Toyota plans to launch the Corolla Altis CNG next month just in time for Diwali sales. After the Innova CNG, the Corolla Altis is the next Toyota vehicle to come factory fitted with a CNG kit. Currently, the only other car in the Corolla's segment to have an alternate fuel option is the Chevrolet Optra CNG, since now the Cedia LPG has been discontinued.
The Corolla Altis CNG is currently undergoing final endurance testing and will most probably have a slightly modified suspension setup at the rear, since it will have to carry an additional dead weight of 70kg (the CNG tank), with the weight going up to a total of 80kg once the 14kg (gas capacity) tank is filled.
We are told that the Altis CNG will feature a modern Sequential Injection system, along with its own ECU, to deliver economy without sacrificing on performance and driveability. This modern Sequential Injection system allows for the CNG to be injected at a pressure of 2.0bar, as compared to the other cars that use a Venturi – mixer system that deliver a maximum pressure of only 0.8 bar. Economy trials have proved the car to be quite efficient with figures hovering around the 20km per kg of CNG, without sacrificing power output – which is a known issue with most CNG conversions. Let’s hope the Altis CNG sales give Toyota Kirloskar Motor an additional reason to light up the fireworks this Diwali.
