You're looking at the next-generation Toyota Aygo, here presented in dashing concept form. It was teased in the run-up to this reveal as nothing more than the 'X Prologue' but, now we have seen the finished concept car, Toyota is happy to call it the Aygo X Prologue Concept, pronouncing that middle 'X' as Cross - and tying the Japanese company's tiniest car in with the forthcoming Yaris Cross that's due to land any day soon.
Higher eye-point
At the moment, all Toyota is talking about with the Aygo X Prologue Concept is the appearance of the thing - we don't have any details on the interior or on what's under the bonnet at this stage. So, aesthetically speaking, it should be plain to see that this little car stands taller than the model it is going to replace, with the bi-tone colour scheme of the concept not only taking up the C-pillar and rear flanks, but also forming a surround for the front wheel arch. Toyota also talks about enlarging the Aygo's wheels to give a 'higher eye-point for the driver'.
More than that, the door mirrors house cameras that can capture footage of your adventures and 'moments of exploration', Toyota makes a note of highlighting the integrated roof rails on the concept car, and in the rear bumper housing there's a skid plate that hides a mounting point for a bicycle rack. This X Prologue basically screams 'LIFESTYLE!' at you, meaning the production Aygo is going to stand taller than the model it replaces and classify as an ultra-compact crossover or micro-SUV - a niche currently only really occupied by the Suzuki Ignis.
One of the themes of the Aygo X Prologue Concept is that of the hexagon. Currently all in vogue, and being used by the prestigious likes of Lamborghini and BMW, the motif is easy to spot in several places of the Aygo concept car - such as for its lower front grille and the fog lights in the Toyota's chin - but it is also emphasised by the shape of the bi-tone colour scheme when the car is viewed in profile. Even the release latch and the handle of the boot is rendered in a recessed hexagonal shape, which is bisected by the rear lamp graphic.
Ah, the lights - another strong point of the superb-looking Aygo X. At the front are what are, at one point in the videos on the car, described as 'clamping lamps'. It's a full-width array that frames the sculptural shape of the bonnet, forming a wing-like structure that gives real definition to the Toyota's front end. At the rear, the graphic of the Aygo's clusters both harks back to the outgoing model, while also reinforcing the hexagonal emblems and further framing the boot hatch. The 'coast-to-coast' light strip here also serves as illumination for that boot-hatch release we mentioned earlier, which is a clever dual use of both form and function.
European design influence
The Aygo X Prologue Concept was styled at Toyota's ED2 facility in the South of France. While the team that worked on the car was truly international, calling in experts from all over the world from within the company, a strong emphasis on European looks was part of the design brief. Lance Scott, the design director of ED2, said: "Fun and playfulness has always been at the heart of Aygo. Now, we've added to its DNA an additional pinch of hot spice."
This is a particularly apt quote because Toyota, in creating a different type of Aygo for the third generation, wanted to 'spice up' the city car A-sector. Thus, in choosing the colour for the concept car, Toyota considered various natural ingredients for the eventual hue of the car, these including chilli, ginger, wasabi and black pepper. As a result, the paint eventually used is called Sparkling Chilli Red and its finish even includes a fine sprinkling of blue metallic flake in the mix, just to give the car an extra sheen of lustre.
Going its own way
Unlike the previous generations of the Toyota Aygo, this new model will not be built alongside the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1, as the city-car production agreement with the French companies has come to an end. As a result, it's very likely the Aygo X will sit on some form of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-B chassis, which currently underpins the excellent Yaris supermini.
Toyota can also invest its own drivetrain personality into the mix; and, on that score, we're wondering if there will be a strong electrification theme to the Aygo when it launches. The concept car has a notably smooth front end with only an opening in the lower bumper that might serve as a cooling duct, so there's every chance the concept itself is powered by electric. Whether the production version will be a pure EV, in a move similar to the brave decision Fiat has made with its iconic 500, remains to be seen, but Toyota clearly has lots of history with electrified drivetrains and is already making moves into the fully electric arena with its Lexus UX 300e upmarket crossover. Watch this space.
Anyway, for now, it's fair to say we're very impressed with the way the Aygo X Prologue Concept looks and can't wait to hear more about it. But, until then, allow us to conclude with some words from Ian Cartabiano, ED2's president, who said: "Everybody deserves a cool car. When I look at the Aygo X prologue, I'm really proud to say that ED2 team created exactly that. I'm excited to see it revolutionising the A-segment."