World Premiere of the Urban Cruiser 1.4 D-4D All Wheel Drive

A new kind of urban all-roader

Demand for fuel-efficient urban vehicles, that are just as at home on winding mountain roads as they are in the city, is growing strongly. However, Europe's urban customers are very demanding too. They want individual looks; they want cars that do not take up too much space in the city. And, ever increasingly, they want cars with a small carbon footprint.

The scene is therefore set for a new kind of urban all-roader, and the timing perfect for the world premiere of the new Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.4 D-4D All Wheel Drive at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Since the preview of its breakthrough design at Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the Urban Cruiser production model has been eagerly awaited.

Its compact but rugged looks make it the perfect new challenger in the urban all-roader market. As the Urban Cruiser Chief Engineer, Kosuke Shibahara, explains, "With class-leading low emissions, the Urban Cruiser provides an ideal solution to the growing customer demand for flexible, yet socially responsible vehicles. The Urban Cruiser represents a new form of recreation vehicle with its distinctive personality and responsible All Wheel Drive performance. With many countries starting to introduce CO2 based taxation on vehicles, there's never been a better time to launch an urban car that's enjoyable to drive, both in and out of the city, yet with exceptionally low CO2 emissions".

The Urban Cruiser will go on sale in May 2009. Full year sales objectives are forecasted above 30,000 units with an All Wheel Drive mix of approximately 50%.