New Rav4 Europe

[RAV-44]

Well here is a link to the all new RAV4.

http://www.toyota-europe.com/

Enjoy

Regards

[Angel]

Hmmmmmm. Very nice! I want 1!!

[RAV-44]

Well it seems the rear wheel has gone along with the sun shine roof :(

It works out to be 130mm longer thats about 5inches. I`ve been told by a local dealer it should be here for March 06? I`ve booked a test drive etc.

Update: The rear wheel is on all rav`s except for the top of the range RAV4X model which runs on 18" wheels, run flat tyres.

Regards

[prince]

The Increase in size is taking it closer to the size of the Highlander in the USA, I wonder if it will discontinue when the RAV4 2006 is introduced.

Also Toyota won't confirm a 3door version for the new RAV4, a bit of mistake I think the 3 Door RAV4 was a good seller and not bringing one may be good news for the new Suzuki Grand Vitara which has a 3 Door version.

[src]

Well it seems the rear wheel has gone   along with the sun shine roof :(

It works out to be 130mm longer thats about 5inches. I`ve been told by a local dealer it should be here for March 06? I`ve booked a test drive etc.

Update: The rear wheel is on all rav`s except for the top of the range RAV4X model which runs on 18" wheels, run flat tyres.

Regards

←

Since the RAV4 X model has 18" wheels with run flat tyres there is no need for a rear spare wheel all the other 2006 RAV4 models have a rear spare wheel.

2006 RAV4 (sort of XT3 / GX style mid range model with rear spare wheel)

2006 RAV4 X

[RAV-44]

Since the RAV4 X model has 18" wheels with run flat tyres there is no need for a rear spare wheel all the other 2006 RAV4 models have a rear spare wheel.

src:- that what I just said?

[src]

So you said but the Rear Spare wheel is not gone just gone for the RAV4 X model.

Scott

[MillemanUK]

Thiang that I cant understand is that they are dropping the three door model. Apparently thats the desicion from Toyota Japan despite it being the biggest seller in Europe and the States.

Good news is that the 7 seat version will be available too. Handy to know that the new one will be longer by 5" Question is will that be between the wheels where its needed most or just bigger bumpers. Only asking this cos I noticed my two year old daughter has more legroom in the back (IE cant kick my seat!), of my company Civic than in the 5dr Rav.

Just have to keep an eye out for it next year, might be an early upgrade!

[prince]

By making the New RAV4 bigger, haven’t' Toyota taken the RAV4 out of a Segment that it created. One of the main attractions of the RAV4 was that it was more of a compact 4x4 as oppose to the bigger X-Trail and CRV’s. Now it seems it's competing with the Low priced Larger 4X4’s like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa-Fe.

Thiang that I cant understand is that they are dropping the three door model.  Apparently thats the desicion from Toyota Japan despite it being the biggest seller in Europe and the States.

Good news is that the 7 seat version will be available too.  Handy to know that the new one will be longer by 5"  Question is will that be between the wheels where its needed most or just bigger bumpers.  Only asking this cos I noticed my two year old daughter has more legroom in the back (IE cant kick my seat!), of my company Civic than in the 5dr Rav.

Just have to keep an eye out for it next year, might be an early upgrade!

←

[src]

Thiang that I cant understand is that they are dropping the three door model.  Apparently thats the desicion from Toyota Japan despite it being the biggest seller in Europe and the States.

Good news is that the 7 seat version will be available too.  Handy to know that the new one will be longer by 5"  Question is will that be between the wheels where its needed most or just bigger bumpers.  Only asking this cos I noticed my two year old daughter has more legroom in the back (IE cant kick my seat!), of my company Civic than in the 5dr Rav.

Just have to keep an eye out for it next year, might be an early upgrade!

←

Where has said that UK/Europe is getting the 7 Seater RAV4 ???. I believe the 7 Seater RAV4 is only available in the North American Market with the new V6 engine.

The 2 Door RAV4 (1st Generation) was discontinued in North America in 1997/98, , North America never got the 2nd Generation 2 Door RAV4. The sales of the 3 Door are very specific to market regions in Europe. In certain European countries the 3 Door model has been withdrawn from sale for quite awhile. Without real sales figures we don't really know how popular the 3 Door model is. Don't get me wrong I really like the 3 Door model as is well suited to the UK/European market.

Would not suprise me if Toyota develop a smaller SUV if there is demand for one since the new RAV4 is bigger and 5 Door model only.

[RAV-44]

src is correct the 7 seater rav4 is not for UK/Europe.

UK/Europe is getting the 5inch longer version were as the US version is 14inches longer hence the room for the extra seats.

http://www.rav4world.com/

Regards

[MillemanUK]

Not that I dont believe any one on this but if Europe aint getting the 7 seater, why show it at the Frankfurt show? Bit nasty that!

[prince]

Maybe for two reasons, first to possible gauge reaction from the visitors and European motoring press as way to deicide on whether to possibly bring the 7 Seat model to Europe in the future. And secondly simply their for the US motoring press to interact with the 7 seat model.

Not that I dont believe any one on this but if Europe aint getting the 7 seater, why show it at the Frankfurt show?  Bit nasty that!

