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Toyota RAV4 SUV: 2013 model spied, interior revealed

TOYOTA RAV4
By Tim Beissmann
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A prototype of the upcoming 2013 Toyota RAV4 has been spied in Saudi Arabia, giving us our first peek at the sharpened exterior styling and an almost unhindered look at the overhauled cabin of the all-new mid-sized SUV.

Uploaded by a member of Saudi Arabia’s T1C1 Toyota Club forum, the images confirm the fourth-generation RAV4 will take styling cues from the new Toyota Camry sedan and share much with the upcoming ninth-generation Toyota Corolla hatch, which was revealed in leaked brochure images late last month.

Due in Australia in the first quarter of 2013 following its international launch later this year, the new Toyota RAV4 features angular headlights bordering a two-nostril grille split by a prominent Toyota badge.

The horizontal tail-lights sit directly below the rear window, while the tapered roofline emphasises a design shift from the current model’s boxy SUV dimensions to a softer crossover look.

The cabin also benefits from a complete redesign that sees it adopt a new instrument cluster with a broad cover, a large central screen surrounded by simple switchgear, classy stitched leather across the dashboard and a new three-spoke steering wheel.

As CarAdvice revealed earlier this year, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 will be a four-cylinder-only affair in Australia, with the V6 set to disappear with the outgoing model.

A 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is set to replace the existing 125kW/224Nm 2.4-litre, while a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with more torque and better fuel efficiency will join the local line-up for the first time.

Despite being largely unchanged since it arrived in Australia in February 2006, the third-generation RAV4 remains Toyota’s fifth best selling model, trailing only the HiLux, Corolla, Camry and Prado. It is currently the second most popular medium SUV in the country behind the Nissan X-Trail, with 8614 sold year-to-date.

  • Guest

    That interior! Yuck

    • TR

      Agreed, I just threw up when i saw that interior

      Does it come with free fuel leaks and fire risks ?

    • Henry Toussaint

       That Exterior! Yuck

  • Guest

    Another boring Toyota – who would buy one!

    • Yetiman

      The whole world.

    • Force-15

      People who aren’t car enthusiasts, which, unfortunately, are most people.

      • Guest

        #firstworldproblem… Why would you care what car I buy? Cars are just inanimate objects of transportation. There’s more in life to be concerned about than worry about like your family? Your children? Your love ones? Sure be excited about cars but put it all into perspective.

    • Alexjones1989

      Everyone, aparently…

  • Adam

    Toyota should apply the same plastic wrap as sell as standard on the next generation Corollas

  • Declan

    The interior looks nice.

  • Jkwark

    Subaru front end and disgusting interior. Free cardigan and disguise so people don’t recognize you driving this ‘thing’. Euthanize it now and be done with it. Toyota designers need to stop using Dame Edna’s glasses as inspiration.

    I wouldn’t wish this car on my enemy…

    • Sumpguard

       
       
         Mazda used Dame Edna’s glasses as inspiration when designing bullbars to hide the hideous front end on the BT50.

         But yes the front end is very much subaru whilst the rear is a Mitsubishi ASX rip off . Certainly not very original, but the faithful will flock to it without a clue as to what they are missing elsewhere.

      • JooberJCW

        Exactly, as long the faithful keep coming in droves toyota can continually claim their designs work.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=687966531 Steven Hambleton

        And what are people missing elsewhere at that price point?

  • TG

    Old news CA, this was on carspyshots ages ago.

    • TG

      Oh, and your friends at TMR posted this 6 days ago.

      • Garrywhopper

        Spoil the party why don’t you pratt boy

  • Basil Exposition

    Better than the current shape… Look at that dash! Too much Saki I think.

    I hope this release does not have a CVT, but a 6 speed torque converter auto.

    Now that Tarago and Corolla have CVT autos, I question Toyota’s commitment to reliability. No other manufacturer has been able to make CVTs reliable and I’d guess Toyota will be no different.

    • TG

      You do realise that Toyota have been running CVTs in their hybrids ever since they launched in ’97?

      • Robin_Graves

        Toyota’s hybrid CVT’s are totally different.  They use a simple planetary and modulate the ICE RPM by varying the electric motor’s RPM.  In a non-hybrid application CVT’s use belts/chains or specially shaped teeth on a curved hub to vary ratios.  They dont like high torque applications very much.

      • DRJJ

        Prius is a gear driven CVT FYI which are different from belt/pulley configs!

  • SSV

    It looks like they have a deflated small airbag in the drivers footwell. Must be to go one further than a knee-airbag, introducing the ankle-airbag.

  • Tim

    I think the interior looks good, but I suppose these things are subjective!

    • Igomi Watabi

      Yeah, I really like the dashboard. I don’t know why it cops so much here.

  • Trapdoor

    I’m not sure the plastic wrap around it will work with the average joe, it’s a bold styling risk

  • Car Fanatic

    Wrapped in plastic and ready to go to Harvey Norman to be put on display.

  • Guest

    LFA dashboard

  • Nice!

    Really like the interior!!

  • The Salesman

    I can see a little of every other SUV in this design and that tells me it is trying to be all things to all people and its not. Its just a mess.

  • Overthereontheleft

    so ugly

  • TR

    Another ugly bland Toyota about to bore us to death……

    • realist

      which i and plenty others im sure will flock to. while rwd, ”drivers’ cars” falcadore face their demise slowly but surely!

      • The Prince

        @ realist – the fact that ”you and plenty others will flock to” new Rav demonstrates you and plenty others have no interest in motoring or driving or cars, you just seek reliable transport with minimum fuss, and sucked in by Toyota’s marketing hype you think you’ve found it. Why else would you bother with such wretched pitiful dullness?
         

      • F1

        Not really, look at the Toyota 86, it’s RWD drivers car.. Has a massive demand for it..

        The Falcon is just a boring, bland, low rent, heavy POS

        • ToyotaFanBoy

           Which falcon you been looking at, the 4cyl falcon is more economical (8.1 vs 8.4), more powerful, and larger and has more tech (8″ touch screen, etc). Who’s low rent now?

        • ToyotaFanBoy

           Which falcon you been looking at, the 4cyl falcon is more economical (8.1 vs 8.4), more powerful, and larger and has more tech (8″ touch screen, etc). Who’s low rent now?

  • zanzi

    i didn’t know cars this boring could be spied

  • Jkzormelo

    If all who are airing damming comments about Toyota had nothing to do with this model, why will they be here? Are they hired to do this? Comeo…!

  • Jkzormelo

    If all who are airing damming comments about Toyota had nothing to do with this model, why would they be here? Are they hired to do this? Come on…!