As enthusiast blogs and forums flood with spyshots, teaser images, brochure scans and early leaks of the all-new 2013 Toyota RAV4 premiering tomorrow at the Los Angeles Auto Show, we were curious to find out if Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) was interested in taking a look at it to strengthen its SUV range.
Toyota enjoys market leadership in the 20 lakh rupee SUV segment with the Fortuner. The Prado and Land Cruiser have good brand equity, and though they are no match to the say X3 or the Range Rover in numbers, customers have pages of testimonials appreciating their off-roading capability.
Can the new Toyota RAV4, with its European styling, infuse variety in the rugged, sheer brute-force of an SUV lineup?
Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), Toyota Kirloskar Motor -
We have no plans to introduce RAV4 into Indian market, in fact it's not even in our discussions with TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation).
The new RAV4 is based on the 2012 Camry platform, local production of which began earlier this year. Rivals include familiar names such as the Honda CR-V (arriving in India next year in the all-new avatar), Ford Kuga (the EcoSport counterpart of the C-Segment) and the Subaru Forester (once sold in India as a Chevrolet) in the global market.
The new RAV4 sports sharper aesthetics with lines and nuggets coming from the U.S. Camry and the JDM Auris series. We'll get the full lowdown from the Los Angeles premiere, so stick around to learn more about the 2013 RAV4.
