Toyota Yaris: No diesel engine for Maruti Ciaz & Honda City rival

Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limited is unlikely to launch the diesel version of the Yaris in India. The C-Segment sedan, which will be launched here during May 2018, will be a petrol-only model at the time of launch. This status is unlikely to change in future as well.

Currently, the only small diesel engine that Toyota builds in India is the 1.4 liter D-4D unit, and it is not Bharat Stage VI emission norms compliant. The new BS6 norms come into place from Apil 2020, which means that Toyota will have to scramble to get this engine to meet the new norms.

This is something that Toyota is said to be undecided about due to the high costs involved. Also, diesels are gradually losing popularity among car buyers in India as the price differential between petrol and diesel fuels has reduced greatly. Moreover, BS6 ready diesel cars are expected to be much more costlier than petrol variants, further reducing future demand. These are the factors said to be prompting Toyota not to offer a diesel on the Yaris.

The 1.4 liter D-4D diesel engine is available in two states of tune: 68 Bhp-170 Nm with a fixed geometry turbocharger, and 89 Bhp-205 Nm with a variable geometry turbocharger. The engine is used in the lower state of tune in the Etios and Liva, and in the Corolla Altis with the higher state of tune. If Toyota ever offers the enigne in the Yaris, it’ll be in the 89 Bhp-205 Nm state of tune, but for now a Yaris Diesel itself is unlikely.

If Toyota doesn’t rework the 1.4 liter diesel engine to meet BS6 emission norms, it’ll have to drop this engine from the Etios, Liva and Corolla Altis starting April 2020. Toyota could instead offer a hybrid option on the Corolla Altis, and discontinue both the Etios and Liva from the Indian market. The Yaris could continue with the 1.5 liter petrol engine it’ll be launched with, and may even gain a hybrid option in due time.

Via ACI