New Rav 4 - 200kw

[Sturmovik]

Damn, 3.5L V6 with 200kw. 0-100 ~6.5 and the 1/4 in 14.9.

Will we get the V6 model though? If going by US prices it could be $40k+ though

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

[Steve Whitney]

yanks will love it

our market's too small to get anything like this probably.... we're lucky enough to get a forester xt at the very least!

[Captiva Fan]

If the $40k comes from converting US$->AUS$ then it'll be much more exxy than that. However, if it comes by comparing a current 2.4 RAV4 here vs. a current 2.4 RAV4 there, and applying the same percentage-difference to the quoted US cost of the RAV4 ... well, you do see a few Forester XT's around, and they're $40k. Toyota Oz would surely love something that smells more "sports" oriented than the existing RAV4; the marketing mob have done a great job equating the fact that you can carry sporting goods in the back of a gerlytruk with "sportiness", and making the great unwashed think of gerlytruks in a similar vein to the way they may once have thought of sports cars ... one that actually accelerates seems to get these weak-minded folk all wet, which the whitegoods manufacturer would love.

[MR-PUNANNY]

I was speaking to a friend yesterday, who works for Toyota, and he said they had a drive day of the new Rav, he said, its still Camry powered. Didnt mention anything about a V6, but that, would be awesome.

[VQ304]

If it's going to be anything like the last Rav 4, then the engine is the least of its worries. The Rav 4 is the worst new car I've ever driven (I'm serious).

[coyote]

If it's going to be anything like the last Rav 4, then the engine is the least of its worries. The Rav 4 is the worst new car I've ever driven (I'm serious).

Glad someone said that. Putting a good engine in a piece of shit only makes it more dangerous.

[hakosuka]

How predictable More trucks from Toymotor and not a decent "normal" car in sight. Maybe they reserve that for the Lexus range now.

[DRIFTIN]

The V6 is not coming to Oz.. we're getting the old 2.4L with a few tweaks

The V6 is also auto only.. and has third row seating. It's weird - Toyota will soon have so many 4WD's that you'll be choosing one based on how many millimetres longer and taller it is!

EDIT:

Check out the car&driver review of the Forester XT. The RAV4's performance isn't even in the same league.

(Low 5's and high 13's for the FXT)

[mizone]

200kW V6 is in new Avalon.

Camry to be 4 potter.

[Tuckerbox]

Toyota's putting these GR engines in everything from the looks of it.

[SuperMat]

DRIFTIN is right - only the US market gets the V6 and third row seats. For some reason though, we get the cup-holders from the third row though :rotflol: Minor tweaks to the 2.4L mean it gets an extra 5kW (up to 125kW).

The reason for no V6/third row seats is because the new RAV is substantially larget than the old (current) model. If it had a V6 and the extra seats then the Kluger would become obsolete.

Although I have not yet driven the RAV, everything about the interior and exterior has improved. The AWD system is modified, now using a system they're calling 'Active Torque Control' which means that if the traction is good then an electronically activated coupling on the front of the rear diff disconnects and the RAV becomes FWD. There is a diff lock button that forces the RAV into AWD at speeds lower than 40km/h and locks the torque split at 50:50.

Second row leg room is vastly improved, though I'm not really impressed with the placement of the middle seatbelt receiver. They've gone to a 60:40 split fold instead of the 50:50 so the receiver now sits right under your right arse cheek. Not comfortable at all.

They've changed the model lineup as well. Instead of being CV -> Cruiser it now goes CV -> Cruiser -> Cruiser L (luxury)

The Cruiser drops the electric sunroof (now optional) and it becomes standard in the Cruiser L along with leather trim, electric seats, and heated front seats.

All models get ABS + EBD + BA, while seat-side and curtain airbags become standard in Cruiser and Cruiser L, optional in CV.

All models get steering-wheel mounted audio controls, dual glovebox on passenger side and 17" wheels (styled steel on CV, alloys on Cruiser and Cruiser L)

Cruiser and Cruiser L now get DAC (Downhill Ascent Control) (Auto trans only) and HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) (Auto and manual trans) standard as well as Traction Control and Vehicle Stability (Swerve) Control.

All models get tilt and telescopic steering wheel (previously only tilt).

That's all I can remember off the top of my head but if you have any questions just post them up and I'll do my best to remember.

[smellytofu]

What's with the seatbelt thing? I had a ride in one today.. though I was sitting on the sides so the seat belt isn't an issue. The old 50:50 thing would have been worse.. I've never sat in the rear seats on my old RAV coz I am always the one driving the thing.

[SuperMat]

What's with the seatbelt thing? I had a ride in one today.. though I was sitting on the sides so the seat belt isn't an issue. The old 50:50 thing would have been worse.. I've never sat in the rear seats on my old RAV coz I am always the one driving the thing.

You rode in a new model RAV?

[TonyJZX]

If it's going to be anything like the last Rav 4, then the engine is the least of its worries. The Rav 4 is the worst new car I've ever driven (I'm serious).

I respect your opinion because I bloody well agree with you.

However you're a performance enthusiast.

Everyone, and I mean everyone else, thinks the RAV4 is a smart piece of engineering.

I'm not kidding. People don't care for engineering excellence. They want a smartly styled fun looking A to B machine.

You can imagine me stuck in a RAV4 wondering what everyone was fawning over :knock:

[SuperMat]

Thankfully, Toyota have shifted the focus of the RAV 4 away from the "twenty-something girl" more towards the "30-something parent who has fun on the weekends".

They have a better rear storage area with a much improved under-floor storage space (to catch up with CR-V).

They have also adopted the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) system from the Prius and Yaris. Less strain on engine = more power to the wheels.

Also, they have adopted a JGTC Supra-esque rear suspension setup, with the dampers and coils layed over almost flat. This (apparently) improves roadholding and control as well as improving rear storage room.