Toyota Etios diesel to be launched after petrol version

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, an Indian subsidiary of Japan based leading car maker Toyota, today said that it may come out with a diesel version of its upcoming compact car, Toyota Etios, to grab a significant market share in the Indian small car segment.

During the Delhi Auto Expo and at other events, company has received lot of customer queries regarding a diesel engine for the Toyota Etios. Considering the response, it is also looking at bringing out a diesel version of the Etios, but nothing has been finalised so far, Toyota Kirsolkar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director Sandeep Singh told reporters here. Company is looking at the Toyota Etios as a breakthrough in its India strategy. The small car segment in India is a huge one where Toyota was absent so far. The launch of the Etios will mark company's break into the strategic market Singh added.

The company is going to start the commercial production of Toyota Etios at TKM's second plant in Bangalore from December 2010, and in the same month the car will be formally launched. Initially, the company will launch the hatchback version of the car, and a sedan version will follow after few months, same as the Maruti did with Swift. Where the petrol hatchback variant of the car will be launched with a 1.2 litre engine, the sedan variant will be available with a 1.5 litre engine.

The small hatchback segment is already very crowded with a large number of different brand cars including Maruti Swift and Ritz, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and i20, Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia.

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