[Auto] With the Aygo X prologue, Toyota continues to bet on the Cross models

[#Steeven.™]

The Japanese brand proposes an impressive concept that looks more like an SUV than a citycar.

For those who do not remember, the Aygo was Toyota's urban proposal for Europe and the occasional export market, it was launched in 2005 and received a deep update in 2014. It was manufactured in the Czech Republic in conjunction with the Peugeot 107/108 and the Citroën C1, and focused on offering a compact proposition for the city and a respectable level of equipment.

With the SUV onslaught, Toyota was not expected to replace the Aygo after ending the PSA deal; however, the brand surprises with the new Aygo X prologue (with a lowercase p), its new citycar for Europe, although from what can be seen, it has rather little urban subcompact.

As is the trend in almost all brands, traditional designs tend to "crossover" to attract a greater number of customers, and that is exactly what happens with the Aygo X prologue, which explains the X accompanying the name of the car . Basically, Toyota repeats the Yaris Cross and Corolla Cross formula here, but with the little Aygo.

There are several elements that justify this Cross designation: a five-door body despite its reduced format, the two-tone exterior, the roof bars, the thick plastic wheel arches and a generous clearance to the floor.

But the new Aygo X is not just adventure, since Toyota designers were daring with other very modern elements, such as the front with the inverted C-shaped lights, linked by a light strip that goes from side to side and the handles concealable, which are hidden to be at the same level with the body.

It also highlights its large front grille and, above all, that the double tonality of the body is not limited only to the roof, but to a good part of the sides, including extensions, rear area and rear paral. Everything is crowned with a very wide rear, with headlights also connected to each other below the trunk door.

Of course it's a concept model, which shows in the slim side cameras fitted to the mirrors, but we're betting a lot of what we're looking at will make it to production.

The brand also indicates that the size of the tires has been increased so that "the driver benefits from a higher point of view, for better and greater visibility".

In addition to the side cameras built into the mirror housings, the brand adds a bike rack hidden in a rear skid plate.

What's coming
The manufacturer indicates that the Aygo X will be built on the group's modular TNGA-B platform, the same as the Yaris. However, neither engines nor estimated production dates are reported. We assume that it will not be soon, since the brand has not revealed any image of the interior, which should be just in development.

Toyota's idea is that when it hits the streets, it will rank below the Yaris Cross and C-HR, offering traditional and hybrid mechanical options.

For now we will have to wait, but what looks looks good.