Bookings for the Toyota Innova Crysta diesel might restart next year, significant impact in sales expected until then
Toyota Innova Crysta diesel variants are no longer on sale in the country. The Japanese maker has also informed its dealers to stop taking bookings for the diesel variants with immediate effect.
All the previously booked diesel variants will be dispatched by this month with a big full stop there after. This development, which has come out of nowhere, has given us a great shock.
While sources said bookings will resume in January, 2023, we need to take that only with a pinch of salt. We will tell you why at the end.
Toyota is all-set to launch the fourth generation 2023 Innova this year. The next iteration of the popular MPV will reportedly get comprehensive updates which were never seen on an Innova all this time.
Codenamed 560B, the new Innova will shed its heavy and reliable ladder frame for a more modern monocoque chassis that’s based on the brand’s new TNGA-C architecture (internationally called the Global Architecture C).
This is the same architecture on which the present-day Corolla Cross is also built. Designed taking inspiration from the brand’s Voxy and Noah MPVs, the upcoming Innova will get a petrol hybrid powerplant against the usual reliable diesel engines.
The MPV will reportedly be 4.7 metres long, slightly shorter than the existing Innova Crysta. But the wheelbase will be longer at 2850 mm with a wider body as well meaning the space on offer will be more than that of the existing Crysta.
As far as looks are concerned, the boxy car will get nearly vertical pillars, again, for liberating more space within the lowered perimeter. The MPV will get regular opening doors and not sliding ones which have become the norm abroad.
On the inside, the huge space will be complemented by modern technologies like connected tech, ventilated seats, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reclining captain seats, etc., Some features from the Vellfire could also make their way.
The overall weight will be lighter than the Innova Crysta by a huge 170 kg thereby reducing overall load on the new hybrid powerplant.
Back to the topic! When the fourth generation Innova gets launched, the current third generation model will be on sale just for namesake somewhat like the recently launched Mahindra Scorpio Classic.
Toyota will try standardising its greatly marketed hybrid powertrains rather than specially producing diesel engines for an old model that might even cannibalise the sales of the new 1 just how the old Honda Unicorn 150 never made the Unicorn 160 pickup in sales.
Frankly, the Innova got its name as a ‘rock solid’ MPV only because of its diesel engines. These engines could simply run 5-7 lakh km without any major issues.
In fact, the sales of Innova are high despite the skyrocketing prices only because of these workhorse powertrains. It must be seen how the Innova Crysta performs in the coming months without the diesel variants. A huge setback is expected.