The 2013 Toyota Vios has been launched in Indonesia less than a month ago but it has promptly started serving customers as a taxicab.
We Indians look at the third box of a car as a symbol of pride and status, but the Indonesians don't subscribe to this philosophy. They are turned on by hatchbacks, MPVs and SUVs. Sedans have always been relegated to the taxi segment in the archipelago which is why you didn't see Honda launching the Amaze and Toyota approaching the Etios sedan very cautiously.
Their indifference towards sedans continue and the Toyota Vios, in spite of its upmarket looks, is put to use as a taxi. Seen here are the first images of the taxi spec Vios, sent in by our Indonesian reader Idhuy. You can see that the car has lost some bling to feel more like a cab.
The Vios taxi loses its projector headlamps, foglamps, body colored ORVMs and door handles, and alloy wheels. The car is expected to take on a toned down interior as well. The overall design remains the same and we can't help but wonder that this sedan would have earned a good brand equity had it been launched in India!
The Vios is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine which develops 109bhp. The taxi spec car is most likely to be offered only with a 5-speed manual transmission. Private buyers can also opt for a 4-speed automatic.
The Toyota Vios for the Indonesian market is made in Thailand. Due to heavy demand for the new Vios in the taxi market, PT Toyota Astra Motor, the Indonesian subsidiary of Toyota, is contemplating to complement the Vios with the introduction of the Etios Sedan as a taxi.
[Source: Idhuy from Autonetzmag.com]
