Archive for the ‘Toyota’ Category

Toyota to launch Corolla Altis diesel this year?

Could the Toyota Innova’s diesel engine power the Corolla Altis diesel?

In December last year, we attended the launch of the refreshed Toyota Land Cruiser Prado diesel. During a conference that followed immediately after, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors, Mr.Sandeep Singh said the company was considering the launch of the Corolla Altis diesel. He did not mention any time frame or price tag, but the manner in which he addressed the question clearly indicated the company would do it shortly.

Now Carwale is reporting the Corolla Altis diesel will be introduced in India in the second quarter of 2010.

Power output will be between 85-100bhp and the price will certainly be much more than the petrol model. Displacement is unknown, but could Toyota use the Innova’s 2.5-liter diesel engine tuned in favor of economy? Maybe the Innova’s engine could be re-engineered to a smaller displacement? This is easier said than done.

Carwale adds the diesel version of the Altis and the car is currently undergoing tests. Toyota has launched both petrol and CNG versions of the car and expressed no desire in transplanting the 1.3-liter petrol engine found on the European Corolla into the Indian model.

We’re waiting for more information Toyota!

And before I forget, Toyota is also working on an Corolla Altis hybrid in Thailand. Could this be the next Corolla variant after the diesel?

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Entry posted on March 19th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Toyota focused on customer service in US

Toyota Camry – causing more problems for Toyota in US

Toyota is completely focused on customer service in the US. That is definitely good. Providing the best customer service is key to growth and loyalty.

Bob Carter, Vice President, Toyota Group remarked -

We have a singular focus today – taking care of the customers on an individual basis. That’s everything that we are doing. Quite frankly, nothing else is important.

I read through Mr.Carter’s remark twice before making any logical conclusions. Focusing on customer service is fine and he could have stopped with that.

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Entry posted on February 21st, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Toyota Corolla India – Worse times?

Toyota Corolla Altis sold in India

Ok, we are so near to hearing the worst news for the automotive world. Toyota is very close to announcing a recall of the Corolla in US, which is plagued by steering problems. So much for the best selling car in the world.

Now, what puts me off is why do these things never impact the cars sold in India?

My hypothesis is simple. As an average person, I would only expect the steering components to be similar for the Corolla, irrespective of the geography where it is sold. Of course, the left/right hand drive is a visible difference and the specifications associated with it, but the overall components specifications may not necessarily be different. It does not make business sense otherwise.

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Entry posted on February 18th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Random Thoughts – Is Toyota going backwards?

The series of recalls recently will divert Toyota’s attention towards earlier cars

If you list out some of the reasons for an auto company to grow and sustain growth – Quality, new car development and brand reputation would be there on that list. At least one of these would be right on the top of that list. At a very high level, I was thinking of the implications of recent recalls by Toyota on the company’s immediate future.

Let’s see, Quality is definitely under scrutiny after the recall. In fact, Toyota is being cautious and self scrutinizing its other car models. After the Prius recall, Toyota have notified the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in US that some of the 2010 Camry models could be prone to a leakage in the brake fluid. The NHTSA have also received complaints about the steering system on the 2009 and 2010 Corollas, which complicates the current situation.

New car development might also be questionable. With efforts (time, money, dealers, people etc etc) being invested in managing these recalls, it may be a case that new car development is on the back burner. Let us hope this is not the case. As of today, the company is spending much effort on managing the recalls of cars like the Camry or the Prius that are already generations old.

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Entry posted on February 15th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Video – Toyota Etios concept

The video above shows details the Toyota Etios concepts with the aid of computer graphics. This is the full version of the demo released as a teaser before the car was showcased at the Auto Expo last month.

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Entry posted on February 10th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Random Thoughts – Prius making money in India

new Toyota PriusThe new Toyota Prius was Japan’s best selling vehicle and one of our favorites

The update is that Toyota will not be making a loss on the Prius in India. This is not exactly a “breaking news”, but rather a no brainer. After all, every car maker wants to introduce models that make good money for them.

Strategically speaking, the question is important as the Prius is coming to India under an limited order of 200 vehicles. The pricing is above Rs. 25 lakh and Toyota already have orders for 54 vehicles. That is a good order booked in a short time for this car.

