Musical chairs for the top-selling sedan in the C segment resumed in June, with the Hyundai Verna emerging winner with 3,901 units. The Honda City came in second with 3,882 units. The Yaris completed May 2018 with a segment-topping 2,843 units, but dispatches have fallen to 1919 units in June, data published by AutoPunditz revealed.
Sales of the Ciaz reduced to 1,579 units last month, but with the facelift just weeks away from dealer forecourts, MSIL looks set to claw back volumes and could finish 2018 as the segment leader.
TKM is not considering a diesel variant of the Yaris which puts its newest launch out of contention for a small percentage of buyers. A senior company official has suggested that it is unlikely to get a diesel engine even at a later stage.
Speaking to Express Drives shortly after its launch, Shekar Viswanathan, Vice Chairman and Whole-time Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that he does not expect diesel to cost much less than petrol again. “In the past the government has done that (subsidised diesel heavily) but going forward, I doubt the government will have a financial levy to do it again,” Mr. Viswanathan said.
“I don’t think we will bring in diesel on Toyota Yaris. If the price of petrol and diesel widens we might consider it but as of now we don’t plan to bring in a diesel engine on Yaris.”
The difference between the price of petrol and diesel isn't the only factor in this decision. The 1.4L diesel engine shared by the Toyota Etios, Toyota Platinum Etios (Toyota Etios Sedan) and Toyota Corolla does not comply with BS VI norms that take effect in April 2020. Developing a BS VI-compliant diesel engine would require a substantial investment and drive up the cost of the vehicle. However, a report from last month insinuated that the engine could be upgraded for the taxi-spec Etios.
In place of a diesel, a Toyota Yaris hybrid could be in the skunkworks. After all, the company will have to shift to electrified volume cars eventually.
Also Read: 1,585 units of the Toyota Yaris dispatched to dealers in April
The Toyota Yaris is available in India with only the 2NR-FE 1.5L Dual VVT-i petrol engine. This naturally aspirated four-cylinder mill produces 107 PS at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. It is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. The fuel economy is rated at 17.1 km/l (MT)/17.8 km/l (CVT). Four grades are available to choose from, namely J, G, V and VX. Prices start at INR 8.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
[Source: Express Drives & AutoPunditz]
