Toyota Tries to Break Indian Market

The world's largest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., is eyeing emerging markets with a new low cost model that was unveiled this week in India. The production version of the 2010 New Delhi Show Etios Concept is available at launch as a four-door sedan model, but will be joined by a five door hatchback called the Etios Liva in April of 2011. 

The company said the Etios has been developed specifically for Indian customers and will be built at a plant in Bidadi, near Bangalore. However, Toyota eventually plans to offer the small sedan in other emerging markets such as China, Brazil, Thailand and possibly certain regions of South America.


The 4.265mm (167.9-in.) long sedan boasts a rather large boot with a luggage space of 595-liters and is powered by a newly developed 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled to a 5-Speed manual transmission. The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, with prices ranging between 4.96 Lakhs and 6.86 Lakhs making it the company's most affordable offering in India. 

Commenting on the launch of the Etios, Mr. Akio Toyoda, President TMC said: “India is a key market for our overall strategic growth plans, and the launch of the Etios is definitely a milestone not only for Toyota in India but for Toyota globally."

"We at Toyota believe, ‘the road makes the car’ and the Etios is a product of real-world testing on roads across India. Our testing has covered a hundred thousand kilometers on every kind of road that Indian drivers encounter, from Kolkata to Mumbai, from the Himalayan foothills to the tip of the Indian peninsula

According to JD Power, Toyota sold a little over 60,000 cars in India through October, compared to 870,000+ sales from Marutti Suzuki, which is the market leader in the country.

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2011 Toyota iQ with Euro5 Engines

Toyota UK is accepting orders for its modestly updated iQ mini, which will make its debut at this week's Paris Motor Show. Priced from £10,158 on the road, the 2011 model year iQ benefits from some barely noticeable changes inside and an engine lineup that has been revised to meet Euro 5 emissions standards.


Along with the introduction of a new gray interior with contrasting black upper trims on the doors and toning fabric upholstery or optionally with Kuru black leather upholstery, the iQ's cabin also gets new soft-touch materials on the dashboard and the door panels.


Other updates include the "manta ray" motif panels on the door and center console that adopt a new black finish and a new scarlet surround on the center console.


For 2011, the 1.0-liter VVT-i and 1.33-liter Dual VVT-i petrol engines have been revised to meet Euro 5 emissions standards, with Toyota claiming the changes had no impact on performance or fuel efficiency.

As such, the 1.0-litre (manual) model delivers 99g/km and 64.2mpg UK on the combined cycle and the 1.33-liter (manual) with Stop & Start returns 113g/km and 57.6mpg UK.

Toyota and Lexus With Six New Hybrids and EV by 2012

Japanese automaker Toyota is readying for a big hybrid fight. Undaunted by the recent drop in hybrid sales, Toyota plans to launch six new hybrid models by end of 2012, one of which will be a Vitz / Yaris hybrid.


In a presentation in Detroit on Monday, Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada explained that two of the six new hybrids will be for Lexus and four for Toyota adding that all of them will be new and not next-generation versions of existing hybrid models.


Some will be hybrid only models (i.e. there will be no gasoline-only variant), though Uchiyamada would not elaborate further as to what body type or segment these new vehicles would be.


The carmaker is also readying an electric vehicle co-developed with Tesla (makers of the all electric Roadster) and possible rival to Nissan's Leaf EV. Uchiyamada has confirmed that this will be shown at the 2010 Los Angeles Motor Show. The new Toyota EV could possibly be the same all-electric small car the automaker had previous stated they were working on.


This comes after a string of recalls (11 million vehicles globally) hurt the brand's image of reliability, something Uchiyamada plants to fix by extending is vehicle development time setting up a team of 100 engineers to audit its production lines.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: WSJ

Toyota Land Cruiser Black Bison Edition

Massive 20-inch alloy wheels and a rear diffuser on a Toyota Land Cruiser? Welcome to the fabulous world of Wald International and its 'Black Bison' series.

Toyota's engineers may not have had this in mind when they were designing their range-topping luxury off-roader, but what the market wants, the market gets. Following the release of a set of teaser shots back in March, Wald International has published a full image gallery (31 to be precise) on its new Black Bison package for the Land Cruiser.


The blacked out styling kit for the Land Cruiser that now includes a glossy black front grille comprises of a new front bumper with larger front intakes, a pair of twin fog lights and a lower spoiler, beefy side-steps incorporated in the side skirts and wider fenders.


At the back, the styling package adds a wider bumper that houses a rear diffuser and quad exhaust pipes, rear gate spoiler (under the window) and a roof spoiler that would make any WRX owner green from envy. Customers can choose between black or dark chrome 20-inch alloy wheels.