A recent trademark application has led to speculation Toyota will launch a coupé-style crossover based on the Suzuki Baleno and called the Taisor…

Toyota continues to deepen its collaboration with Suzuki, with the latest reports out of India suggesting the two firms will soon release coupé-styled crossovers based on the Baleno. And the Toyota-badged version may end up being called the Taisor.

While various Indian publications have confirmed Toyota recently applied to trademark the Taisor nameplate in India, the latest information from GaadiWaadi suggests the new badge will be affixed to the rump of the brand’s upcoming coupé crossover. The model in question will be based on Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming Baleno-based crossover, which is codenamed “YTB”.

The new Toyota Taisor is expected to measure less than four metres long and be based on Suzuki’s Heartect platform (which also underpins the likes of the Baleno and Starlet). While details on its positioning within Toyota’s range are not yet confirmed, we suspect it will slot in just above the Brezza-based Urban Cruiser.

Toyota has trademarked the Taisor badge in India.

In India, the newcomer is likely to be powered by Suzuki’s turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine, with gearbox options including a 5-speed manual cog-swapper and a continuously variable transmission. However, there’s also talk of the coupé crossover using Suzuki’s K12C naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine, while we wouldn’t rule out the K15B atmospheric 1.5-litre motor employed extensively here in South Africa, either.

On that note, will the Taisor – should that be the badge ultimately worn by the newcomer – be offered in our market? Well, it’s perhaps too early to say, though considering the local sales success of the Urban Cruiser and Starlet, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see another Indian-built, Suzuki-based product join Toyota South Africa Motors’ line-up.

While the Baleno Cross is widely expected to be revealed at the 2023 Auto Expo in January, it remains to be seen when the Toyota version will hit the stage. We’ll keep a close eye on happenings over in India and report back once we have more information…

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