Toyota is going to discontinue its executive sedan car, the Corolla Altis from the Indian market. The step is likely to be taken by April next year when the new BSVI norms are enforced. In the Suzuki and Toyota joint venture the latter was going to build the car, which would be ‘brand engineered’ and sold through Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa retail outlets. But that isn’t happening.
In the Fiscal Year 2019, sales in the executive car segment fell by 30%, which included Corolla Altis, Elantra and Octavia. It is because the customers are moving to the SUV segment. Though the Corolla emerged at the top with the sales figures, Suzuki has a change of opinion concerning the model’s success in the Indian market. With small sales numbers and without the supplementary sales figures from Suzuki, it is not feasible for Toyota to continue and develop a new version of the car.
In the engine department, the Toyota Corolla is sold with a petrol 1,798cc, inline-4 cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine that produces 140 PS of power and 173 Nm of torque coupled to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed CVT-i automatic transmission. The diesel option is powered by a 1,364cc, inline-4 cylinder turbo intercooled engine that produces 88 PS of power and 205 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual transmission without the option of an automatic gearbox.
The Toyota Corolla Altis prices start from INR 16.45 lakh to INR 20.19 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi. Honda has also entered the executive sedan market with its tenth-generation Civic with a starting price of INR 17.72 lakh to INR 22.32 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi increasing the segment competition.
In related news, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno which is going to be rebadged as the Toyota Glanza is going to be launched soon. As reported earlier, the exterior of the car remains identical to the Baleno except for the Toyota badged grille and the Glanza badge at the back. The Interiors of the Glanza also remains identical to the Baleno and it comes in the mid-spec and top-spec variants only. The car even gets the same touchscreen infotainment system as seen on the Maruti Suzuki hatchback. Toyota is expected to give an extended warranty on the Glanza which will be the only major differentiating factor.
Toyota is expected to only sell the Glanza in a petrol engine options.