Toyota Etios Hatchback Comes in April, Diesel Follows in December

Etios proves to be an extremely popular vehicle in India but, as the Japanese parent manufacturer fights to produce more units as fast as possible, the company is also gearing up to debut the hatchback model in the local market. The Etios hatchback will be locally known as Liva and is very likely to arrive in April this year, Indian Autos Blog reported in a post issued today.

Toyota hasn't confirmed the report so far, but it appears that the company has even offered the hatchback model to some buyers who expressed their disappointment over the long waiting period for a sedan.

Besides the sedan and the hatchback, the Etios lineup will receive a new member by year end, probably in December, that will come in the form of a diesel engine, specifically optimized for better fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The aforementioned source says the engine will be all-new and is already under heavy testing on the two models.

The Japanese announced in late December that Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, briefly known as TKAP, will start working on a new facility that will produce engines for the Etios series and, according to officials from within the company, is expected to output around 100,000 units per year.

“The domestic production of engines and transmission will enable us to provide the best quality product at a competitive price. India plays a vital role in Toyota’s global expansion plans and this development marks another step towards the company’s growth in India,” Koji Nagata, executive co-ordinator and marketing director, said in a statement in December.