Toyota Kirloskar Goes Crossover With Stylish Etios

Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched Etios Cross, a crossover of its sedan with rugged and youthful features, at the Auto Expo on Thursday. The car, part of the fast growing compact SUV segment, comes in both gasoline and diesel versions. Deliveries are slated to start from May, the company said. Prices are yet to be disclosed.

The Etios Cross has a bold front grille, fog lamps with integrated turn indicators and stylish diamond cut alloys. It comes with a 1.5 litre gasoline engine delivering 90ps of power while the 1.4 litre diesel version delivers 68ps of power. Toyota has tried to balance a rugged and adventurous exterior with a ‘piano black’ colour theme, to give it a premium feel.

Describing the need for the Etios Cross, parent firm Toyota Motor Corp chief engineer Akio Nishimura said: “We found that people are buying cars early in their life. Also design and ease of driving are key factors. This car is especially designed for those who seek individuality in everything they do.”

The Japanese-Indian joint venture Toyota Kirloskar – which says India’s current market conditions are sluggish – sold 10,910 cars in January this year, an 18.14 percent decline from 13,329 units sold in January 2013.