It’s no secret that small, inexpensive cars are very popular in India. The Tata Nano has driven this idea home. Not the type to stay on the sidelines, Toyota has unveiled its Etios Concept, a new subcompact expected to make strong headway in the segment.
The Etios will be available in both four and five-door variants. As you would expect, not much in the way of standard and optional features will be offered in this basic compact car. Engine choices are also minimal and consist of a 1.2-liter in the hatch and a 1.5-liter in the sedan.
The Etios is not a looker but it is functional. It goes on sale in India later this year with a base price below $10,000. Toyota expects to sell around 70,000 units annually and plans to export some units in markets outside of India, including Russia and South America. There are no plans for the North American market. For more detail, check out the press release after the jump.
Press Release:
Toyota Unveils Concept Version of New Compact Car for India
Tokyo-TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces its production and sales subsidiary in India unveiled today-under the banner: “World First, India First”-a concept version of the “Etios*”, a compact car newly developed specifically for the Indian market. Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private, Ltd. (TKM) is showing the concept car at the 10th Auto Expo automobile show in New Delhi, which runs until January 11.
The Etios is aimed at family users in India’s rapidly growing automobile market. Reflecting its “one class above” theme, the Etios’ styling evokes a sense of advanced status, and, along with a spacious interior with abundant storage space, it aims to offer both smooth and powerful driving and excellent fuel efficiency.
To make the car as affordable as possible for potential customers, thorough use of local parts will be pursued to keep costs low.
On display at the show are a sedan version with a newly developed 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a hatchback version with a newly developed 1.2-liter gasoline engine.
Etios chief engineer, Yoshinori Noritake, said at the show: “I visited many Indian cities and homes to learn the market and to hear from the consumer directly.
Over four years, more than 2,000 engineers have been involved in the development of the Etios, and each has devoted his or her best effort with no compromises. I am convinced in my heart that the Etios offers joy of ownership and quality of life to consumers in India.”
TKM will produce the Etios from late 2010 at its second plant, which is now being built expressly for the new car.
Annual sales in India are set at 70,000 units. Exports are planned.
At the show, the TKM exhibit, with its key message of “Quality Revolution”, comprises a total of 14 production and concept vehicles, including the third-generation “Prius” gasoline-electric hybrid passenger car, which is scheduled to go on sale in India in 2010, the “Prado” SUV recently unveiled for the Indian market, the “i-REAL” personal mobility vehicle and the “Fine-S” fuel-cell hybrid vehicle.