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors had this to say in an interview for Forbes India -

Priced at over Rs. 25 lakh, isn’t the car very expensive?
We always knew that we are going to be very expensive and that’s primarily because of the custom duty levied on the car. We did approach Toyota Motor Corporation for subsidies but we were advised to speak to the Government of India. That’s how it works in most other countries where we have launched the Prius. Most governments have a subsidy or concession plan in place. So for the last six months we have been talking to the government, but we realised that it will take time to get any special concessions. The question was whether we should wait to work with the government, or go ahead and launch it. So, we decided to be selfish and launched the Prius which has all the features of any luxury car and I think it will connect with a limited, select group of people.

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Entry posted on February 10th, 2010 and filed under Hybrid cars, Toyota

Indian wrap – 54 Prius, 5 Mercedes Benz SLS, 2 Maxximo

54 Priuses booked in India -

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has received 54 orders for their hybrid vehicle Prius, which was launched at the Auto Expo last month. The Toyota Prius is available for an ex-showroom price of Rs 26.55 lakh and Rs 27.86 lakh rupees. Toyota had requested a consignment of 200 vehicles which it hopes to sell before the end of this year. Deliveries of the Prius begin in March.

Mercedes Benz finds 5 buyers for SLS AMG -

Mercedes Benz India Limited has found its fifth buyer in India, reports Times of India. The 2 crore rupee Mercedes Benz was showcased at the Auto Expo last month with gullwing doors, an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 420 kW (571 hp) peak output, 650 Nm of torque.

Mahindra plans 2 Maxximo variants

Mahindra plans to launch two new variants of the Maxximo – a passenger carrier (taking on the Tata Ace Magic) and a CNG edition of the pickup truck in the coming months. The Maxximo is powered via 2-cylinder CRDI engine, which this segment has not seen so far. The wrap around headlamps with reflectors, dead pedal, larger cabin, drive by wire throttle and 850kg payload capacity makes the Maxximo a superior vehicle on paper compared to the market leader Tata Ace.

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Entry posted on February 8th, 2010 and filed under Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, Toyota

Random Thoughts – Brake problems hit hybrids, Ford joins list

Some Ford Fusion hybrids have braking issues which will be rectified

If you think hybrids are the future of automobiles, hit your “Brakes” and wait. Over the last few months we witnessed the massive recall of Toyota vehicles in the US and UK to fix faulty accelerator pedals. This is followed by Honda’s recall of its City and Jazz models across many countries to fix faulty electronic windows switches on the driver’s door.

The latest cause of worry is one of Toyota’s best selling cars in the US – the Prius. Toyota has acknowledged a problem with the brakes on the Prius. The hybrid Prius has an advanced regenerative braking system that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy. Apparently, the problem is caused by a glitch in the brake software that has forced the company to issue a massive recall of 270,000 Prius vehicles in US and Japan.

Well, Toyota is not alone. It appears that one of the other best selling hybrid cars might have an problem as well. Ford has launched a “Customer Satisfaction Program” aimed specifically for Ford Fusion Hybrid (sedan, not connected with the Fusion sold in India) customers. Cars manufactured prior to Oct 17, 2009 will receive a free software update to reduce the chances of a brake failure. Ford has not acknowledged a fault with the braking system on the Fusion hybrid, but indicates that the customers might experience a “different brake feel” due to the switch between the electronic and hydraulic brake systems.

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Entry posted on February 8th, 2010 and filed under Ford, Hybrid cars, Toyota

Toyota Etios could be launched in December 2010

The Toyota Etios sedan comes three months ahead of the hatchback

After unveiling the Etios concepts at the Auto Expo in January, Toyota is conducting the ‘Q’ World programme, a two day event where it will display the Etios concepts and the other vehicles it sells in India in 10 cities across India.

Toyota wants to ensure maximum visibility to its products and the new Etios concepts, which it is banking on for multiplying its production volume. According to Autocar India, Etios sedan will come in two variants and will be launched in December 2009 or January 2011. The hatchback model will come three months later.

