Introduction
A short while ago, we gave you seven out of our list of 15 cars and today, a week into the new year, we have for you the second part. This section comprises vehicles that will be launched later in the year including a new premium hatchback from Maruti Suzuki as well as new compact crossovers from Hyundai and Tata Motors.
Hyundai Elite i20 Crossover
It is raining crossovers and it seems everyone wants to take advantage of the four-wheeled monsoon. Sensing a sudden spurt in demand for such vehicles, Hyundai has decided to join the group with an Elite i20- based crossover. The car follows the standard formula; take a hatchback, add a body kit, some taller , garnish the top with some roof rails and voila you have got yourself a hatchover!
What is expected to not change from the standard car is the interior, drive train and underpinnings as well as the feature list, though it is not something to complain about as Hyundai is well known for pampering its buyers with a host of features. The Elite i20- based crossover is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh.
Competition - Toyota Etios Cross, VW Cross Polo and the Fiat Avventura
Jaguar XE
The arrival of Tata into the existence of Jaguar Land Rover changed its destiny. This change included a completely new design language and more importantly a much needed injection of cash into the R&D department.
Now, almost seven years later, the company is making inroads into a completely new segment of, entry- level luxury, in a bid to expand its presence and more importantly get volumes. Its contender for this battle is the XE sedan with which it is expected to bring the fight to the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4. The XE uses a tried and tested formula of scaled down interior and similar external design as its bigger siblings.
It will be powered by a new set of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines from a new family of mills called Ingenium. We believe that the car will priced in the range of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 48 lakh and more importantly will be introduced in India via the CKD route to ensure competitiveness.
Tata Kite Compact sedan and hatchback
The Tata Kite Compact sedan and hatchback will be the new budget offerings from the Mumbai -based automaker. They will slot in below the Zest and Bolt respectively and allow Tata a chance to compete in the volume-heavy A-segment and entry -level B-segment.
If we are to go by Tata’s design language, then we can be certain that the Kite twins will look somewhat similar to the Bolt and Zest but obviously watered down due to budget. The interior too will be copies of the Zest and Bolt but without the additional luxuries. Their obvious USPs is expected to be space and ride comfort to a large extent.
They are expected to be powered by a three- pot version of the Revotron engine which, with the removal of one cylinder, is expected to be an 800cc mill. The diesel is expected to be a 936cc engine and will be very similar to what Chevrolet uses in the Beat. The cars are expected to be priced in the range of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Competition: Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Chevrolet Spark, Datsun Go and the Renault Compact hatchback
Hyundai ix25
It’s Hyundai’s entry into the hotly contested compact crossover segment. The ix25 is already on sale in the Chinese market and has been spotted testing in India alongside its major rivals, the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster. What do we know already? It looks like a mini Santa Fe and will get the same interior and engine line up from the Verna sedan.
It is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 7 lakh to Rs 13 lakh and may be produced locally to keep costs in check as well as for export purposes
Competition: Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster, Honda City and the VW Vento
DC Avanti
India’s first homegrown sports car is all set to hit the roads almost two years after it was shown to the public. The Avanti seems to have all the things that will make it a decent success - Dilip Chabria’s funky design, a well-equipped interior and a seemingly powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine that should make it fun to drive.
We expect that it will be priced in the range of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and will be offered with at least two trim options.
Tata Nexon
Tata will be another major player in the compact SUV segment in 2015 when it launches the Nexon. It is based on the X1 platform which also underpins the Zest sedan and Bolt hatchback. The car gets a futuristic design setting the car apart from its current siblings. We expect that it will share much of its underpinnings, engine line up and interior with the Zest and the Bolt to keep costs in check.
When launched, it is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 9 lakh and will have both automatic and manual transmission options.
Competition - Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Honda City, Ford Fiesta, VW Vento and the, Hyundai Verna
Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz was introduced in India in 2009 but was not the major success that the Japanese automaker wanted it to be. Eventually, thanks to the major diesel shift in 2012, the Jazz was discontinued. Now it will return in an all too familiar shape but with a new design to open up the premium hatchback market once more. It has been on sale in Europe since the early part of this year so we already know what the car looks like as well as what the interiors will be like thanks to the Honda City.
It will, for the first time, be offered with a diesel engine which is expected to be the 1.5-litre i-DTEC four-cylinder mill that produces 100bhp and 200Nm of torque. The petrol on the other hand will be the 1.2-litre i-VTEC mill that produces 88bhp and 130Nm of torque. The diesel will get a five-speed MT while the petrol will also get the option of a CVT gearbox.
Maruti Suzuki YRA
The Maruti Suzuki YRA hatchback will be the second premium vehicle from the Japanese automaker. It will slot in above the Swift hatchback in their lineup and offer a whole host of extra features. It will be more than four metres in length putting it in competition with cars like the VW Golf, Hyundai i20 and the Renault Megane. Thanks to a plethora of spy shots we already know what this car will look like as well as what the interior will be made of.
On the engine front, we expect that this car will be offered with the 1.6-litre petrol from the Swift Sport, 1.4-litre from the Ertiga for Asian markets and the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel for countries like India. It is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. If we are to go by Maruti Suzuki’s launch plans, then it will make a European debut before arriving in India a short while later.
Maruti Suzuki YRA upcoming car
It’s an exciting year ahead as there is hope from the Centre and its economic centric decisions that they will guide the car industry towards growth and success after a two year slump.
Viva 2015!
