Toyota Etios @ Rs 4.96 lakh

Aiming to gain a bigger marketshare of India's low-priced compact models, Toyota Kirloskar Motors has launched its much-anticipated entry-level sedan Etios in India. Etios, the most ambitious product from Toyota, has been specifically designed keeping in mind the different needs of Indian consumers as well as other emerging markets. The company has priced the car very competitively in a range of Rs 4.96 lakh-Rs 6.86 lakh.

Aiming to gain a bigger marketshare of India's low-priced compact models, Toyota Kirloskar Motors has launched its much-anticipated entry-level sedan Etios in India. Etios, the most ambitious product from Toyota, has been specifically designed keeping in mind the different needs of Indian consumers as well as other emerging markets. (Photo: AP)

Toyota's seriousness with Etios is evident from the fact that for this it has invested Rs 3,200 crore on a new plant near Bangalore with an annual capacity of 70,000.

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, left, and Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice Chairman Vikram Kirloskar pose with the company's new car Etios at its launch in Bangalore on December 1, 2010. (AP Photo)
Toyota says the concept behind Etios is simple enough: a small car designed specifically for the Indian market, which carries Toyota's well-respected brand, and a price tag that is affordable to middle-class Indians. (Photo: AP)
A look inside the interiors of the car. (Photo courtesy: Toyota)

A look inside Toyota Etios. (Photo courtesy: Toyota)
The company has launched the car with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with plans to introduce a small car variant of the model with 1.2-litre petrol engine next year. (AP Photo)
Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda said about 4,000 engineers have spent five years for developing the car and this historically marks a new chapter for Toyota in India. (AP Photo)

The company calls the car a style statement in motion as it balance forms and functions.

Features: Engine: 1496cm3 (cc), DOHC, Gasoline

Transmission: 5 speed Manual

Max. Power: 90 PS (66kW) @ 5600 rpm

Max. Torque: 132 Nm (13.46 kg-m) @ 3000 rpm

Overall Dimension (L x W x H): 4265 mm x 1695 mm x 1510 mm (AP Photo)
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) aims to capture 10 per cent of the Indian car market by 2015, mainly on the back of Etios. Over 15 lakh cars were sold in the country in 2009-10. (Photo: AP)
A model poses next to Toyota Etios. (AP Photo)

TKM Deputy Managing Director Marketing Sandeep Singh said the TKM could increase the output of Etios depending on customer demand from the current levels of 80,000 units a year. He said that for Etios sedan, TKM has received 3,077 orders within two days of the launch. The deliveries will start from January. (Photo: AP)
TKM sells models such as sedans Toyota Corolla Altis and Camry along with multi utility vehicle Innova. TKM Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said about 70 per cent of the components of Etios are locally sourced. Only critical components like engines and transmissions are imported. (Photo: AP)
Toyota also has plans to launch compact car 'Etios Liva' by April 2011 to strengthen position in India. The pricing of the hatchback based on the same platform as its new Etios sedan will be decided after the Union Budget. (Photo: AP)
While the Etios sedan is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine, the Liva will have 1.2 litre petrol engine. The company said with both the sedan and hatchback put together, TKM plans to sell 70,000 cars in India in 2011. (Photo: AP)