The second Toyota Etios Preview

[Team-CCI]

Since the Toyota Etios has been garnering such a good amount of public attraction, we felt that it was time to tell the public a little more about Toyota's latest car, and one of its most important challenges in India. It is well known that the Etios represents the changing global market; one which emphasizes smaller and practical cars which are high on efficiency without removing all of the fun. The Etios, with its hatchback and sedan platforms, aims to beat multiple well-established cars. The hatchback is expected to cost around Rs. 5,00,000 for the base model and higher for different variants and the sedan form-factor. Expected at launch sometime in Nov/Dec 2010 is a 1.2l Petrol engine, and a Diesel engine though not much is known apart from that.

A look at its competitors reveals heavyweights like Maruti's Swift, Dzire, SX4, the Honda City, Tata Manza and Indica Vista, Skoda's Fabia, Hyundai's Santro and i10/i20. The segment is perhaps one of the most crowded in India, a market which demands unreal efficiency and value from all the manufacturers. The Indian automobile scene has scoffed at multiple manufacturers like Fiat, Peugeot and to an extent, even Ford and some of General Motors' offerings via Opel and Chevrolet. To say that Toyota's work is cut out for them would be a huge understatement.

And with the recent Toyota recalls happening globally with regards to safety, the company has to make good numbers during one of its most torrid times in its history. Knowing Toyota however, the boxing gloves will have already gone on for the future. Expect the car to make headlines and people's garages very soon. We will have updates and a review when we get our hands on one!