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Toyota RAV4 SUV Spied Testing In India Ahead Of Expected Launch: Spy Pics & Details
Toyota Kirloskar Motors currently has only two SUVs on offer in the Indian market, including the Maruti Suzuki-derived Urban Cruiser. The company could be looking to introduce a new offering in the SUV segment, to fill the gap between the Urban Cruiser and the full-fledged Fortuner.
There have been previous reports that the brand has been working on bringing in their mid-size hybrid offering, the RAV4 to India. Now, ahead of its launch, the Toyota RAV4 SUV has been spotted by Ayush Nimkar/Instagram, undergoing testing. The spy images showcase the SUV without any camouflage.
However, reports do suggest that the Toyota RAV4 could be introduced as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) offering, rather than a CKD. Toyota is expected to make use of its 2500 annual allowance of importing cars without the need for homologation. This translates to a high selling price and low sales numbers for the mid-size hybrid SUV.
The non-committal approach from Toyota for the RAV4 could see the SUV priced in the range of Rs 50 lakh, ex-showroom. This is even higher than the Toyota Fortuner, which is positioned above the RAV4 in the brand's global product lineup.
Reports also suggest that Toyota is expected to introduce the CBU version of the RAV4 SUV sometime around Diwali 2021. However, Toyota could in the future introduce a more competitively priced CKD version of the RAV4, which will take on rivals such as the MG Hector and the Tata Safari in the Indian market.
Talking about the Toyota RAV4 itself, the SUV is currently in its fifth-generation iteration globally. The RAV4 is part of the brand's TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) and comes with a hybrid powertrain.
This comes in the form of a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine paired with an electric motor. The combined powertrain produces a max power output of 218bhp, which is paired with a CVT automatic transmission as standard.
The Toyota RAV4 also comes packed with a host of features and equipment. This includes LED lighting all around, panoramic sunroof, ventilated & heated seats, ambient lighting, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electrically adjustable driver seat, dual-zone climate control and many others.
Thoughts On The Toyota RAV4 Petrol-Hybrid SUV Spied In India
Toyota RAV4 SUV is reportedly set to be introduced in India as a CBU unit, at least initially. The CBU version of the RAV4 could be used to observe the market response, before introducing a more locally-assembled version at a later stage.