These spy pictures of the Etios diesel sent by our reader Sreeraj TS and Ashwin M undergoing pre-production trials is a clear indication that Toyota is planning an early launch of the diesel-powered saloon. According to company sources, Toyota has eased bottlenecks in manufacturing to bring forward the launch of the diesel variant. Also, with the sharp tilt towards diesel cars in the Indian market, the huge pent-up demand and long waiting list for the Etios petrol have reduced dramatically.
Toyota plans to launch the Etios diesel in September to capitalise on the festive season when car sales usually spike. The Etios diesel will come with the same 1.4 turbo-diesel that powers the Corolla diesel but will not get the bigger saloon’s more expensive Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) hardware. The Etios diesel will be boosted with a simpler Fixed Geometry Turbo (FGT) and hence the power output is expected to be in the region of 75bhp (the Corolla diesel develops 87bhp). However, for the lightweight Etios, the lower output seems adequate, especially since the focus for this entry midsize saloon is fuel efficiency. In fact, the Etios diesel is expected to set a new standard for fuel efficiency among midsize saloons which, along with its spacious cabin, could make it unbeatable in terms of practicality.
The Etios diesel is likely to cost around Rs 100,000 more than its petrol equivalent, which pegs the range between Rs 6-8 lakh. That’s still pretty good value and the waiting list for the diesel version of Toyota’s new saloon is sure to extend into the New Year.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
Hormazd Sorabjee
