Automotive

Toyota radically sharpens up its cheapest Euro hatchback for 2022

Toyota radically sharpens up its cheapest Euro hatchback for 2022
Toyota is radically sharpening up the looks of its entry-level European hatch, the Aygo
Toyota is radically sharpening up the looks of its entry-level European hatch, the Aygo
View 7 Images
Toyota is radically sharpening up the looks of its entry-level European hatch, the Aygo
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Toyota is radically sharpening up the looks of its entry-level European hatch, the Aygo
A much sharper look for the cheapest Toyota in the Euro stable
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A much sharper look for the cheapest Toyota in the Euro stable
The wing mirrors have action cameras in them, for some reason
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The wing mirrors have action cameras in them, for some reason
A shockingly clean rear aspect
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A shockingly clean rear aspect
The black rear wraparound comes up over the roof, broken up by the roof rack
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The black rear wraparound comes up over the roof, broken up by the roof rack
OK granted, from the side it still looks a bit crap
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OK granted, from the side it still looks a bit crap
Forward-slanted lines make it look like it'll leap off the line – it won't, but it sure looks like it might
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Forward-slanted lines make it look like it'll leap off the line – it won't, but it sure looks like it might
View gallery - 7 images

Toyota's Aygo started out as a very humble little European hatch back in 2005, then evolved in 2014 into the oddly X-faced model on sale today. But thanks to the company's European design team, it's going to look a whole lot spicier from 2022.

The cheapest car in Toyota's Euro showrooms is getting a design makeover to match and extend on the futuristic, modular, eye-catching lines of the C-HR crossover. The Aygo X Prologue looks terrific to us in these preview photos – youthful, edgy, sporty and with a hint of off-road beach buggy to it thanks to oversized arches and bigger wheels.

A wicked LED strip between headlights accentuates the sharp front end, and the black shirts under the doors rise up over the new Aygo's hips to surround a shockingly clean back window and come up over the roof. The use of black here is a terrific example of how to lighten and sharpen a form visually using nothing but color.

Given that the current models use humble, efficient one-liter engines with 0-60 mph times best measured by sundial, we can assume the performance probably won't deliver on any promise the looks might make, but then considering how most of us drive our cars most of the time, we can deal with that. Perhaps there's an electric version in the works that'll add a bit of shunt to the thing.

Forward-slanted lines make it look like it'll leap off the line – it won't, but it sure looks like it might
Forward-slanted lines make it look like it'll leap off the line – it won't, but it sure looks like it might

There's not much more info to go on as yet but we hope this one makes it to showrooms in its current form. This is a terrific design language that puts some genuine visual excitement onto the road; if Toyota can keep this thing close to the current model's UK£12,690 (US$17,700) price tag it'll be on a winner. It's unlikely to go on sale in the USA but we look forward to seeing these sell by the truckload elsewhere.

Enjoy plenty more photos in the gallery.

Source: Toyota

View gallery - 7 images
9 comments
9 comments
Reece Agland
Looks very much like it is an EV already so don't think its going to be a cheap and cheery car. But does look awesome.
JimFox
Wow–spectacular!
nick101
Fuel prices are only going to increase from now on I reckon so this is a future-proof car.
robertswww
That's a pretty cool design and color scheme... I hope it comes stateside!
P.S. Did you notice the bicycle logo on the rear bumper... apparently it has a pop-out bicycle holder.
BIP
There is a quit unmet need for small, efficient, light car. Front is oK, rear is huggly. Toyota has 6 months to take some inspiration from Porsche design.
Spud Murphy
This absolutely needs to be an EV, they would be stupid to persist with ICE in such a vehicle.
dugnology
Nice looking car. The big wheel will dig into interior space, but it looks are stunning. Very original.
ljaques
Remove the black plastic crap and swap an EV drive train in there and they've got a real winner.
P.S: Reece, EVs aren't measured in liters, and they called this one a one liter.
bergamot69
I seriously doubt that this will replace the regular Aygo- not least because of the 'X' suffix.

More likely, this will be the SUV variant- because vehicle manufacturers want to exploit the popularity of their trendiest models, as FIAT and BMW have done with their 500 and MINI brands by spinning out ever larger (and usually uglier) versions- as BMW has done for two decades now...