Review: Toyota Etios has been launched
Toyota, a Japan Company, had decided to release its new hatchback in the ‘Auto Expo’ which was supposed to be on the 5th of Jan 2010. Finally, Toyota has launched the ‘Toyota Etios’ which is small and uses the concept of sedan. Other than India, the car will be released in South America, Russia and the other important markets. Toyota has reduced the price of the car wherever it could, to make the automobile price-competitive especially in India and stand in competition with the ‘Maruti Swift.’
Etios is available in 2 engine options: a 16-valve DOHC petrol engine of 1.3 or 1.2 liter or a diesel engine of 1.4 liters. Toyota has planned to manufacture 70,000 units / annum of the ‘Etios’ initially, and then target for a market share of 10% in the segment of small cars by the year end. Almost 70% of the components of India-spec ‘Etios’ is being sourced locally, which will permit the Company to fix the car’s price in a competitive manner.
The car will be competing with the Maruti Swift, Hyundai’s i20, Skoda Fabia, and Fiat’s Punto. The exterior has styling sues that are sharp as well as a huge smiling grille which has been mounted at a height exclusively for India. The car features a powerful shoulder line along with a cut which is upward parallel to the door’s bottom portion. The interiors of the car are contemporary and the Toyota car exhibits an instrument panel which is mounted at the centre along with the offset AC vents.
The car provides more room in the inset with spacious interiors when compared to the other hatchbacks. The driver’s side has a door mirror which is electrically adjustable. The displacement of the car is 1200cc and it utilizes a petrol engine. Five people can be seated comfortably. The main features include a Power steering, five manual gears, brakes with front disk and having rear drum, Remote Boot, Power Windows, Body Color Bumpers and Rear Wiper.
The other features include AC without Climate Control, Rear Defogger, Music System, manual adjustment of driver seat, Remote Fuel Filler, Headlamp Washer and Central Locking using a remote. Toyota has displayed the body styles- notchback and the hatchback at the Expo. But when the car’s production begins, it will start with the notchback first and that will be launched initially and after 3 months, the hatchback will be released.
Toyota wishes for a gradual increase in the production so that it does not compromise on the quality and hence is launching the hatchback late to sell the automobile in huge volumes. Toyota has chosen India as its ‘lead plant’ in the entire world for its car, ‘Toyota Etios’ and next comes Brazil, featuring our country as a ‘global hub’ for small cars. The car is approximately estimated to cost somewhere between 4.5 lakhs to 5.5 lakhs in India.
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