Toyota planning a smaller car

Toyota Kirloskar Motor India will soon hit the Indian hatchback car market with its upcoming venture, Toyota Etios Liva this April. But the company is now looking to manufacture a smaller car in Indonesia aimed at emerging markets.

Last year the world’s number one automobile company Toyota Motor Corp was plagued by recalls and law suits. But the company has emerged from the crisis and is now looking at consolidating its presence in the emerging Asian markets where the growth lies.

As a step in that direction the company will build a low cost car in Indonesia along with Daihatsu. The car will be aimed at consumers in Indonesia and in neighbouring countries.

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The planned car will be smaller than the Toyota Etios launched in India in 2010 and is expected to cost around 800,000-900,000 yen ($9,550-$10,740).

The Etios Liva will come with a 1.2 litre engine capable of producing 80bhp and a promise of a 1.4 diesel unit later. Also, the company might think of plonking the engine used in Toyota Etios, 1.5-litre 88.7bhp in the Liva sometime in the future.

On the other hand the Toyota Etios sedan comes with a 1.5-litre engine capable of producing close to 90bhp. Toyota Etios has been especially designed for emerging markets and has good interiors including comfortable front and back seats with excellent fabric and build quality. The Toyota Etios has a 595 liter boot but the seats do not fold to make more room.

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Toyota Etios has a centrally mounted instrument cluster and leather-wrapped steering wheel in the higher end model. It is priced at Rs 4,96,000 - Rs 6,86,500 (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has a target of selling 140,000 units in India in 2011 and Toyota Etios is likely to account for half of that. The carmaker is also going to come up with the hatchback version of the car by April this year. The Toyota Etios Liva hatchback will be up against new models like Ford Figo, Maruti Ritz, Fiat Grande Punto, Volkswagen Polo, Chevrolet Beat and Nissan Micra.