10 Most Anticipated Upcoming Cars in India

With the Indian automobile industry is on revival mode, major four-wheeler makers including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota reported decent sales growth in the first half of 2015. Though companies like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are yet to get back to where they were in the past, their sales are showing signs of improvement. So from the industry point of view, the passenger car market has been able to maintain a moderate growth despite last year’s bad monsoon and degrowth in rural sales. Other than the reduced fuel prices and positive sentiments, launch of some really good products propelled growth in the passenger car market.

We have seen several all-new cars in the first half of this calendar year, but the story doesn’t end there. Our carmakers have plans to launch several more all-new cars during this year’s festive season.

Here’s a list of the 10 most anticipated upcoming cars in India.

1. Maruti Suzuki YRA (Baleno) Premium Hatchback

Maruti Suzuki India is planning to bring in a new premium hatchback by the end of this fiscal year to take on the Hyundai i20, the new-generation Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo. The vehicle’s production-ready model was recently unveiled through official picture. To be called the Baleno, the vehicle will be launched in several international markets including India. Though there is no clarity if the company will use the same nameplate for the premium hatchback in the Indian market as well. While the global model of the car will feature a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit, the Indian model might be launched with two petrol engine options – a 1.4-litre K-Series and a 1.25-litre K-series (basically a re-tuned version of the 1.2-litre K-series mill). The diesel model, on the other hand, might feature the same 1.3-litre DDiS unit that powers cars like S-Cross, Swift and Swift Dzire.

Expected Launch: By the end of 2015 or Early 2016



Expected Price: Rs. 5.50 lakh – Rs. 9 lakh



Engine options: 1.3-litre diesel, 1.25-litre petrol and 1.4-litre petrol

2. Renault Kwid

While in the first half of 2015, Renault launched its MPV – the Lodgy – in India, the much-awaited 800cc hatchback, the Kwid, will be launched during the festive season. The small hatchback is built on the CMF-A platform that has been jointly developed by Renault and Nissan. Upon its launch, the Renault Kwid will take on the likes of Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon.

Expected Launch: October/November, 2015

Expected Price: Rs. 3 lakh – Rs. 4 lakh

Engine: 800cc, 3-cylinder, petrol

3. Mahindra S101 Mini SUV

The home-grown automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra, is currently working on a range of new products for India which includes three compact SUVs and an MPV. The one we are talking about is the mini SUV – S101 (code-name) – that will take on the Ford EcoSport and other upcoming sub-compact SUVs. The S101 will be built upon a new monocoque platform which will also be used for other upcoming Mahindra vehicles. Since it will be an entry-level SUV, the S101 will be a sub-4 metre vehicle. Powering the vehicle could be the same 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine that does duty to the Quanto.

Expected Launch – Festive Season

Expected Price – Rs. 4.5 lakh – Rs. 6 lakh

Engine – 1.5-litre diesel

4. Mahindra TUV300 sub-compact SUV

Mahindra & Mahindra is also working on a compact SUV, the TUV300 that it revealed in August, 2015. To be positioned above the Bolero and the Quanto, the TUV300 will offer a more comfortable cabin and better driving dynamics than the other two. Powering the vehicle will be a 1.5-litre mHawk80 engine. To be made available only in diesel version, the Mahindra TUV300 will be offered with a 5-speed manual and an automated manual transmission options.

 

Launch Date: September 10, 2015



Expected Price: Rs. 6.50 lakh – Rs. 8.5 lakh



Engine option: 1.5-litre diesel

5. Tata Kite twins

Tata is in mood to leave no stones unturned to reclaim its lost position in the market. In the last 1 year or so, Tata brought the Zest and Bolt, and it’s now planning to launch a small hatchback and an affordable sub-compact sedan. Codenamed as the Kite hatchback and the Kite sedan, these two will replace the Indica eV2 and Indigo eCS respectively in the Indian market. Since both the vehicles are already on test in India, expect these to come in the second half of 2015.

Powering the kit twins will be a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel engines. While the 1.2-litre petrol unit will be an all new engine, the 1.05-litre three-cylinder mill will be the downsized version of the 1.4-litre DiCOR diesel engine.

Expected Launch: Kite hatchback (Festive season) Kite sedan (End of 2015 or Early 2016)



Expected Price: Kite Hatchback – Rs. 2.5 lakh – Rs. 4 lakh; Kite sedan – Rs. 3 lakh – Rs. 4.5 lakh



Engine options: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.05-litre diesel

6. Chevrolet Trailblazer

Based on General Motors’ Colorado pick-up truck’s ladder frame chassis, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a full-fledged sports utility vehicle (SUV) that the company will launch during this year’s festive season. The vehicle will be brought as CKD kits and then assembled at the company’s Halol plant. Upon its launch, the vehicle will take on the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero, Hyundai Santa Fe and the upcoming new-generation Ford Endeavour.

Powering the Trailblazer is a 2.8-litre diesel engine that, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, churns out a maximum power output of 180bhp and 470Nm of torque. The company might also launch the vehicle with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

7. Ford Endeavour

Unveiled earlier this year, the new-generation Ford Endeavour will go on sale in several markets this year including India. The new-gen model will be based on Ford’s Edge design philosophy and will be more upmarket than its predecessor. In order to improve the vehicle’s off-roading capabilities, the company has built it on a new ladder frame chassis.

Also Read: 2015 Ford Endeavour First Drive

While the global model of the vehicle will be offered with two engine options – a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel and a 3.2-litre, 5-cylinder diesel unit, though the Indian model might continue to feature the existing 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre diesel units.

Expected Launch – November, 2015

Expected Price – Rs. 22 lakh – Rs. 28 lakh

8. New-Generation Ford Figo

The new-generation Ford Figo will finally make its debut sometime by the end of September or Early October, this year. The vehicle is based on the same platform on which the Figo Aspire is built, and it will also feature the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel powertrains that power the Aspire. With several advanced features on offer, the new-gen model of the Ford Figo will surely be a lot more upmarket product than the old model.

Expected Launch: September/October, 2015



Expected Price: Rs. 4.20 lakh – Rs. 6.50 lakh

9. Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Diesel

After launching the Celerio diesel, Maruti Suzuki India is planning to bring in the diesel version of its top-seller Alto 800 as well. Set to launch by the end of this calendar year, the Maruti Alto 800 diesel will become the country’s most affordable diesel car. It will feature the same 793cc, two-cylinder diesel units that is good for 47bhp and 125Nm. While the Celerio diesel is claimed to return around 27.62km/l of mileage, the Maruti Alto 800 might return even better mileage thanks to its lighter weight.

Expected Launch: December, 2015



Expected Price: Around Rs. 4 lakh

10. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Facelift

The long wait for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga facelift might be over soon, as the company is planning to launch it during the festive season. The updated model was recently unveiled at the Gaikondo Indonesia International Auto Show, and the same will come to here as well. The updated model has received an new front fascia with new features such as a triple-slat chrome grille with revised airdam, new radiator grille, new bumper and fog-lamp enclosures with chrome bezels. Other changes include a set of new 10-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, revised bumper, re-designed tail-lamp cluster with new reflector elements, etc. The vehicle’s cabin too might receive some changes such as dual-tone dashboard, steering wheel with silver inserts and brown fabric. Besides the aforementioned changes, the updated model’s diesel version might get the SHVS technology just like the recently launched Maruti Suzuki Ciaz SHVS Hybrid.

Expected Launch: Festive Season, 2015



Expected Price: Rs. 6.50 lakh – Rs. 9.0 lakh

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