Toyota is one the most popular brands in India and across the world as well and has always retained its place in the top manufacturer’s list, with cars like Toyota Corolla, and the very recent Toyota Fortuner doing wonders for this major.
To remind you, a while back the brand had announced the launch of Toyota Etios, a new car which will be made available in two models – one sedan and one hatchback and the car has been in the news for an appreciable time since earlier the vehicle’s launch was due for December 2010.
Next news which has come about this new car is that the brand has pushed the dates of its launch to early 2011, making the customers to wait for a bit more. But if the car makes the brand and its customers count on it and contributes to the brand’s sales then even this wait could be ignored. Consoling the reporters, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd (TKML) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said. “Our compact car Etios, which has been specially designed and developed for the Indian market, will be launched in the first quarter of 2011, as our second plant is scheduled to go on stream by this year-end,”
With an investment of over 1,400 crores, Toyota is very close to installing its latest plant at Bidadi near Bangalore which has a capacity of 100,000 vehicles per annum and will incur 3200 crores solely for hiring 2000 employees, but as far as the information regarding Etios’ engines is concerned, this is what Nakagawa had to say “The engine for Etios, however, will be imported from our global manufacturing plant in Japan, as the volumes are small to produce them in India,”
Specifications Of Toyota Etios Sedan & Hatchback
Toyota Etios Sedan and Hatchback version are supposed to come with a 1.4 Litre CRDI Diesel engine along with two MPFI petrol variants – one 1.2 Litre and another 1.5 Litre, but the most surprising thing about this package is the record fuel efficiency of 23 km/l.
Read our previous post on Toyota Etios – Toyota Etios Price & Specifications
Apart from the news concerned with the launch, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is also planning to set up a R&D centre in India, quite similar to what Renault-Nissan and Hyundai have done some time back and according to Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa if favorable conditions prevail, the brand will also focus on installing a new engine facility. By mentioning favorable conditions the official means that the capacity of the plant should surpass the mark of 200,000 units per annum.
We expect the car to be seen on the roads as soon as possible since its would be a refreshing product from the brand for its customers.
