Toyota Etios by January 2011

There is a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the launch of the Toyota’s latest hatchback  in the Indian market. Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) has had a good run in the country with its sports utility vehicle Fortuner that was facing a backlog so massive that the bookings had to be cancelled. However, Toyota Fortuner sold a lot of cars and about 2,500 more orders have been received. The bookings reopened this month. Toyota stable has been abuzz with activity as it recently launched the diesel version of Corolla Altis. TKM Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh has been quoted in a leading daily, "Next year, the total sales of the company will be 1,50,000 units, out of which we expect the Etios to be around 67,000 units.
 

The news has come out that TKM will start sales of Etios from Jan 2011. Company officials have pointed out several times that a lot is riding on the success of Toyota Etios. TKM expects the hatchback to amount for more than half of its overall sales in India in 2011. Etios is likely to come with a price tag of Rs 5 lakh.

 TKM went around the country conducting events to promote the hatchback Toyota Etios. The car would also get a notchback version sometime later. But first there would be the petrol variant followed by a diesel version. The diesel version is still being planned. However, the company officials have strongly denied rumours of a smaller car than Etios but the speculation refuses to die down.

This is Toyota’s first hatch especially designed for India. The car is suppose to have DOHC 16-valve engine with a 1200cc displacement and is expected to be priced around Rs 5 lakh. Toyota would be manufacturing Etios in both hatchback and sedan variants. Etios was at display at the Delhi auto Expo 2010 and evoked curiosity among onlookers. The hatch and notchback segment of Etios have a sharp and big smiling grille that has been high-mounted especially for India and give the car a very tough look.