Indian Autos blog

Our longstanding reader Gurudatta Nayak who earlier mailed us snaps of the Fiesta AT from a dealer yard has sent in a selection of images of the Innova facelift snapped during the shoot for its TV commercial in Goa.

Guru had a good look at the vehicle and informs us that it will have the same cosmetic changes as the Indonesian model.

On the facelift, Toyota has placed a screen on the center of the dashboard that serves as the interface for the entertainment system. The multi-function steering wheel has dull gray inserts. Rest of the interior has not changed.

Guru adds that the Indian spec model besides cosmetic changes does not have much to show. The engine produces the exact same outputs and Toyota has left out the AT option in India yet again.

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Our longstanding reader Arjun Shrie who sent us images of the Chevrolet Trailblazer from the Dubai Motor Show is back with photographs of the Toyota Fortuner and Innova facelifts clicked at the same venue. Based on the IMV Platform, both vehicles camouflaged with tapes have been spotted testing in Bangalore over the last month.

With Thailand still recovering from recent floods, we’re not sure if Toyota can introduce the facelift as they have to deal with component shortage.

The 2012 model Innova and Fortuner carry changes that are purely cosmetic.

In the past 2-3 days, we are flooded with Toyota test mules being spotted all over the country. We have already brought you the spyshots of the new Innova being tested in Bangalore. Now, thanks to our pals at Team-BHP, we are bring you some more shots of the Innova.

Toyota plans to aggressively attack the year 2012 by facelifting its best selling models Innova and Fortuner. The Altis has recently received a facelift and is keeping a steady pace. Toyota is also testing the new global Camry in India as the company plans to re-invent itself in the D sedan market.

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Our Bangalore based reader Niketh sent us this image showing the Toyota Innova facelift, unveiled in Indonesia back in July, testing with thread sealing tape on the bodywork.

The appreciable change to the rear profile is the stop light cluster with a revised layout. The current Innova’s stop light is split into two parts (red and transparent) compared to the three part tail lamp on the facelift. The chrome embellishment above the number plate is redesigned. The bumper and windshield are retained.

The makeover to the front fascia is markedly different including sharp headlights, squared grille and a fresh bumper. On the mechanical front it is the familiar 2.5-liter diesel engine married to the 5 speed manual gearbox continuing service.

Toyota has its work cut out after floods in Thailand disrupted production and forced vendors to shut down factories. Toyota imports critical components from Thailand for the Innova and Fortuner which share the same platform.

No doubt that the impact of the floods will be felt at the Bidadi assembly line. Whether the floods have played spoilsport with the launch plans needs to be seen.

The Toyota Innova has been the kingpin of the MPV market since the time it was launched. Never had a car dominated a segment so aggressively for such a long period of time. There were many attempts made by competitors and some of them were successful as well (such as the Xylo), but still no one really overtook the Innova in terms of sales.

The only time Innova showed a lack luster performance was the month Japan faced a natural calamity and that’s really saying something.

But when it comes to ‘domination’ Maruti Suzuki knows the tricks of the trade. The company has dominated the small car market like no other. So the largest Auto maker in India decided that it had enough from Japanese czar. Maruti Suzuki started working on the R3 MPV in late 2008. In 2010, Maruti Suzuki displayed a prototype of the vehicle at the Delhi Auto Expo.

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Thanks to Ghiboo.com, we’re able to show you another spyshot of the Toyota Innova facelift that makes its entry at next month’s Indonesian International Motor Show. Alongside the new Innova, the Fortuner facelift is likely to be exhibited. Indonesia is one of the top markets for IMV platform derivatives (Innova, Fortuner and Hilux).

It is only a matter of time before the Innova debuts in India, but we’re not sure if the facelifted model will land here during the festive season.

Details are still hard to come by but a source has told Ghiboo.com that the new Innova will be more expensive than the outgoing model, but won’t reveal by how much. The prices will be made official on the 22nd of July when the show begins. We expect TKM to mimic the pricing strategy of its Indonesian counterparts.

Missing the festive season will mean that the Innova cannot not be show-cased at the Auto Expo next year. We don’t expect to see revisions to the Innova’s drivetrain and minor changes to its interiors are also anticipated. Maruti, Nissan and General Motors are working on family MPVs for market introduction in 2012.

Those keeping pace with the auto industry on IndianAutosBlog.com will find this, like most other developments, as no surprise. We posted weeks ago about Toyota planning a facelift for either Innova or Avanza for a IIMS premiere in June.

Toyota Indonesia is planning a minor facelift for its MPV king – Innova. Being a mid life facelift, we can only expect a few minor exterior changes. There’s no point for Toyota to revamp the Innova as customers find every aspect of the vehicle perfect for for long distance trips.

The 4 important changes that we can see so far are

• New headlamp design that extend in the bonnet
• New front grille
• The refresh look for the tail lamps
• Reflectors on the rear bumper

Back in November 2010, in-house image manipulator Shoeb R Kalania prepared a rendering and studied suitable additions to keep the Innova at the top of the table.

No mechanical elements seem to have been fiddled with. It may be possible that the interiors have also been lent a refreshed look and feel.

Things have been improving for Toyota Kirloskar Motor recently. The earthquake tragedy in Japan had a strong impact on Indian operations. But their production lines are back on track, the launch of Toyota Liva have been scheduled. Everything is jolly well.

Toyota India has not confirmed any news of changes to Innova so far.

Thinking from the company’s perspective and considering the fact that the Innova is still rightfully attracting masses, Toyota indeed has no need to make changes to the Innova for now. But also remember that Maruti Suzuki with R3, Nissan with NV200, Ford with the 7 seat Fiesta MPV, GM with its Chinese vans will try to dethrone the Innova starting this year. Giving it a facelift would be like securing an anticipatory bail. It’s preparing the Innova for the worst.

Don’t you think so?

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Wow! Paul Tan is reporting that Toyota will launch a new MPV in Indonesia this year. The report states the launch could either be the next generation Avanza or Innova. These two models have been around for a long time and updating them is inevitable given the rise in number of players in the MPV segment.

We think this development has to be related to India as Toyota is toying with the idea of bringing a MPV to India that will sit just above the Etios. The Etios platform might serve as an apt base, but TKM officials dismissed it as speculation.

Marketing GM Widyawati Soedigdo of PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) -

Akan ada mobil baru salah satunya MPV di IIMS (There will be a new MPV at Indonesia International Motor Show 2011)

Also listen in to what was said last year -

Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Senior Vice President (Area Operations Division) Vonce S Socco told reporters last year-

There is a room for another model between Etios and Innova. We are seriously considering it and a study is going on for this. But if anything like that happens, it will be in 2012 or after that. Nothing has been finalised yet, but our inclination is towards a multi purpose vehicle

TAM officials say the new MPV will be “much improved” and the pricing will be “very competitive.” The IIMS will be held in July.

If this product is the next generation Avanza, we can certainly expect Toyota to consider it for our market.

The Innova made its debut overseas in 2004 and went under the surgeon’ knife in 2008. The smaller Avanza is a much older product, debuting back in 2003, the last time it was given a facelift was five years ago. The Innova might not witness a thorough overhaul as it is selling well. Instead Toyota might carry out a re-skinning operation and lend it extra features. The MPV discussed here is very likely to be the Avanza.