Toyota Etios sedan and Liva to go diesel on September 9

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) is planning to launch the diesel version of the Etios sedan and Etios Liva small car on September 9^th 2011. Toyota launched the Etios petrol in December 2010 and the diesel version was being expected ever since.

With sky rocketing petrol prices and cut-throat competition in the small car segment particularly among diesel hatchbacks, this is the right time for Toyota to launch the diesel version of its small cars (Etios & Liva) in order to sustain its market share. So what will be new in the diesel spec vehicles? Let’s take a look.

Engine

The diesel Etios sedan will likely be powered by a 1.4-litre motor, one that already powers the Toyota Corolla Altis diesel. There will however be tweaks and changes such as the inclusion of a fixed geometry turbo in the Etios-bound engine to keep the production costs low and the price competitive.

The 1.4-litre engine of the Altis produces 89 bhp of maximum power and 205 Nm of maximum torque. There are expectations that the 1.4-litre diesel engine to be used in the Etios Sedan & Liva would put out 75 bhp of maximum power and around 190 Nm of maximum torque.

The Etios & Liva diesel versions could have a claimed mileage of more than 21 kmpl as Toyota Corolla Altis, powered by the 1.4 litre motor, has a claimed mileage of 21.43 kmpl. The power-to-weight ratio will play in favor of fuel economy for the Etios sedan & Liva as they are light weight cars.

Price and Competition

We expect the diesel variants of the Etios sedan and Liva to be priced roughly Rs. 80,000 more than the petrol version. Taking this assumption into account, the Etios diesel could have a price range of Rs. 5.76 lakh to Rs. 7.66 lakh while the Liva diesel could have a price range of Rs. 4.76 lakh to Rs. 6.79 lakh.

The Etios diesel will pose a serious threat to the Maruti Suzuki Dzire diesel and Tata Manza diesel while the Liva diesel will attract buyers of the Maruti Suzuki Swift diesel, Ford Figo diesel and Tata Vista diesel.

Impact on Sales

Currently, the Etios sedan sells at roughly 3,550 units a month on an average (based on the sales in the past seven months). The launch of diesel version could increase the car’s sales to as much as 5,000 units as there is a substantial demand for an entry-level diesel sedan in the market. The Liva, which sold 2,551 units last month too, may witness a sales surge once the diesel version is launched.

*Prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Delhi