Toyota Etios Cross spied in Pune

Toyota Kirloskar Motors launched two new variants of the Etios Liva a few days ago. Now, an avid reader of an automotive blog has spotted the Etios Cross in Pune while it was being shot for promotion.

The Etios Cross is sold in international markets like Brazil and Argentina. This car is based on the Liva and uses similar mechanicals; although it is not your normal Liva and gets loads of changes on the exterior front. It gets a body kit which makes it look aggressive, along with roof rails that can hold up to 50kgs of your luggage and new taller alloy-wheels. Toyota intends to give it the pseudo off-roader look and it certainly looks the part. 

In India this is a new segment altogether, VW began the proceedings by introducing the Cross Polo last year. The Etios Cross will compete against the VW Cross Polo here and the upcoming Punto Cross. This will be the first right-hand-drive Etios Cross from the Japanese car maker. The Etios Cross in India might be available only with a diesel engine as it qualifies for the sub four-metre category and using the 1.5-litre petrol engine might negate the benefits. The same 1.4-litre D-4D oil burner that’s found in the Etios and the Liva will be summoned to do duty for the Cross. 

Toyota might show the Etios Cross at the Auto Expo 2014 and might start selling it subsequently. In India, pricing is one of the major factors that defines success; no matter how good the product is, if it is not priced right, then in most cases such products end up being market duds. In Brazil, the Etios Cross costs Rs 12 lakh plus, however, in India it might be much cheaper as its main competitor the Cross Polo costs as little under Rs 8 lakh. The Etios Cross could be priced competitively as compared to the Cross Polo as it has a high level of localisation.

Source: Indian Autos Blog