Toyota has revealed its new RAV4 Prime in the United States, billing the newcomer as the most powerful and quickest variant of the crossover yet … and the most fuel-efficient, too.
Described by the Japanese firm as a “performance model” with an “estimated” 225 kW (the torque figure has yet to be disclosed), the RAV4 Prime features advanced all-wheel drive, “sport-tuned” suspension and model-specific design features.
So, what’s under the bonnet? Well, the RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid, employing a “differently tuned” version of the brand’s familiar 2,5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and “more powerful” electric motor-generators (linked to a larger lithium-ion battery mounted under the floor).
The result, says Toyota, is a sprint from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a “projected 5,8 seconds” along with an estimated 63 km range on battery power alone. For reference, that’s quicker than the GT86 (which completes the sprint to three figures in a claimed 7,6 seconds) and behind only the GR Supra in the firm’s broader line-up.
Whether the newcomer will be offered in South Africa remains to be seen, but it’s worth keeping in mind the standard (non-plug-in) hybrid isn’t part of the local range…
