With the discontinuation of the Toyota Etios this month, TKM has no presence in the fleet segment now. The company plans to launch a stripped-down, cheaper Toyota Yaris as a solution in the coming months.
The latest development has been confirmed by Naveen Soni, Senior VP - Sales and Customer Service, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. “Very soon, we should be looking at the possibility of a specced-down Yaris,” Soni said recently. To clarify that he was indeed referring to a stripped-down trim for fleet buyers, not a new base trim for private buyers, he confirmed that a “taxi-suitable, low-spec model” is under consideration.
Currently, the prices of the Toyota Yaris start at INR 8.76 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The new base trim may not include features like projector headlamps, shark fin antenna, (15-inch) alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver seat, electrically adjustable mirrors and 60:40 split rear seats. These features are included as standard in the current base trim (J).
The Toyota Yaris taxi should employ the familiar 2NR-FE 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i petrol engine. This naturally aspirated four-cylinder mill produces 107 PS at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. It returns a fuel economy of 17.1 km/l when had with a 6-speed manual transmission and 17.8 km/l when had with a continuously variable transmission. TKM is unlikely to offer the CVT option in the taxi trim.
Also Read: TKM mulling Toyota Yaris CNG, could launch it close to Diwali
Reports say that a CNG engine option is also in the works for the Toyota Yaris in India. It is possible that TKM will offer the upcoming trim with this more economical engine option.
Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Toyota updates and other four-wheeler news.
[Source: autocarindia.com]
