Further Toyota Fortuner and Corolla launch details

The Toyota fortuner could be here as early as by the end of this year[2008] is what ET says.Ofcourse the next generation corolla would be the first off the blocks and we should hear more of the corolla launch and specifications soon.

The next generation corolla is expected to have a diesel engine and going by the incentives offered by toyota dealers the launch of the next generation corolla seems to be very close.Regarding the pricing the expected bracket is in the range of Rs.10-14 lakhs.Now rarely do car companies manage to meet these predictions but if toyota do we have a clear winner on our hands especially with a diesel in the lineup.

Regarding the Fortuner it too is expected to be towards the end of the year 2008[or even early next year].It is expected to be in the price range of Rs.15-19 lakhs which again would be a fantastic price if toyota manage to keep it at that.However given that the fortuner is an ofshoot of the innova a more aggresive pricing could have been targetted.

However Toyota just seems to be at the wrong time at the wrong place once again,this certainly isn't the best time to sell cars.But then new cars and that too from toyota may just be a blessing in disguise and may actually revive interest in Automobiles.

[source:Economictimes]

Toyota's new UV by end of the year

The Toyota Avanza


There are unconfirmed reports about a new Utility vehicle code named NVX being launched in India by the end of the year[2008].Remember it is around the same time Toyota would face competition from the Mahindra ingenio and the Tata MPV.

Toyota being Toyota have denied the development and so more details about the vehicle is unknown.

The new vehicle is going to be based on the innova[IMV] platform.Their is a good possibility the vehicle could be the avanza given that the avanza is a much cheaper offering.The avanza is a smaller vehicle than the innova and is a seven seater.I have a feeling it could be the avanza since a toyota dealer had informed me of a qualis replacement just a few months back and infact toyota may even consider the possibility of stopping production of the present innova .

Another possibility ofcourse is an all new innova.

However since the fortuner too is based on the innova platform don't rule out the possibility of the fortuner launch either.

Since everything is so unclear my suggestion is if you are looking for a vehicle in the UV segment,please wait till the end of the year or atleast till diwali[2008].

[Image source:bucksdigger.com]

My wish,how about a seven seater Dahatsu terios/Toyota rush

Update:
The latest is that Toyota plan to launch the fortuner only by 2009[between june-september to be precise],pricing expected within the range of Rs.16-20 lakhs.

Toyota Fortuner could be here soon

While speculation is rife that Toyota is going to launch the Fortuner in India soon,what has added fuel to the theory is the NDTV coverage of the Thailand motor show,where NDTV strongly hinted about a possible launch of the Fortuner soon in India.

What could spoil the party is the price tag.NDTV suggest it could initially only be assembled here and then according to demand could be manufactured in India at a later date.The Fortuner would thus be competing more with the Honda CRV,Chevrolet Captiva and the likes.The question is would you shell out a hefty premium for a vehicle which shares a major percentage of its DNA with the Innova.

The recent ad spree by toyota inspite of the Innova doing very well the previous month has got a few to suggest that a new vehicle is due soon.Whether its the fortuner,the new corolla or even a facelifted/an all new Innova is anybody's guess.

Update:
The latest is that Toyota plan to launch the fortuner only by 2009[between june-september to be precise],pricing expected within the range of Rs.16-20 lakhs.

PS:Sticking to the NDTV coverage of the Thai motor show,even NDTV confirmed the launch of the next generation honda city by the end of the year.

Toyota may introduce more than a single model in small car space

The TOI has an article where Toyota is supposedly setting up a Technopark[The Technopark would consist a consortia — formed from a number of Toyota group firms that manufacture components, transmissions, seats and other parts] and according to sources of TOI ,Toyota plan to introduce more than a single model as far as the small car segment is concerned.

Logically speaking this may very much be a possibility and is the right way forward considering that Toyota is way behind in the Indian market right now and has only a 3.6% marketshare.In case of other manufacturers customers have so many options in different segments even right now so by 2010 Toyota will struggle if only a single small car rolls out from its manufacturing plant by 2010.

Toyota have only to look at the Skoda Fabia.How many units is Skoda able to garner with the Fabia.It would be almost impossible for Toyota to cater to a large segment of customers with only a single model and the 10% market share it plans to grab by 2010 would only have remained a dream.

So the next question is what can be expected.Well for starters a B+ segment hatchback and a C segment sedan.Yes I expect Toyota to be working on a C segment sedan[remember all the talk about bosch and toyota working on a vehicle in India].Right from the start there was also a plan to target the B segment but the challenge has been pricing and if Toyota is able to meet this challenge then we could expect a B segment hatch too but I am confident of the first two.Then ofcourse there is this strong demand for a Qualis replacement which too may just be looked at.The new corolla of course would be here this year and possibly a facelifted innova as well.Fortuner plans remain unclear.

But finally we are going to get some vehicles from Toyota.I wish to warn the other manufacturers,Watch out the giant has just woken up.Wish you all the best Toyota.

[image source:automotive.com]

Also read:
Toyota to launch a new model every year

Toyota to launch new variants of The Innova

Now that the competition [Mahindra scorpio and the Tata safari] have raised the bar its time the innova gets a few added luxury features.The Mahindra scorpio for instance now comes with cruise control,rain sensing wipers ,automatic headlamps,tyre pressure monitoring systems,Reverse parking assist.

Toyota may also thinking along these lines for the newer variants but expect a rise in prices too.Since the innova is not that new a facelift cannot be ruled out completely but at this point looks unlikely and toyota may just come out with only newer variants of the Innova.Toyota could do well if it also gives an engine upgrade option too since the competition has somewhat left behind the innova with regards to this[even the Tata sumo is shortly going to be launched with a 120 bhp engine].

For those waiting for the fortuner a bit of hope is that once again toyota talk of launching new products on the innova platform for India.However it may not be here that soon.What we could see in the near future apart from the changes to the innova is the All new Corolla which is hitting ASEAN markets by march so we could get it here real soon.Also work on the new small car is going ahead at full steam and a lot more details could possibly come out when Toyota President, Mr Katsuaki Watanabe comes here by the end of january.

Edit:What I have learnt is that for 2008 ,Toyota is indeed thinking of a facelift for the Fortuner and the Hilux pickup in markets like South Africa , so the possibility of an Innova facelift cannot be ruled out completely.

Toyota Fortuner 6-12 months away from India Launch.

This time round finally toyota are serious and finally after now what is years of towing with the Fortuner idea Toyota plan to give it one last shot.Within the next six months toyota would take a firm decision with regards to the Fortuner SUV[which uses the same IMV platform as the innova].This decision would finally confirm if at all the Fortuner would make it to Indian soil or toyota will scrap the idea altogether after which the introduction should not take more than six months so expect the Toyota Fortuner within a year if at all it was destined for the Indian markets.

This got me looking for reviews on the internet about the Fortuner and though the build quality and the finishing of the interiors matched expectations what disappointed many reviewers was the lifeless and sterile driving experience of the Fortuner[even Comparing the driving experience of the Fortuner to the new Honda city].Also even with the impressive[atleast on paper] 2.7L petrol and 3.0L d4d[common rail diesel engines] reviewers did not exactly find it a scorcher,whether the Fortuner would appeal to enthusiasts we would have to wait and see when we do get the Fortuner on Indian roads for a test-drive.

Just in case environmentalists in India are upset,toyota does plan to Introduce the Prius as well just don't know how much of a premium it would command in the Indian markets.

Update:
The latest is that Toyota plan to launch the fortuner only by 2009[between june-september to be precise],pricing expected within the range of Rs.16-20 lakhs.