What's new, What's hot /// East of your border!

[nickatnite]

The car in the first pic is a first for me!. Searched the net and found out that this model was sold in India in the 90's as Rover Montego. The rest are some of my favorite things till the Etios sedan rolls into the showroom.

later...

[m_waqas]

Toyota Etios launched in India
good for u guys... very nice coverage in Team-Bhp link..

well car is very reasonably priced i guess.. but its exterior looks awkward (may be because of very high ground clearance).. plus interior is also looking cheap plastic :-# ... and that damn speedometer in the middle of dash board isn't helping either :S ... VW vento or even Honda's city are much better looking cars...

courtesy team-bhp

[nickatnite]

good for u guys... very nice coverage in Team-Bhp link..

well car is very reasonably priced i guess.. but its exterior looks awkward (may be because of very high ground clearance).. plus interior is also looking cheap plastic :-# ... and that damn speedometer in the middle of dash board isn't helping either :S ... VW vento or even Honda's city are much better looking cars..

Ye posted the most unflattering of all the pics in that thread, i might add. This car's competition is the D'Zire class of compact sedans which includes the Accent, Indigo CS etcetera. If the sedan price starts at RS5.0 lacs approx. figure the price of the Liva hatchback?. Imagine owing a Toyota for RS4.5-5.0lacs fully loaded. This market will rock given the mentality of people here towards Japanese products.

Here's the first official tv ad for the Etios playing all over the country, courtesy of the Mozart of Madras

//youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuF78wK8okw

[nickatnite]

Some spottings from the Polo Cup meet last Sunday and from today.

[nickatnite]

pics by Toyota(India)

[Bombaywalla]

well car is very reasonably priced i guess.. but its exterior looks awkward (may be because of very high ground clearance).. plus interior is also looking cheap plastic :-# ...

The price and brand name are the only two factors that the Etios has going for it. I can't help but agree with you about the looks and proportion of the car. I wouldn't want to be caught dead in one of these. LOL

It looks like the Etios might capture a chunk of the fleet taxi market, just like the Renault Logan (aka Dacia Logan) did. The 'Liva' hatchback on the other hand, is better proportioned (though just as bland).

[nickatnite]

The price and brand name are the only two factors that the Etios has going for it. I can't help but agree with you about the looks and proportion of the car. I wouldn't want to be caught dead in one of these. LOL

It looks like the Etios might capture a chunk of the fleet taxi market, just like the Renault Logan (aka Dacia Logan) did. The 'Liva' hatchback on the other hand, is better proportioned (though just as bland).

The hatchback is definitely the car to wait for and the sedan looks much better in person. Here's a couple of pics from the promo tour.

click for more pics:

https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/get-togethers-motor-shows-motor-sports/132852-toyota-q-world-exclusive-auto-show

[nickatnite]

Chennai is completely washed out again with torrential rain pouring on us right now which leaves me no option but to seek refuge under my computer. I did go out earlier in the day before the rain started falling.

There goes the weekend!

[nickatnite]

Skoda updates: The Yeti is now available for delivery off the showroom floor with two model variants and price range of RS16.60 to RS18.00 lacs.The Laura gets projector headlamps and fresh garnish for the 2011 model year and the redesigned Fabia outsold the Jazz for the first time last month. The Superb is simply Superb now equipped with a 3.5liter V6 engine option for the 2011 model year.

I hope you find this thread interesting and informative. Till i get to post a detailed showroom review of the Etios sedan in showroom and exit i will update this thread as and when i find something interesting to share. Cheers!

[nickatnite]

Sightings of Gen2 Swift and Kizashi test cars mostly in Delhi. The Kizashi sedan is barely disguised and has 'HR' Haryana state plates which is where Maruti-Suzuki's auto plants are located.Pics are courtesy of Team-Bhp.com. Both these cars will be launched for sale in the first quarter of 2011.

[nickatnite]

Steady rain all day but it is pouring outside now where even walking out in the rain could be dangerous. I hope tomorrow is a better day.

later..

[chinyoti]

Ouch... That Etios is a bad looking car !!! wat was Toyota Thinking.... it looks like a modified version of the GEN 1 Platz (pre faclift)

[nickatnite]

Ouch... That Etios is a bad looking car !!! wat was Toyota Thinking.... it looks like a modified version of the GEN 1 Platz (pre faclift)

It's made for the Indian middle classes, the volume car buyers in this country. They don't approve of ostentation but value virtues like fuel efficiency, carrying capacity and competitive pricing(vfm). This Toyota generated 3077 bookings in the first two days. Akio Toyoda wasn't at the Bangalore launch event for nuttin'. Standard engine is a 1500cc 90bhp power mill and fully loaded for RS6.5lacs and exclusive to India. The Middle Class will adore this car.

//youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHqFL5OmuOs&feature=player_embedded

[m_waqas]

^ sure.. but middle class does also have some aesthetics sense... if car is doing good with masses then its great but it doesn't mean that car manufacturer can sell boxes with tyres having good fuel economy and other standard requirements :-# ... looks matter ..

hatchback version is much better.

[Skill]

If such happens in pakistan,i must say, a total flat,total flop,example,Passo.

[chinyoti]

It's made for the Indian middle classes, the volume car buyers in this country. They don't approve of ostentation but value virtues like fuel efficiency, carrying capacity and competitive pricing(vfm). This Toyota generated 3077 bookings in the first two days. Akio Toyoda wasn't at the Bangalore launch event for nuttin'. Standard engine is a 1500cc 90bhp power mill and fully loaded for RS6.5lacs and exclusive to India. The Middle Class will adore this car.

You are very right but even the middle class deserves some thing better doesnt it :),

And you have to agree all the booking that came up are considering " Its a Toyota and it will last forever" not because of how it looks.

And its obviusly a tactic of a low priced car in the indian market, which Toyota badly lacked. I wonder why didnt they go forward with the Yaris/Yaris Sedan

[nickatnite]

^ sure.. but middle class does also have some aesthetics sense... if car is doing good with masses then its great but it doesn't mean that car manufacturer can sell boxes with tyres having good fuel economy and other standard requirements :-# ... looks matter ..

hatchback version is much better.

They buy the D'zire by the thousands every month and this car looks like a ballerina in comparison. I can't argue with what you're saying.

If such happens in pakistan,i must say, a total flat,total flop,example,Passo.

I can't argue with what you're saying. The "exclusive to India' is the lift that will propel this car's sales, though. The masses will feel special.

You are very right but even the middle class deserves some thing better doesnt it :),

And you have to agree all the booking that came up are considering " Its a Toyota and it will last forever" not because of how it looks.

And its obviusly a tactic of a low priced car in the indian market, which Toyota badly lacked. I wonder why didnt they go forward with the Yaris/Yaris Sedan

Very valid points raised but again the D'Zire sales will prove my point.Also, the Yaris is sold everywhere. Read my previous reply. That plus the supposed Toyota reliability factor. Average man can now own a Toyota that won't break his bank to maintain. Toyota is projecting 70000-1 lac cars in the first year of sales. They've obviously done their homework else they wouldn't have invested in this project.

All of you have raised very valid points and i cannot argue with your opinions and i actually agree with y'all but i'm just stating it like it is over here. They do market research and hold consumer "clinics" and get realtime feedback from real people(buyers) before they launch new cars in this market in different segments. Great posts.(Y)

[nickatnite]

A rendering of the new version of India's longest selling car(50 plus years in market) to be introduced by Hindustan Motors next year. If they actually pull it off, this car will rock the market in it's segment(medium size sedan) as Indians have an eternal and sentimental attachment to this marque.

The current Ambassador.

The proposed replacement(hubba hubba). A Swiss auto design firm has been hired to rework the Ambassador for the 21st century and the rendering below is one of the contenders. Hindustan Motors has officially announced the new car in a press release.

The new Audi Q7 test mule spotted by Autocar(India) forums near Mumbai

Me!. Spotted by a fellow motorhead last week when the weather was much nicer . I got the pic today and i've had a hard time explaining that i wasn't driving in the center of the road but changing lanes:grin:.

The new Etios sedan will be in dealer showrooms and at mall displays this weekend across Chennai. I shall try to bring you a close up of this car. till then, Cheers!

[chinyoti]

-All in all this is the first time Toyota has actualy steped in the competition in the masses segment in India, as in now its directly going to compete all the mini hatches rolling around, specialy the Maruti Suzuki and Tata motors, plus both the korean (chevrolet and Hyundai too).

Plus as u said, the Swift Dzire sales very well, Etios being a Toyota would sell in better term, once looking from ur prespective Toyota India seems to achieve its projected goal easily.

Secondly Indian and Pakistani demographics differ atleast in the cars shapes segment, most of us didnt like much of the TATA designed cars either. So probably were saying Etios (sedan) looks odd.

PS: I liked the hatchback version alot

-Leave every thing aside, im loving the proposed Ambasador design, its kinda mini-ish

-I think its about time audi tried something new to... more or less luks like a R8 Sedan version

[chinyoti]

Suzuki isnt any way back, its going head to head, there showing off there Kizashi and the new Swift... Again kizashi cud have had bigger alloys,

Both the kizashis have same number plates, 63 and 64