Toyota was planning to unveil a new small crossover based on the European Yaris at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, but the show's cancelation due to the coronavirus crisis forced automakers to change their plans.
While some manufacturers held online press conferences to unveil new models, Toyota is delaying the new crossover's reveal by several weeks or months. In the meantime, our spies have spotted a mysterious Toyota Yaris test mule on an ice track during winter testing, suggesting that Toyota hasn't finished testing its new crossover just yet.
The camouflaged Toyota Yaris has noticeably higher suspension and wider fenders, leading our spies to believe this is a test mule for Toyota's new small crossover. Since this is a mule, the production body will look drastically different. Last month, Toyota gave us a sneak peek at the new subcompact's slim taillights and sloping tailgate.
The model name is still unknown, but Toyota's new subcompact will ride on the same platform as the Yaris and slot below the Toyota C-HR. Expect it to be larger than the Yaris and have a longer wheelbase, but smaller than the C-HR.
In Europe, the new subcompact will compete with the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, and Peugeot 2008, but it's unlikely to come to the US since it's based on the European Toyota Yaris Hatchback, which isn't sold in America. Instead, the American Toyota Yaris is a rebadged Mazda 2.
Toyota's new subcompact will be powered by a three-cylinder engine combined with Toyota's latest hybrid system. All-wheel drive will also be offered. Judging from the snow being sprayed from the rear wheels, the prototype appears to adopt an all-wheel-drive setup.
It isn't known when Toyota's new subcompact crossover will debut, but Toyota will probably want to wait for the coronavirus pandemic to subside so it could debut around the summer depending on how the situation pans out.