Scoop! Toyota Vios caught testing in Bangalore

A big thank you to BHPian Sandy_AR for sharing these images with fellow enthusiasts!

Rumours of the Toyota Vios's launch in India have been afloat for over a year now. While no official statement has confirmed the sedan's prospects in our sub-continent, the 3rd generation Vios has just been spied on test in Bangalore, Karnataka. It is still unknown if the Vios is on test purely for r&d purposes or if the Japanese automaker plans to launch the car in India.

If the Vios (also known as the Yaris in some markets) is launched in India, it will fill in the C2 segment void that stands between C1 segment Etios and D1 segment Corolla Altis. Engine options could include the 1.5-litre petrol that is currently in use on the Etios, as well as the 1.4-litre diesel that powers Toyota's only sub 10 lakh sedan in the country. Globally, the Vios is available with a 5-speed manual as well as a 4-speed automatic transmission. Rivals for the Vios in India will include the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid, Maruti Ciaz, Ford Fiesta and the segment leading Honda City.

Toyota developed the Vios to primarily target the Asia-Pacific market. Introduced at the 2013 Bangkok motor show, the 3rd generation Vios is already on sale in markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, China and the Philippines among others. Currently, the Etios is priced between Rs 6-8.5 Lakh while the Corolla Altis is priced between Rs 13-17.60 Lakh, leaving a comfortable amount of room for Toyota to position the Vios in India.