TOKYO: Toyota has introduced a new compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) called Raize in Japan.
The carmaker said the Raize would provide car buyers with a vehicle that’s both practical, compact and easy to drive.
Produced by Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. at its Shiga (Ryuo) plant, the Raize is 3,995mm-long, 1,695mm-wide and 1,620mm-tall. It’s wheelbase 2,525mm and it features a 369-litre boot.
Customers can choose from eight colour options – including a new Turquoise Blue Mica Metallic hue that can be paired with a Black Mica Metallic roof for a wide variety of clour schemes.
It will come equipped with thin LED headlights and sequential turn lights that appear to flow from the inside to the outside of the car.
Power comes from a 1.0-litre three-cylinder 1KR-VET turbocharged engine mated to a Direct-shift Continuously Variable Transmission (D-CVT) or just a CVT (depending on variant) to manage an output of 98hp at 6,000rpm and 140Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000rpm.
Fuel economy for the front-wheel driven SUV has been rated at 18.6km per litre while the 4WD variant can achieve 17.4km per litre at best and can split torque delivery between the front and rear axles to improve traction.
As standard, the Raize will be suspended by Macpherson struts at the front while the rear gets fitted with a torsion beam and depending on the variant, it will roll on either 16 or 17-inch wheels.
Toyota also added the Raize’s suspension has been redeveloped from scratch, with optimized part shapes, reduced weight, and updated part positions and angles for a stable ride, minimal roll and noise, vibrations and harshness performance.
Inside, the driver-centric cabin features a highly visible instrument cluster along with redesigned front seats for better support while plating and red accents provide contrast and colour.
There’s also an LED digital speedometer and a 7.0-inch TFT colour LCD display with four display styles of Advanced, Exciting, Simple, and Analog.
A 9.0-inch audio display has been infused with SmartDeviceLink (Android) and Apple CarPlay for connectivity.
In terms of technology, the Raize will feature advanced safety technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control with All Speed Tracking and a Smart Panorama Parking Assist system that features voice and image guidance as well as steering assistance.
Also included is the Collision Warning Function and Crash Avoidance Braking Function which are capable of detecting both pedestrians and vehicles.
The Erroneous Start Prevention Function with braking control (forward and backward) will help to mitigate damages should the accelerator is mistakenly engaged instead of the brakes during parking.
The Raize starts selling in Japan today.
Keyword: Toyota Raize compact SUV debuts in Japan