←

[MillemanUK]

Maybe for two reasons, first to possible gauge reaction from the visitors and European motoring press as way to deicide on whether to possibly bring the 7 Seat model to Europe in the future. And secondly simply their for the US motoring press to interact with the 7 seat model.

Not that I dont believe any one on this but if Europe aint getting the 7 seater, why show it at the Frankfurt show?  Bit nasty that!

←

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Possibly pandering to the US market within europe perhaps? Just struck me as plain nasty, "Heres a nice 7 seat model but your European so you aint getting it".

Saying that we dont display models that are only available to the US market here do we? I know the US service personell will tend to buy "Their own" but there are dealers there that cater for those needs. That struk me also as a Faux Pax by Toyota to display a US only model in the European market, unless as you said there is a veiw to bring it here. Why hesitate though, you can buy a 7 seater Vitara here as well as Shoguns, M Class, Discovery's, Terranos and any MPV you care to mention. C'mon Toyota Bring it here now, there is a market and a need!

[prince]

Yes I would second that as well I can’t see the harm in introducing the 7 seat option.

Although it would sell best if it were mated to the 177bhp diesel and also to provide sufficient pull and acceleration, at the moment the 7 Seat will come with V6 petrol so some work would be needed in that dept. I think eventually in maybe 18 months or so we will see the 7 Seat Variant.

Also I forgot to mention that another reason for the 7 Seat RAV4 being displayed at the Frankfurt motor show is that the Motor Show was also the World Premiere for the RAV4 as such they had to display all the variants they plan to put on to the World Market.

On a similar note; Toyota is planning to expand production in Canada to accommodate for the production of the RAV4, I just hope the UK RHD versions continue to be Made in Japan

[src]

The only RAV4 on display at Frankfurt was a single 5 Seater European spec model. Easy tell tale signs where D-4D badging, Side Indicators, Centre Roof Mounted Aerial. Rear Fog Lamps and you can visually see that it's shorter than the North American Model. There were no 7 Seater RAV4's on display in Frankfurt.

The only new RAV4 at Frankfurt stand was this one:- (5 Seater and Euro spec !!)

The new RAV4 in North America has not been launched and it's North American debut is 2nd November on a Web Cast then shown at the SEMA show in Las Vegas end of November. Toyota USA has so far only announced limited details not full details and published pictures of the 2006 RAV4.

The North American made Toyota's and Lexus models are now just as well put together as the Japanese versions.

The second TMMC plant in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada does not come on stream till 2008 so all RAV4's till then will be produced in Japan. The RAV4's built in Canada will be to supplement the North American market. The investment in the new plant in Canada Toyota anticipates RAV4 sales will grow by more than 40 percent if Toyota switches switches all RAV4 production from Japan to Canada, But the figure could be higher if Toyota sources the RAV4 from both North America and Japan.

IMO I think if Toyota Europe introduced the 7 Seater RAV4 it would hurt sales of the Avensis Verso, The new RAV4 has more of a MPV styling than previous RAV4's.

[prince]

Looks as though the Next Mitsubishi Outlander Avail in 2007 has the new RAV4 in its sights.

[MillemanUK]

The only RAV4 on display at Frankfurt was a single 5 Seater European spec model. Easy tell tale signs where D-4D badging, Side Indicators, Centre Roof Mounted Aerial. Rear Fog Lamps and you can visually see that it's shorter than the North American Model. There were no 7 Seater RAV4's on display in Frankfurt.

The only new RAV4 at Frankfurt stand was this one:- (5 Seater and Euro spec !!)

The new RAV4 in North America has not been launched and it's North American debut is 2nd November on a Web Cast then shown at the SEMA show in Las Vegas end of November. Toyota USA has so far only announced limited details not full details and published pictures of the 2006 RAV4.

The North American made Toyota's and Lexus models are now just as well put together as the Japanese versions.

The second TMMC plant in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada does not come on stream till 2008 so all RAV4's till then will be produced in Japan. The RAV4's built in Canada will be to supplement the North American market. The investment in the new plant in Canada Toyota anticipates RAV4 sales will grow by more than 40 percent if Toyota switches switches all RAV4 production from Japan to Canada, But the figure could be higher if Toyota sources the RAV4 from both North America and Japan.

IMO I think if Toyota Europe introduced the 7 Seater RAV4 it would hurt sales of the Avensis Verso, The new RAV4 has more of a MPV styling than previous RAV4's.

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Fair enough but how many Avensis Verso's do you see out there? Outside of the showrooms? To be honest, I have only seen one and that was when I was looking cos I was considering a Corolla Verso instead of this Rav.

[chatman]

Hey Just Brought the Nov issue of Test Driver Mag...Has some good pictured and wright up about the new MKIII RAV4..... Bigger better and the Dash looks cool as well....

Further on it has a review of the 7 best SUV 4x4 :bookworm:

MkII RAV4 came 3rd behind XTrail and C-RV.... but beet the Freelander and Korean trio as well

Friend just shelled out for 04 Santa Fe... "O" and that came last in the test..ha ha ha ha (can't wait to rib him about it :D :D )