Reference Auto

Toyota Kirloskar Motors is planning to bring in a slew of new Toyota models into the country, including the popular Innova and the high-end Camry as well as the Fortuner but will it help the Japanese company rev up sales in the wake of an auto slowdown in the country?

Even the global markets do not seem to be set for a good 2012 and big markets such as the US and Europe could see the likes of a global meltdown of 2008, which could hit the fortunes of Toyota as well as other car majors in these markets.

But the Indian market, like in the previous slowdown, could prove impervious and add to the fortunes of the auto majors.

The new Innova to be launched is likely to come with a slew of cosmetic upgrades at both exterior and interior.

The front side of the vehicle, which many critics have hit out at, is set for a makeover with the almond headlights making way for wrap around lights, which are rectangular in shape.

Moreover, while the hood comes with attractive character lines, a wider grille is present with there being more chrome to it, making it almost a Camry-lookalike so far as the front portion is concerned.

Also, the all new 2012 Toyota Camry sedan will be unveiled at the forthcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi during January 2012.

The new Camry premium sedan will be brought into the country as a completely knocked-down or CKD unit and will be assembled locally at the Japanese auto giant’s Bidadi plant instead of it being imported as a completely built unit or CBU.

This way, Toyota can price the Camry competitively in the Indian luxury car segment.

This new version of the Camry will be the variant that is sold in the Japanese market. This new variant will come with refurbished looks, especially in the front.

According to the company, the body will be “classy” rather than “sporty”, the headlamps will wear a more-simple look and the front grille will be smaller.

The Japanese auto major is also planning to roll out an all-new Fortuner in the high-end segment.

The new Fortuner will be propelled by the same 3-litre D-4D engine, delivering 169 bhp @ 3,600 rpm and 35 kgm @ 1,400-3,400 rpm though.

This time, the Toyota Fortuner offer will be attractive: You can choose between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Even as the manual transmission gear car is more enjoyable for the professional driver (with smooth gears), the automatic transmission has been made for convenient drives in city roads.

Buzz is that the new Fortuner may fall in the above Rs 22 lakh price bracket.

Toyota is clearly out to grab a big chunk of the Indian car market with the swift rollout of even diesel models of compact segment cars, the Etios and the Liva.

It is also accelerating in the high-end segment in India (with the proposed launch of the new Fortuner, the Innova and the Camry), probably as fears in the lucrative North American and European markets loom in view of another possible global slowdown but the company can only reap benefits in India if it prices these top-end cars intelligently.