Indian Autos blog

The Toyota Etios has been launched in the South African market and fans of the Japanese brand have shown eagerness and support on the official Facebook page of Toyota SA to see and drive the new arrival.

The Etios is exported from India and at the commencement of exports last month, a senior Toyota SA official said the Etios is positioned as a newcomer’s car. On the other hand, Toyota is also expecting many pensioners to drive the Etios and them to be bought as retirement gifts.

The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s most read newspapers, had recently reported that Toyota is planning to create a new brand and offer low cost cars in India at around US $6000 (approx Rs. 3.5 lakhs). The report mentioned that this car could see a 2016 launch.

Reacting to the report, a Toyota spokesperson has played down the possibility and stated no such plans exist. The Etios remains as the cheapest offering in their portfolio, designed for emerging markets. The segment in which the speculated car was to be launched is teeming with competition. The perception is competing so down the price ladder can harm Toyota as a brand.

Here at IAB, we give a lot of importance to the design of the car. We believe that car design is a integral part of the product and needs to be as good as the mechanical components. Hence, most of our reviews are split into three parts – Design Review, Interior Review and Driving Review.

Toyota, known for its legendary reliability, doesn’t really make cars that have communicative design. Most Toyotas (well apart from 86 and the Yaris) are a bit bland to look at. Let’s just say, if one swishes past you, you won’t give it a second look. The Japanese automaker has identified the problem and promises more communicative designs in the future.

Japan will soon be able to buy the redesigned Corolla Axio sedan and the Corolla Fielder station wagon.

With almost 39 million vehicles having the Corolla brand on them on the motorways across the globe, it goes without saying that Corolla is the bestselling vehicles in the world.

Kei cars are a big thing in Japan (No pun intended). There are so many models to choose from. Mazda, Suzuki and Nissan have many versions of them.

Essentially a Kei car is a small and light vehicle designed to comply with Japanese regulations in such a way that they are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is available for the vehicle. They mostly have diminutive engine and CVT gearboxes to propel them.

At the Indonesian International Motor Show that is to be held in Jakarta between September 20-30, Toyota may introduce the Etios for the Indonesian market. Last year’s IIMS witnessed the showcasing of the Innova and Fortuner facelifts.

The Etios Liva was caught testing in Indonesia shortly after its launch in India stoking the flames for a debate on its introduction in Indonesia.

Toyota officials from India, Thailand, Brazil and USA were requested to appear for a secret unveiling of the next generation Toyota Corolla in Japan in the form of a mockup earlier this year, CarAndDriver Brazil has reported. C&D has written that like the Camry, Toyota’s next generation Corolla will be a global model in hatch and sedan avatars.

It may be launched next year in Japan and travel to overseas markets in the second half of 2013. Since the Corolla is the best selling car in its segment in India, TKM may want to fast forward the launch. The Ford Focus and redesigned Skoda Octavia are said to be making their way to India in the next two years which the Corolla can perceive as a threat.

Toyota has lifted the veil off a pair of futuristic models at the Beijing Auto Show. Though the first photographs have been published, we’re still waiting for detailed information, expected to come out later today.

The “Dear Qin” twins are purely concept cars now that will translate into production cars meant for markets even outside China. Toyota has not confirmed the markets the Dear Qin is heading to but these cars could be the challenger for the Fabia and Rapid in Europe when they are ready next year.