Toyota Etios-based sedan (Honda City rival) to launch in Brazil first - Report

Could arrive in India in 2017.

According to Brazilian auto columnist, Roberto Nasser, Toyota is prepping a new Etios-based mid-size sedan that will launch in Brazil first. The mid-size sedan is expected to arrive in India in 2017 and slot into the popular premium sedan segment comprising of the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and VW Vento.

The report states that the sedan (codenamed Etios C according to an older report) will draw styling cues from its bigger sibling - the Toyota Vios. It will position itself between the Etios sedan variant and the Toyota Corolla, and could be called the 'Yaris' when introduced in Brazil. Prices are speculated to hover between R$ 65,000 (INR 13.41 Lakhs) and R$ 75,000 (INR 15.47 Lakhs).

The decision to base the mid-size sedan on the Etios's platform will allow markets like Brazil and India to price the product competitively, as the platform has been localized in the two countries.

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The Toyota Vios was earlier speculated to arrive in India, and has been spotted testing on Indian roads on several occasions, it's based on the Toyota B platform, which has not been localized in India. Given that Toyota does not plan on fresh investments in new platforms in India, it's very likely that the manufacturer will introduce the 'Etios C' as their answer to the premium sedan segment; rather than the Vios.