Toyota-badged Baleno To Launch By June 2019

The Japanese auto major, Toyota Motor, is busy preparing for the introduction of a new car that will be actually a premium hatchback based on the Maruti Baleno. The new model will launch around June 2019. The plan for this all-new model was first announced in 2018 and is a part of an agreement between two automotive giants- Toyota and Suzuki. Codenamed the A11, Toyota’s all-new premium hatch will be much of a rebadged version of Maruti Suzuki's offering. According to some recent reports, virtually all parts of the India-spec Maruti Baleno will be found on the A11 model. The Japanese automaker will manufacture this model at the company’s production plant at Bidadi, Karnataka.

Toyota is gearing up for the introduction of an all-new Maruti Baleno-based premium hatchback under Toyota-Suzuki joint agreement.

Despite the fact that the Toyota-badged Baleno will largely resemble the Maruti Baleno, the hatchback might get its own cosmetic identity through a new front grille, revised bumpers and lights, etc. This should bring the vehicle in sync with other Toyota models. The interior, on the other hand, is expected to get only some marginal refreshments. In essence, Toyota’s new premium hatch will be a totally badge-engineered car that should be akin to many other such vehicles already-sold in India, e.g the Nissan Sunny-Renault Scala or the Renault Duster- Nissan Terrano.

The Toyota-badged Baleno is internally called the A11 and will get some distinctive cosmetic elements compared to the base vehicle.

Under the hood, the all-new Toyota A11 is likely to employ one petrol engine option only. Currently, in the Indian car space, the Maruti Baleno is available with two engine options- a 1.2-litre K-series gasoline and a 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol unit. Yesterday, the Indo-Japanese maker rolled out a new Baleno Smart Hybrid with a BSVI-compliant 1.2-litre DualJet petrol motor in India as well. The Toyota counterpart, however, could borrow one or both of the above petrol engine options. No statement has been made on the Toyota’s engine-transmission packages and even the hatchback has not been spotted so far. But there is a batch of rumours that state that Toyota will discontinue the higher trims of Etios Liva to make room for the rebadged Baleno model in its product lineup to avoid overlap.

Also Read - Maruti, Toyota and Honda Cars To Soon Come With Full Hybrid Systems

Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Toyota and Suzuki also join hands to bring out some other models like the Toyota-badged Ertiga, Ciaz and Vitara Brezza, which are all set to be introduced in the domestic and African markets. Furthermore, the two manufacturers from Japan will also co-developed a new Toyota C-segment MPV that will be procured by Suzuki in India.

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