Toyota announced the most powerful RAV4 yet, in the form of the 2021 RAV4 plug-in hybrid dressed in Supersonic Red.
The Los Angeles Auto Show will soon open its doors (towards the end of November) and already, manufacturers are quietly preparing their presence at the first major car mass of the continent.
At Toyota, we have already announced the presentation of the second generation of the Toyota Mirai, a sedan that abandons its hyper futuristic silhouette in favour of a much more attractive line and even a rear-wheel-drive architecture!
But what should be more appealing to Canadian consumers is the introduction of the all-new 2021 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Indeed, Toyota’s US wing has released the first official photo of the small plug-in utility – the first “PHEV” from the history of the model must be remembered – which will become at the same time the most powerful of the range, and incidentally, the most expensive.
At first glance, the plug-in hybrid model is no exception to the design of other versions of the RAV4, apart from the design of the wheels, the front bumper where vertical foglamps are inserted in the lower portion of the facies. Of course, the “PLUG-IN HYBRID” badges are found on the sides and a second “fuel” hatch must be provided for recharging the lithium-ion battery pack of greater capacity.
Toyota has not disclosed anything about its power or purely electric driving but expect more power than the 219-horsepower found in the current RAV4 Hybrid and an electric range of at least 40 km, maybe even more! It would not be surprising that the 2.5-litre 4-cylinder remains in place as well.
At the time of writing, it is too early to know if the plug-in model will cross the border, but with the popularity of the model on Canadian soil and the pressing need for Toyota to fill its fleet of electrified models, the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid seems to be a prime candidate north of the 49th parallel.
We should know more by November 20th, the scheduled date for the official unveiling of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid.