Toyota has taken the covers off the new RAV4 Hybrid at this year’s New York Auto Show. This new environment-friendly version of the popular crossover model combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor.
Furthermore, there’s an additional motor powering the rear axle to deliver the electronic all-wheel drive. Keeping the car’s rugged nature in mind, Toyota says the RAV4 hybrid is capable of offering a towing capacity of 1,650kg.
Differentiating the hybrid model from the rest of the range is the new front-end that features full LED headlights for the first time. To the side, there is a new rocker panel that creates a more flowing look, and at the rear the combination lamps and bumper have been reworked, improving the overall road presence.
Inside, new technology features include a 360-degree panoramic view monitor, which gives the driver sight of obstacles that would remain hidden in blind spots when using conventional front and rear cameras. In terms of safety, the RAV4 Hybrid gets pre-collision system, lane departure alert, automatic high beam and adaptive cruise control.
While there is no news on its arrival in the Indian market, the new RAV4 is officially set to go on sale in the UK starting December, with the RAV4 Hybrid AWD model arriving in the UK and Europe early in 2016.