Likely to go on sale at the end of this year, the Etios will be offered in both hatchback and notchback body styles, with both versions to be on display at the show. Still, autocar.co.uk writes that the hatch version will go on sale at a later date, a strategy that would allow the Japanese manufacturer to decide whether such a flavor would be indeed profitable.
Rumors are suggesting that the Etios range will comprise several low-displacements engines, each of them specifically optimized to return reduced fuel consumption and emission figures. For instance, it will include a 1.4-liter diesel, similar to the one of the Yaris, plus a 1.2- or a 1.3-liter gasoline option.
Since the car will be especially addressed to emerging markets, the car will be priced at around $10,000 and will compete in India with Maruti Swift, currently one of the leaders of the local market.
Such a low price obviously translates into low-cost equipment so the car is rumored to feature a single windscreen wiper plus a series of cheap materials such as plastic for the interior trim. Furthermore, the car will most likely feature regular seats and a basic sound system with no other connectivity options such as Bluetooth or iPod support.
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