Next-gen Toyota Corolla unlikely to get diesel option for India

Likely to offer a petrol-hybrid powertrain.

Autocar India reports that the next generation Toyota Corolla Altis is unlikely to offer a diesel option for the Indian market, reason being the costs involved in developing a successor to the 1.4L D4D diesel engine fitted to the current model.

The report states that the investment required to work on an new small displacement diesel engine that conforms to Euro or Bharat Stage VI emission norms will be greater than introducing a petrol-hybrid variant which can offer a similar fuel mileage.

The popularity of the locally-assembled Toyota Camry Hybrid in the Indian market as well as the increasing resistance towards diesel-powered cars could be other deciding factors. Hybrid technology is slowly getting popular with the market, thanks to schemes like reduction of VAT (Value Added Tax) on electric and hybrid vehicles from 12.5% to 5% by the Government of Delhi as well as exemption from the odd-even rule in Delhi NCR.

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While the next gen Toyota Corolla is under development, Toyota is expected to introduce a facelift of the current model at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, which should be launched in India before the end of this financial year. It was recently spotted undisguised in Turkey, where the Euro-spec Corolla is manufactured.

[Source: Autocar India]