|
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
 24
Feb 2005: The Toyota Innova was launched in
India by Toyota Kirloskar Motors today.
The MPV will be available in both petrol and
diesel versions. There will be a total of 5
versions in seven colours.
The petrol Innova features a 2.0 Litre [1988cc
VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing - intelligence)
engine that generates 100kW (136PS) @ 5600 rpm of
power and a torque of 182Nm (18.6kg-m) @ 4000rpm.
The diesel Toyota Innova comes with a common
rail diesel engine (CRDI) for decent
performance and high fuel efficiency. This 2.5
Litre (2494 cc) engine specially tuned for Indian
conditions, generates 75kW (102PS) at 3600 rpm of
power and 200 Nm/ 1400-3400 rpm torque.
The base petrol version of the Toyota Innova
will cost Rs 6,82,000 while the base diesel
version will cost Rs 7,42,000.
The Innova will cost Rs 9.43 lakh with the 2000
cc VVTi petrol version ex-showroom New Delhi and
the top diesel version of the Innova will cost Rs
10.03 lakh in Delhi.
Toyota Kirloskar Motors plans to sell 45,000
units fo the Toyota Innova in this calendar year,
and expects sales of 4,500 units in the first
month of launch.
The company has said that the Toyota Innova
will compete against the Chevrolet Tavera and the
Mahindra Scorpio.
That is yet to be seen. The Chevrolet Tavera
and the Mahindra Scorpio are both priced much
below the new Innova, and both may slash their
prices further if it proves that the Innova will
be a threat to them. The Tavera and the Scorpio
are quite popular in the MPV segment in India,
with the t\Mahindra Scorpio doing exceptionally
well. While Toyota had a success in India with the
now discontinued Qualis, whether Toyota will be
able to repeat the performance with the much
higher priced Innova is unclear.
Toyota officials said that the Innova is one of
five models that have been designed as part of the
IMV (innovative international multi-purpose
vehicle) project, launched in September 2002.
Innova would be produced at Toyota Kirloskar
Motor's plants in India. Toyota is introducing
five different variants of Innova in 2.0 litre
petrol and 2.5 litre diesel in seven colours.
Innova is being simultaneously launched in Delhi,
Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.
BY OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
|