Mr. Sandeep Singh, deputy MD, Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor -

It could be launched in December 2010 or by early 2011

Toyota will make the Etios in its second plant in Bidadi. The construction of the facility is half way through and initially it will be able to churn out 70,000 cars a year. Production can be ramped up to 200,000 units a month, which Toyota aims to do in the coming years.

click through for Etios hatchback/sedan Image Slideshows

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Entry posted on February 8th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Toyota launches Innova Sport Runner in Philippines

Toyota Motor Philippines introduced a tougher (looking) version of their best selling and one of our country’s best-selling MPV – the Toyota Innova dubbed Sport Runner.

The Toyota Innova SR, based on the refreshed Innova launched in 2009, features side skirts, rear spoiler, front fog lamp design similar to the G variant, 15″ alloy wheels in a wider 225 / 55 R15 tires and Sport Runner badge.

The Toyota Innova SR variant will be available in 2.5-liter diesel manual and automatic transmissions at Php 999,000 (9.98 lakh rupees) and Php 1,064,000 (10.6 lakh rupees) respectively.

During the launch of the refreshed Toyota Camry last year, Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Toyota Kirloskar Motors told IAB there will be a number of special editions of the existing models launched, and there would be no major launches till the Etios arrives in Dec 2010. Could the Innova Sport Runner be in that list

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Entry posted on February 4th, 2010 and filed under Toyota

Video – Toyota Etios Teaser

The Toyota Etios small sedan concept will be unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo (World’s largest auto show) scheduled to begin next week. Toyota will also showcase the hatchback version of the Etios at the show and both the vehicles will go into production at the end of 2010.

The Etios series would be produced first in India and then across the world. Codenamed EFC (Economical Family Car) it has been in development for the last few years in Japan. Through Etios, Toyota is trying to establish a better footprint in emerging markets like China, India, Brazil and probably Russia.

Toyota’s management in India told us back in July during the refreshed Camry’s launch that the Etios would not sport a very contrasting design since the Indian market is flooded with hatchbacks of various designs. The vehicle’s strength would be high quality, superior ownership experience and high resale value, they added.

Etios, which means ‘the origin of’ unlike many other concept cars, is 90 percent the production model. It will come in both petrol and diesel engines – 1.4-liter diesel engine adopted from the Yaris hatchback and 1.2 or 1.3-liter petrol engine.

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Entry posted on January 2nd, 2010 and filed under Auto Expo 2010, Toyota

DC’s Toyota Innova pips RR Phantom, Business Class of Jet Liner!

toyota-innov8The Innov8 wins, credit to “Vanity Roof Mirror” and “Accent Lighting”

The terms Toyota Innova, Rolls Royce Phantom and 1st class jet liner can come together to form a sentence only if our local international designer DC wants them to.

DC’s Toyota Innov8 using a Toyota Innova as donor car, has attracted wide interest thanks to much needed support and publicity from Khattar’s Carnation Auto where it is sold. The pimped out version of the Innova serves you with a little more coziness than a Rolls Royce Phantom, a seat on the first class deck of an international airline combined together. You get to travel either to another country for business or the next street for a smoke (every time) in your uber-luxurious mobile for a one-time investment of about 8 lakh rupees (excluding donor car).

Hey they missed out the unbeatable “manual roll down window” feature from the list. Not fair.

Click through for Innov8 Image

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Entry posted on December 29th, 2009 and filed under Funny, Toyota

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado diesel launched; Images and Press release

Toyota_Land_Cruiser_Prado_diesel

Last week, Toyota launched the diesel variant of the Land Cruiser Prado in Bangalore. I was present at the function in Bangalore which was followed by a press conference where the TKM management spoke about their future plans and revealed information unknown to the press.

I’ll lay down the details in another post.

The Prado diesel, which come with the 3.0L Diesel engine and Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) is priced at Rs 52.74 lakhs (ex-showroom Bangalore). The vehicle is very muscular and compared to the outgoing Prado, this one is better in every department. This vehicle is for the person who wants to shell out for a Toyota SUV, and cannot wait for the Fortuner.

The press release and images will give you enough information on the Prado to munch on.

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Entry posted on December 28th, 2009 and filed under Toyota
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