Upcoming Toyota Badge Engineering: Taisor and Rumion Models on the Horizon

Toyota and Suzuki's partnership has resulted in several badge-engineered products, bringing Maruti Suzuki models under the Toyota brand in India and other global markets. This strategy allows Toyota to expand its portfolio without the need for extensive platform sharing. Let's take a closer look at two upcoming badge-engineered offerings from Toyota in India.

1. Toyota Rumion: The Rebadged Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Toyota is set to launch the Rumion MPV, which is essentially a badge-engineered version of the popular Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. This move makes sense as Toyota lacks an MPV offering in the sub ₹ 10 lakh price segment.

By pricing the Rumion around Rs. 8.8 lakh, Toyota aims to attract a new customer base to the brand. The exterior and interior design of Rumion will closely resemble the Ertiga, with a minor fascia redesign.

Expect the same 1.5L NA 4-cylinder engine, generating 103 bhp and 138 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed torque converter or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Rumion is likely to offer a 7-seat configuration.

2. Toyota Fronx: The Next Sub 4-Meter Offering

Toyota's choice for the next badge-engineered product is the Fronx, expected to be based on the existing Glanza, which is a rebadged Baleno. While some enthusiasts hoped for rebadging the Brezza or Jimny with unique designs, Toyota seems to favour the Fronx. It will likely retain most of the features seen in the original model, with the addition of a coupe profile and body cladding.

The Fronx could feature the 1.2L 4-cylinder NA petrol engine (89 bhp, 113 Nm) and the 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine (99 bhp, 147.6 Nm) seen in the original model. A future CNG variant might also be introduced.

Looking Ahead: Toyota's Diverse Portfolio

Apart from the badge-engineered offerings, Toyota will be launching the third-generation Vellfire in India. This CBU import is expected to be priced above Rs. 1 crore and could cater to high-end luxury buyers. In Japan, the new Vellfire starts from JPY 4.27 million (Rs. 27.2 lakh), while the outgoing second-generation Vellfire already costs close to Rs. 1 crore in India.

Toyota's Badge Engineering: A Smart Move?

While some enthusiasts may have hoped for more unique rebadged models, Toyota's badge engineering strategy has proven effective in widening its product range. The Rumion and Fronx are expected to provide customers with more choices while leveraging the popularity of Maruti Suzuki's successful models. As Toyota continues to explore such collaborations, it remains to be seen how the Indian market responds to these new offerings.