Unlike the plant world, in which the green of a fruit identifies with the start of its ripening, the new Toyota C-HR Plug-in carries forward the legacy of the first generation and the current other full hybrid versions, demonstrating with its growth and its 'maturation' that truly 'green' results can also be achieved from a model with an electrified combustion engine.
The 19 g/km of CO2 speak for themselves, emissions comparable to the real road impact of 100% electric models, so much so that in Italy and other countries they give access to the bands of greater incentives for the ecological transition.
Photo story Toyota C-HR reduces emissions but with 223 HP it becomes sportier - Photo - Ansa.it
But also the 0.8 liters of petrol per 100 km which is a consumption once considered unattainable, and which in this case impacts on the total management costs of the C-HR Plug-in.
The on-board battery charger allows the battery to be recharged from zero to 100% in less than 2.5 hours in both three-phase and single-phase via wall-box.
Home charging is also possible thanks to the Mode 2 cable supplied as standard.
Designed, developed and produced in Europe for Europe, this model - which is central to Toyota's strategy for our markets - can count on a Phev engine with a 152 HP 2.0 engine and a 120 kW electric unit, for a combined power of 223 HP, which is at the top of the category.
The first result, which is more than appreciable, is to make a double DNA available to users, given that the C-HR offers the merits and advantages (including practical ones, such as access to restricted traffic zones) of a true electric car and at the same time the flexibility even on long journeys with the Full Hybrid Plug-in scheme which offers great autonomy.
Furthermore, and we verified this during an extensive test in Marseille and on the roads around the large French city, the output level of the C-HR Plug-in is such as to offer performance in terms of acceleration (0-100 in 7 .4 seconds) and recovery, like a true sports car.
The special architecture studied by Toyota engineers for this new Phev version includes, among other things, the placement of the battery (13.6 kWh) under the floor of the Tnga platform, and therefore a lowering of the center of gravity compared to the other hybrid-only C-HRs.
Also specific to this version is the suspension adjustment, which uses - for the first time on a Toyota vehicle in the world - the ZF Frequency sensitive control (Fsc) suspension management system. It is a refined hydromechanical system to improve handling and driving comfort.
The hydromechanical system that intervenes on the response of the shock absorbers in different ways at low and high frequencies.
And which responds to the same double DNA principle as the C-HR Phev.
At low frequencies, in fact, the damping of the oscillations increases to offer greater control of the body, in roll and pitch, and naturally helps to maintain better control when cornering.
At high speeds, however, the Frequency sensitive control intervenes to reduce damping so as to improve ride comfort.
In addition to a stiffening of the body and a series of interventions to optimize aerodynamics, the C-HR in the Pug-in variant stands out in terms of usability for a series of high-tech solutions relating both to the driving modes and to the 'dialogue', including automatic ones, between vehicle, driver and infrastructure.
This is the case of Predictive Efficient Drive with the new geo-fencing function.
We haven't had the opportunity to experiment with it but in some cities (already equipped) it helps the driver because it combines the analysis of road and traffic conditions - already widespread prerogatives - with automatic switching to electric when the car enters an area to 'zero emissions'.
Of note, in addition to the 'help' provided by the Regeneration Boost (which regulates the three settings of soft, medium or strong regenerative braking) and the Adaptive Hill Control Logic (to manage downhill driving and adapt acceleration on uneven surfaces) also the Drive Mode Select option.
In addition to the well-known preset Normal, Eco and Sport modes, the C-HR offers this 'personalised' driving experience which allows you to save a combination of settings for transmission, steering and climate control.
The C-HR Plug-In range includes a price list that starts (with the current incentives) from 34,950 euros up to 51,400 and 51,900 excluding incentives for the two Premiere special series - the subject of our test in Marseille - created on the two Lounge and GR levels respectively Sport.
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