The world's leading car manufacturer Toyota Motors is coming out with the all-new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the Toyota Avanza. The model is expected to roll-out around the end of this year. The responsibility of the introduction of the new MPV rests on the shoulders of Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limited (TKML), which is the Indian subsidiary of Toyota Motors. The Indian subsidiary is still celebrating the success it got after the launch of the Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prius and the new Toyota Etios. These celebrated names are the biggest reason behind Toyota being at the top of the charts and holding all the aces, currently.
Toyota is well aware of the fact that it cannot afford to let the status and current image of Innova go down. It does not want to adversely affect the sales performance of its best selling Multi-Utility vehicle, the Innova and thus it has introduced Avanza as a Multi Utility vehicle rather than a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The company has deliberately provided Toyota Avanza with attributes that are not similar with Toyota Innova. Therefore, the all-new MUV is believed to attain the image of the smaller version of the Innova, along with lesser engine capacity and a seating capacity that accommodates fewer passengers than Innova. This would ensure that Avanza does not act like another version of the popular Toyota Innova.
Toyota Avanza can be expected to challenge the likes of Mahindra Xylo, Chevrolet Tavera and the latest vehicle from Nissan, the NV200, which will be coming to India soon. The MUV would offer quite a decent fuel economy; but, as far as the amount of power being generated by the vehicle is concerned, it would be few bhp less than that of its rivals. The constant expansion of Toyota's empire in the Indian auto market is believed to face no threat and hurdles as of now.
Toyota has launched its MUV worldwide under the brand name of Toyota Avensis Verso and has recently launched the Toyota Avanza in Thailand. The same strategy and concept is being repeated in India, with the Avanza being manufactured on the lines of Toyota Innova, as the development techniques and body parts are akin to the Innova.
During the early phase, Toyota Avanza will be available in a petrol engine version only. Additionally, there are no tip-offs regarding the introduction of a diesel version of the model in India. It is fitted with a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder, 16 valve with double overhead cam-shaft, flexible valve timing mill, petrol engine and all of this is blended with five-speed manual transmission. The Toyota Avanza generates a maximum power of 109 hp and maximum torque of 141 Nm. Apart from this, the car has fuel tank capacity of 45 litres and a turning radius of 4.7 metres. Moreover, Toyota Avanza is expected to cost around Rs. 7 lacs, which proves to be the right choice for buyers who need a perfect MUV with affordability factor being considered as a priority.
