You read it first on MotorBeam. Toyota has preponed the launch of the next generation Etios to 2014, sources at Toyota inform us. The Etios twins did not live up to the expectations of Toyota due to the obvious cost cutting, underwhelming exterior as well as interior design with very average fit and finish which usually is unseen in a Toyota vehicle. Toyota facelifted the Etios recently to make it more appealing by improving the interiors, providing more features and giving the exteriors a slight tweak.
In 2014 the Japanese giant will completely revolutionize the Etios and give the car an image revamp to maximize the potential of the car. Next generations of both the Etios sedan and Liva hatchback will be launched in late 2014 and early 2015 respectively. It is expected that the next generation design will boast a very modern and aggressive exterior with sharper features on the body to make it very appealing. Toyota will try to shake off the ‘boring, practical’ image of the Etios twins and try to grab attention of the young generation.
The interior too will be completely revamped. The space and roominess will stay but the boring interiors will be scrapped for a more contemporary and luxurious cabin. Toyota will also shift the odd centrally placed instrument console behind the steering wheel. The materials used too will be of higher quality with soft touch plastics and no doubt the cabin will be bathed in beige. The engines will remain the same albeit with slight re-tuning for better drivability and fuel efficiency.
Toyota was earlier planning to launch the next generation Etios by 2016 but due to poor sales, the company had to reschedule the next generation model to arrive earlier. Toyota has no plans to launch any new product in the Indian market till 2016 and will concentrate on the Etios twins only. The company has already started exporting the product and hasn’t found good response in the Brazilian market either.
