Currently running high on the success of the Fortuner and Innova, Toyota might soon provide a major upgrade to the Etios sedan and Liva hatchback soon.
Toyota is soon going to introduce two very important products in the Indian market. No, we are not talking about the Rush SUV or the CH-R crossover but a premium hatchback and a sub-compact SUV. Interestingly, both these cars are going to be rebadged iterations of two of the largest selling cars in the Indian market.
Under its latest partnership with Suzuki, Toyota is going to receive a certain number of units of the Baleno hatchback and the Vitara Brezza sub-compact SUV from the former’s Indian arm i.e. Maruti Suzuki each month. These will then be badge engineered and sold through Toyota’s dealerships.
Also Read: Toyota to launch Maruti Vitara Brezza derivative within a year and a half!
The first of these i.e. the rebadged iteration of the Baleno hatchback from Toyota is going to launch in India during the second half of this year. The rebadged iteration of the Vitara Brezza is going to make its debut sometime during the year 2020-21.
In addition to pairing with Suzuki to improve its performance in the budget segments of India, Toyota is also going to revamp its existing product line-up for the said space. The Japanese automaker currently sells the Etios sedan and the Liva hatchback in the hatchback and mid-size sedan segment in India.
Also Read: Toyota’s Maruti Baleno based premium hatchback to launch later this year
Both these cars have been average performers for the brand in the recent past. The performance of these models did not increase as expected even after a recent facelift. However, the company might be planning to soon give these cars yet another shot in the arm.
In a recent interview with Economic Times, Masakazu Yoshimura, the recently appointed managing director of Toyota Kirloskar Motors said ”
We are looking at upgrading the Etios and Liva along with a smaller car solution”.
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He did not say anything pertaining to when these models will get an update of if the same is going to be a full-generation change or yet another mid-life update.
Nevertheless, Toyota has been doing rather well for itself in the Indian market thanks to the enthusiastic sales of the latest generation Innova and the Fortuner. Both these cars are currently running in their second generation iterations and have been very strong performers for the brand since the very beginning.
