TOYOTA ETIOS

The new concept car, which came at Auto Expo as fully production form, will be manufactured from late 2010 at its second facility which is under construction. The company has promised to provide world class technology and quality with the Toyota Etios. The design concept for the car is Bold Simplicity which is refer to affordable luxury and functionality in one machine. The car will have to compete with the likes of Maruti Swift, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20 and Fiat Punto. The company will produce around 70K units of the car per year.

Toyota Etios sedan model is equipped with 1.5L petrol mill. The 1.5 L petrol mill might generates over 100 bhp of peak power. On the other hand, hatchback model of Toyota Etios is supposed to fit with 1.2 litre petrol mill. Top power from this engine would be around 80 bhp. Both engines are refined and tuned for better power, fuel economy and performance even without VVTi technology. Though the Toyota Etios might give a 12 kmpl mileage in city and 16 kmpl on highway.

Toyota Etios hatchback is to fall in the category of Maruti Swift, Fiat Punto, Skoda Fabia and Hyundai i20. So the birds eye view of the car suggests it to be same as these car's appearance. Though the front face of the vehicle is sharp and compact. The upper grille, lower grille and headlamps collectively make a shape of a face of human being that seems smiling with dimples (headlamps) at both end of lips (upper grille). The upper grille in chrome finish while the lower grille come in black stuff. Pearl white fog lamps are placed at both end of the lower grille. Shining rain wipers are provided at front and rear face. Standard rear side view mirrors are in body colour along with door handles, rear cowl and bumper. The same treatment can be noted in the sedan variant of the Toyota Etios except rear box. Six-spoke alloy wheels are very much same in looking but different in specification as the sedan's wheel is bigger than hatchback in terms of size and wheelbase.

Toyota designers tried hard to give stunning looks to the interiors of Toyota Etios and as a result a creative kind of output is there. However, they fail to provide it eye-catching and eye-soothing appearance. Dashboard is a conventional type that houses instrument panel in the centre which can be easily read out by rear passenger. AC vents are at both end of the dashboard. There is enough storage space at dashboard facing front passenger. A touch-screen audio-system is installed at the middle of the console along with operating switches. Additional steering mounted audio controls are there provided for convenience of driver.

Toyota Etios will priced around 4-5 lakhs and will be launched at the end of the year in India.Now there will be a real competition in the Indian market.