Toyota Motors has created the Etios platform specifically for developing markets like India and other countries. Toyota has launched the Etios sedan and hatchback first in the Indian car market and the Japanese automaker is all set to introduce these cars in other global markets. Toyota started exporting the Toyota Etios sedan and Toyota Etios Liva hatchback to the South African car market earlier this month. And now the Japanese automaker intends to launch the Etios twins in the Brazilian car market. Instead of exporting cars made in India to Brazil, Toyota plans to manufacture Etios twins in Brazil through a separate manufacturing unit. Toyota may start production of these cars in Brazil from the month of June and the Etios twins may go on sale from August 2012.
Toyota Etios sedan and Toyota Etios Liva hatchback will be produced and sold in Brazil. Toyota may equip an ethanol-compatible petrol plant for the Etios twins as this fuel is imperative for the Brazilian car market. The ethanol compatible petrol engine will be the main highlight of Etios sedan Etios and Etios Liva hatchback. Speculations are rife that the diesel variant may not be suitable for the Brazilian market. In India, the Etios twins are part of the entry-level segments due to their low price, similarly in Brazil, these cars will be part of the entry-level segments. The Brazil-bound Etios sedan and hatchback will also witness some interior and specification changes.
Toyota Motors first launched the Toyota Etios sedan in the Indian car market in December 2010, the sedan received a good response from customers, taking 12,000 bookings within a few days of its launch. However, the company launched Etios sedan only in petrol variant, last year Toyota launched a hatchback version of Etios named Toyota Etios Liva which was again launched only in petrol variant. Addressing the declining demand for diesel cars in India, the carmaker launched the Etios twins in diesel guise in September 2011.
The diesel engine powering the Etios twins is the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel engine. Sales picked up after the introduction of the diesel variant of Etios sedan and Etios hatchback, but still couldn’t beat their contemporaries. These are the lowest-priced cars from the Toyota stable, but despite the low price, these offerings from Toyota have failed to impress Indian customers as much as the company had hoped. The reason for this could be the austere styling unlike other Toyota cars in India. To reduce the price of the Etios twins, Toyota has compromised on the interior quality, which is not expected from Toyota. Although both cars deliver high performance and are also frugal. Also the twins offer plenty of space for passengers, boot space is also good. Above all, these cars come with the reliability of the Toyota brand, which in itself is a big thing. To expand its foothold in India, Toyota is now targeting rural markets across the country.