Over a month after it was spotted in Thailand, the 2023 Toyota Innova has been seen testing in the outskirts of Bengaluru, where it is likely to be built. The new Toyota Innova (Codename: B560) will most likely see a global debut later this year, and an India launch is expected early in 2023.
- New Toyota Innova to get fresh styling inside out
- Expected to be based on a monocoque platform
- To get hybrid powertrains in India
Next-gen Toyota Innova: What do the new spy shots suggest?
The car seen in the new images has less cladding and is covered by a simple camouflage wrap, giving us a better look at its design.
The test mule could be an all-new MPV based on the Toyota Avanza currently on sale in markets like Thailand and Indonesia. The nose and the front door seem identical, including the wing mirror’s shape and positioning; but the rear door appears to be longer and has a small quarter glass window which isn’t seen on the Avanza sold overseas.
While the C-pillar seen on the car in the images is identical in design, the D-pillar seems to be more upright and less raked, which would facilitate better headroom for the third-row occupants. Moreover, the fuel filler cap here is square, while the one on the Avanza sold overseas is round. These key differences suggest that Toyota could be developing a slightly different version of the Avanza for India, which could be a replacement for the Innova.
Toyota Avanza: what exactly is it?
The Avanza is a popular sub-Innova MPV sold in markets like Indonesia and Thailand. Just like the Innova, all previous versions of the Avanza were based on the RWD IMV platform, except for the latest one which is underpinned by Toyota’s front-wheel-drive DNGA modular platform.
The Avanza, at 4,475mm, is shorter than the Innova (4,735mm), but it has the same 2,750mm wheelbase. And thanks to its monocoque construction, it offers a similar amount of cabin space as the Innova.
Next-gen Toyota Innova to get hybrid powertrains
Toyota has confirmed that the new Innova will also debut hybrid powertrains for the Indonesian market. So, much like the next-gen Fortuner, the upcoming Innova will have some kind of electrification, either strong hybrid or mild hybrid, in order to meet the ever-tightening global emission regulations.
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