Rumour: Toyota Rush compact SUV India bound?

Daihatsu, owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, is the oldest Japanese car maker. Daihatsu builds a range of compact cars mainly sold in Japan and other parts of South East Asia. Mainly using the Daihatsu brand to sell cars priced lower than similar Toyota models, the Japanese car maker Toyota also sells many rebadged Daihatsu cars under its own brand. One such car is the Daihatsu Terios, which is rebadged as the Toyota Rush compact SUV in the Indonesian car market.

A rumour originating on FlyWheel suggests that Toyota Kirloskar India is lining up the Rush compact SUV for the Indian car market. The report goes on to add that the real world testing of the SUV on Indian roads will commence shortly.  A reveal at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo is being speculated for the Toyota Rush. Toyota is said to be looking at positioning the Rush compact SUV in the segment below that of the Fortuner, a space that's very wide indeed. Stylistically, the Rush seems to have borrowed many cues from the Fortuner. 

The report also suggests that Toyota is looking to gain excise concessions that the Indian government offers for sub-4 meter cars. Since the Rush (2nd generation model) sold internationally measures well over 4 meters in length, Toyota will have to re-engineer the SUV to fit within the 4 meter length bracket. Speculated engine options for the Rush, if sold in India, include the 1.5 liter petrol and the 1.4 liter D-4D turbo diesel units, both found on the Etios sedan and Liva hatchback models. 

Internationally, the Toyota Rush is available in two wheelbase options and is powered by a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder petrol engine. The petrol engine outputs 109 PS-141 Nm and is offered with the choice of 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic gearboxes. The Toyota Rush compact SUV's regular wheelbase (2,580 mm) version is capable of carrying 5 adults while the long wheelbase (2,685 mm) variant squeezes in two more adults by means of an additional row of seats.

The 7 seat variant of the Rush measures 4.41 meters in length, 1.69 meters in width and 1.74 meters in height. Both 4X2 and 4X4 versions of the rear-wheel driven Rush are available internationally. If Toyota does indeed launch the Rush in India, this SUV is likely to compete with the likes of the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and the Ford EcoSport. Toyota, by the own admission of its top officials, has previously stated that it doesn't have plans of launching all-new products in India until 2015. 

Considering that stance taken by Toyota, it will be interesting to see where the Rush SUV will fit in the automaker's overall scheme of things for India. All said, the compact SUV segment in India, aided by the likes of the Duster and the EcoSport, is booming. Future launches in this segment include compact SUVs from Hyundai, Honda and Maruti Suzuki. Considering the growth potential of this segment, whose products suit road conditions and the car buying populace's tastes here, Toyota can ill afford to ignore compact SUVs.