolder and more dynamic styling, balanced with premium comfort and versatility."
Beyond that, we could once again pass on the firm's entertaining descriptions of what creates "vibrant clarity" in a vehicle that is -- like all of its competitors -- essentially a box on wheels, or you could just give the photos a hard eyeballing for yourself.
Here are some other facts about the RAV4 for you to consider.
The base engine for the new RAV4 will be an updated 2.4-litre inline-four with variable-valve timing, which will produce 166 hp at 6,000 rpm and 165 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a four-speed automatic.
But there's no denying that the RAV4 brought a legitimacy and buyer attention to a segment that had been something of a small-ticket sideshow at the time and helped turn it into one of the fastest-growing
 |
| (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
As a result of all the efforts of other companies, RAV4 has lost a lot of its marketing snap, with sales falling slightly for the first eight months of the year compared with the same time in 2004.
In typical fashion, Toyota Canada says it will rewrite the segment with the launch of the next RAV4, which might be on sale across the country by the end of 2005.
"The RAV4 is one of the most significant vehicles ever to roll off a Toyota assembly line," says Tony Wearing, one of Toyota Canada's three managing directors. The third-generation RAV4 "promises to redefine the very popular compact SUV market segment it created," he adds, and so it's "fitting that the RAV4 will be built in Canada when our Woodstock plant enters production in 2008."
Increased consumer interest is supposed to come from a number of factors, not the least of which is that buyers will be getting a bigger (it can be ordered with seven seats), more comfortable and better equipped RAV4 for likely about the same money -- $25,000 -- to start, with lots of chances to spend more if you're so inclined.
No details are available on dimensions, equipment levels, or pricing were available when this story was written, by the way, and they may not be available for some time.
Toyota is also going to lighten up on the vanilla performance characteristics, promising "power and handling systems that deliver higher performance." There's also the introduction of a hotrod 3.5-litre V-6 as an option, so they seem to be serious about expanding RAV4's appeal beyond the firm's regular buyer base.
But first they hope to bring in the crowds with RAV4's new exterior shape, which follows the subcompact Yaris as the second offering from the
 |
| (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
Wearing says this philosophy "infuses all new Toyota vehicles with a bolder and more dynamic styling, balanced with premium comfort and versatility."
Beyond that, we could once again pass on the firm's entertaining descriptions of what creates "vibrant clarity" in a vehicle that is -- like all of its competitors -- essentially a box on wheels, or you could just give the photos a hard eyeballing for yourself.
Here are some other facts about the RAV4 for you to consider.
The base engine for the new RAV4 will be an updated 2.4-litre inline-four with variable-valve timing, which will produce 166 hp at 6,000 rpm and 165 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a four-speed automatic.