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For the 52 weeks that make up a year, on an average there’s at least one new car or variant that is being launched or slipped into the market every week. In fact, we had forecasted more than 60 upcoming carsfor the recent future – out of which quite a few have already hit the road, while the others are crowding the pipeline. So, lets take a look at the top ten upcoming cars, which we reckon score high in the anticipation department. Read on to know more…
Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha
One look at the Ford and Renault showrooms and you’ll know that compact crossovers are the in-thing right now with vehicles like the EcoSport and Duster having set the sales charts on fire. It is only a matter of time then before market leader Maruti Suzuki enters this lucrative segment. Their contender in the compact crossover will be the production version of the XA Alpha concept that was shown at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi. It is based on the Swift platform and will make use of the same frugal engines and drivetrains that power the Swift, Swift Dzire and Ertiga.
When? – 2014
How much? – Rs 6 to 10 lakh
Engines – 1.3-litre Multijet diesel; 1.4-litre K-series petrol.
Rivals – Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Mahindra Quanto.
2014 Honda City
The next-generation Honda City is expected to make an entry onto the scene in 2014. The mid-size sedan from the big-H rates high on the wish-list of many, but big news is that new 2014 model will be the first Honda City to get a diesel engine. Needless to say, it is a matter of worry for the competition since the upcoming Honda City will make use of the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that powers the recently launched Honda Amaze. The styling of the new Honda City will be an evolution of the ‘arrow-head’ design theme seen on the current model.
When? – 2014
How much? – Rs 8 to 12 lakh
Engines – 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel; 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol.
Rivals – Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Nissan Sunny.
Mercedes Benz CLA
Mercedes Benz has started rolling out its entry-level cars for the Indian market in the form of the A-class and the B-class. But if history is to be believed, what catches the fancy of the Indian market are SUVs and sedans – more so when these wear a premium badge. What could be a big success for Mercedes Benz then, is the CLA – a sedan based on the A-class compact. Its styling is as stunning as the A-class and the sedan form factor adds the extra oomph. With a price tag lower than that of the C-class, its one premium sedan that many will look forward to!
When? – Late 2013 / Early 2014
How much? – Rs 27 to 40 lakh
Engines – 2.2-litre diesel; 1.6-litre petrol.
Rivals – Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V40, Audi Q3.
Datsun Go
Nissan’s new sub-brand was recently resurrected for the developing markets and was introduced to India by way of a production ready concept called the Datsun Go. It’s an entry-level car that will compete with the puny Maruti Suzuki Alto and the Hyundai Eon, while boasting of a size and wheelbase that is similar to that of the Nissan Micra. To be positioned below the inexpensive Micra Active, the Datsun Go has some serious intentions of claiming a good chunk of the entry-level small car segment.
When? – Early 2014
How much? – Rs 3 – 4 lakh
Engine – 1.2-litre petrol.
Rivals – Maruti Suzuki Alto, Hyundai Eon, Chevrolet Spark.
Tata Nano diesel
The Nano may not have taken off the way Tata or the market would have liked – considering it’s the most inexpensive car you can buy in India today. But the Nano diesel could change all that with a single characteristic – fuel economy! Expected to claim over 30 kmpl, the Nano diesel aims to become the most fuel-efficient car in India. Add to it Tata’s claims of making its cars the cheapest to own as well and the Nano diesel could well be the entry-level small car that you were waiting for.
When? – 2014
How much? – Rs 2 to 4 lakh
Engine – 800cc diesel
Rivals – Hyundai Eon LPG, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 CNG, Datsun Go.
Honda Brio LMPV
After the Brio and the Amaze, the third vehicle to roll out on Honda’s compact car platform is the LMPV – or Long Multi-Purpose Vehicle. It will use and extended wheelbase to accommodate a chassis that is long enough to provide comfortable seating for up to seven people. It will also make use of the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine for India, while its home market in Indonesia will get a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol-powered variant. With the increasing popularity of people carriers in India, the Brio based LMPV is one vehicle you could look forward to if you have a large family.
When? – Early 2014
How much? – Rs 6 to 10 lakh
Engines – 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel; 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol.
Rivals – Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Chevrolet Enjoy, Nissan Evalia.
Mercedes Benz S-class
Interestingly, the epitome of luxury for the Indian market is not a Rolls Royce Phantom, but a Mercedes Benz S-class. After reining the market with the last two generations of the S-class, Mercedes Benz India is readying the recently launched W222 S-class for our roads. Expected to launch in a few months from now, the new S-class could be the choice of wallpaper for the laptops and tablets of many CEOs out there.
When? – Late 2013
How much? – Rs 1.2 to 2 crore.
Engines – 3.0-litre diesel; 3.0-litre petrol.
Rivals – Jaguar XJ-L, Audi A8L, BMW 7-series.
Skoda Octavia
Despite an improved portfolio – arguably so – Skoda India hasn’t really been able to re-create the kind of success that it had with its Octavia line-up. After being phased out of the market due to emission norms, the Octavia brand name has come back to India. Expected to replace the Laura, the new Octavia will boast of better features, bigger cabin space and more powerful yet frugal range of engines.
When? – September 2013
How much? – Rs 15 to 20 lakh
Engines – 2.0-litre diesel, 1.8-litre petrol.
Rivals – Toyota Corolla Altis, Volkswagen Jetta, Chevrolet Cruze.
2014 Hyundai i10
The new Hyundai i10 is a few days away from launch and while the new model will replace the i10 that is sold in the European market, it will co-exist with the current i10 that is sold in India. What will create headlines though is the new 1.3-litre diesel engine that will be introduced with the new i10. It will not only be one of the most fuel efficient diesel engines around, it could also boast of segment-leading power and torque figures. The new i10 is also expected to be larger than its older sibling and will be as feature-rich as a Hyundai should be!
When? – September 2013
How much? – Rs 4 to 6 lakh
Engines – 1.3-litre diesel; 1.2-litre petrol.
Rivals – Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Stingray, Honda Brio, Nissan Micra.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Stingray
Petrol cars are slowly making a comeback to people’s to-buy lists and one petrol hatch that has always attracted attention from the consumers is the tallboy, Wagon R. While the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R was given a mild facelift only recently, there’s a new tallboy that will join this car as its elder sibling – the Wagon R Stingray. Essentially a popular kei-car from Japan, the Stingray is slightly bigger than the blue-eyed Wagon R, claims better fuel economy and has some segment first features like projector-beam headlamps and micro-hybrid technology.
When? – August – October 2013
How much? – Rs 4 – 5 lakh.
Engine – 1.0-litre K-series petrol engine
Rivals – Hyundai i10, Honda Brio, Nissan Micra Active.
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