Toyota trademarks Urban Cruiser Taisor name in India: Could this be the Fronx clone?

In yet another strategic move that has set the automotive world abuzz, Toyota Kirloskar Motor India has recently filed a trademark for the name ‘Urban Cruiser Taisor,’ hinting at a potential entry into the sub-4-meter SUV segment. This intriguing development comes just nine months after the brand discontinued its Urban Cruiser SUV, which was its version of the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. This move could mark Toyota’s fifth model shared in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki, a partnership that has yielded successful rebadged models in the past. According to most reports, this new model will most likely be the Maruti Suzuki Fronx adorned with Toyota monikers.

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The upcoming “Urban Cruiser Taisor”

With the filing of the ‘Urban Cruiser Taisor’ trademark, all signs point to Toyota’s intention to re-establish a presence in the sub-4-metre SUV market. This maneuver comes as a response to the earlier discontinuation of its Urban Cruiser model, which was withdrawn from the market due to its higher price point compared to its Maruti Suzuki counterpart. This potential comeback could be facilitated by a compact SUV based on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx platform, aiming to bridge the gap left by its predecessor.

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In line with the collaboration history between Toyota and Maruti Suzuki, the upcoming Urban Cruiser Taisor is anticipated to share many design aspects with the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Exterior alterations might be limited to subtle changes such as modified bumpers, distinctive wheel designs, and tweaked lighting elements. On the inside, both brands tend to converge on dashboard designs while offering diverse upholstery and color options.

Like everything else, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx’s powertrains will also serve as a foundation for the Urban Cruiser Taisor’s expected powertrains. The Fronx currently has two engine options on offer: a 1.0-liter BoosterJet engine generating 100hp and 147Nm, and a 90hp 1.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine. Both engines come paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Notably, the turbocharged engine boasts a 6-speed torque converter gearbox, while the 1.2-liter variant offers a 5-speed AMT. An interesting aspect is that despite the lower power output, the 1.2-liter engine finds favor with over 80 percent of Fronx buyers.

Mirroring the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, the Urban Cruiser Taisor is likely to offer an impressive array of features, including a 9-inch touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 360-degree camera, heads-up display, wireless charging, connected car technology, and up to six airbags for top-spec variants. The festive season this year is speculated as the launch timeline for this exciting new entrant.

Toyota-Maruti Suzuki Collaborations

Toyota and Maruti Suzuki’s collaboration history has borne fruitful results, with models such as the Glanza (rebadged Baleno) and Urban Cruiser (based on the Brezza) gaining popularity. The trend continued with the Hyryder and Grand Vitara midsize SUV duo. Additionally, the Innova Hycross (rebadged Innova) and Invicto (rebadged Ertiga) models have seen a positive response from the market.

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