From market giants like Toyota and Fiat to recent entrants like Jeep, the international market is gearing up to release its 2018 additions for India. While utility vehicles continue to dominate the Indian line-up, the automobile industry has far more to offer with a wide range of premium hatchbacks and sedans.
We take a look at the 10 most anticipated cars of the year:
1. Jeep Renegade
Jeep is all set to launch the 5th addition to its SUV line-up in India with the Jeep Renegade. The Renegade will be the most affordable SUV in India expected to be priced at Rs 10 lakh. The SUV will be available in 4.2m (length) x 1.7m (height) x 1.9m (width) dimension making it the tallest and widest car in the segment.
In India, the SUV is expected to be equipped with the same engine as that of its higher contemporary Jeep Compass. This will come in dual-fuel formats―a 1.4-litre Multi Air Petrol motor at 140hp and a 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel at the same power. The unit could also feature a 1.6-litre petrol version coming at 120hp, which is currently available under its Compass’ cover in some markets.
Designed for its off-road capabilities, the Renegade may feature 4-wheel drive on certain variants, living up to the status of a real Jeep.
Hyundai’s Creta and Renault’s Duster would be its main market competitors when it is launched towards the end of this year.
2. Nissan Kicks
Nissan is entering the premium SUV sector in India with Kicks in 2018. The brand has seen little success in the Indian market and has been often overshadowed by its sister company Renault.
The SUV will be built on the M0 platform, same as that of Renault Duster, Lodgy and the upcoming Captur. However, Nissan Kicks, unique from the other Renault cars, features an exclusive design that will only be available on its Brazilian and Indian models. Features include a centrally mounted 7.0-inch infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, a part-digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control and a flat-bottomed steering
The SUV comes with a robust 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine of the Terrano. Nissan Kicks will directly stack up against Mahindra XUV500, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass and the Tata Hexa―coming at an expected price of Rs 9 lakh when it is launched in October 2018.
3. Fiat Tipo
Succeeding a long legacy of its now ageing sedan, Linea, Fiat will bring out its Tipo (which will be known by a different name in the Turkish market). The sedan comes at a 4.5m (length) x 1.7m (width) x 1.48m (height) dimension with a 2.64m wheelbase. Fiat Tipo will be available in both 1.3-litre at 95hp and 1.6-litre at 120hp MultiJet diesel formats and may not be available in a petrol format.
The interiors will feature a cascading dashboard, a three-spoke steering wheel, HVAC vents placed in the centre and either side of the dashboard, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and Uconnect infotainment system featuring a 5-inch colour touchscreen display―all in a dark theme. The sedan is expected to be available in the Indian markets by mid-2018 and will be available at a tentative price of Rs 8 lakh.
4. Ford Kuga
The American manufacturer will be releasing its mid-range compact SUV, Ford Kuga, in 2018. Kuga comes with Ford’s signature fascia with the hexagonal chrome-grille and swept back headlamps. The sloping roofline gives it a sporty outlook.
The Kuga engine comes with a 1.5-litre diesel engine with manual transmission and a 1.5-litre petrol engine, both in automatic and manual transmissions in India, similar to the EcoSport but with higher output. Features include a display screen for infotainment enabled with phone connectivity, GPS navigation and Ford’s integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system―SYNC. It gets a two-zone climate control and a push-button start.
The compact SUV is expected to be launched in mid-2018 and will be available at Rs 9 lakh. This will be placed above Ford’s flagship EcoSport model and will rival Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano in the segment.
5. Volvo XC40
Volvo’s much awaited XC40 will be launched in India in the compact SUV segment later this year. This would be the smallest and the most affordable XC model in the Swedish carmaker’s line-up. The XC40 will be lower than the recently introduced XC60 in the range.
It is available in a D4 diesel or a T5 petrol four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain. The XC40 is the first Volvo model to be available with Volvo Cars’ new 3-cylinder engine.
The interiors are adjusted for more functionality. This includes more storage space in the doors, under the seat, a removable waste bin and a world-first, air-ventilated dashboard-mounted subwoofer sound system.
It will set the benchmark for safety features in the segment with Volvo cars’ Pilot Assist system, city safety, run-off-road protection and mitigation, cross traffic alert with brake support and the 360° camera that assists parking.
The Volvo XC490 is expected to be priced around Rs 30 lakh and in this segment, the XC40 will directly rival Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, and Audi Q3.
6. Toyota Vios
Adding to its line-up of compact sedans under 4-metres, Toyota will be launching its latest release―Toyota Vios in the Indian market. The sedan which is expected to be released by Diwali this year will go head to head against its extremely successful rival Honda City in the market.
It features a stylish grille-headlight combo and is fitted with daylight running LEDs. At 4.420m length, the sedan is shorter than the City (4.442 m) but is wider at 1.7m. Vios comes with a wide dashboard, ample legroom in the rear seating and integrated doorpads. The centre console is expected to include a touchscreen display with phone connectivity and possibly automatic climate control.
It will be powered by a 108hp 1.5-litre petrol engine featuring Toyota’s continuously variable valve timing (dual VVT-I), higher compression pistons. The car will also be available in the automatic segment with a CVT variant which can be used in manual mode in addition to the seven pre-set speeds. The diesel variant of the car is yet to be approved and if launched, is likely to come at the 88hp 1.4 D4D engine currently used in the Corolla.
In India, Toyota Vios will be available in the Rs 7 lakh–Rs 10 lakh price range.
7. Fiat Panda
One of the best-selling supermini in the European markets, Fiat Panda would be soon available in India. The hatchback that comes in three variants―Pop, Easy and Lounge and Trekking―would be an extremely affordable addition to the Fiat fleet in the Indian market. The five-seater is expected in the Rs 5 lakh–Rs 6 lakh price range when released in mid-2018. Entry-level Pop cars is fitted with a basic 14-inch steel wheels, standard electric front windows and a CD player with MP3 compatibility. It has alloy tyres with climate controlling air conditioner in addition to the two air bags and tachometer.
The five-speed vehicle will come at two petrol variants of 1.2-litre and 900cc. At 3.653 m length, 1.643 m width and 1.550 m height, the Panda is almost identical in size to the Hyundai i10 and will compete Renault Kwid, Hyundai i10 and Mahindra KUV in the Indian market.
8. Fiat Viaggio
Six years after releasing its C segment sedan in the international market, the Italian motor giant is all set to introduce its premium sedan―Fiat Viaggio in the Indian market by the end of this year. The first model to be launched is expected to be powered by a 4-cylinder 1.4-litre turbo-charged T-Jet engine at 120 bhp and a maximum torque of 206Nm. There are speculations for a 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre variants.
The body is designed with a triple blade chrome tipped grille in the front fascia and has a dimension of 4.679 m length, 1.850 m width and 2.708 m wheelbase. The side view mirrors feature LED turning indicators. And to complete the authentic Italian look, the body expresses a bulge in the front. The interiors are styled with a high quality leather steering, Napa leather seats, and a 3.5 inch video electronic display. In terms of safety, the Fiat will contain six airbags, ABS, electronic brake distribution engine immobiliser, electronic stability program, hill descent control and hill start assist system.
The car will be the third addition to the Fiat’s Indian line-up and will rival its Toyota and Honda counterparts―Corolla Altis and City.
9. Mahindra MPV U321
After setting the benchmark for utility vehicles in India, Mahindra will be adding another model to its long list of utility vehicles in the market when it launches the MPV U321 by the end of this year. The MUV which will be build on the same platform as the XUV 500 will have a brand new front grille and LED headlamps. It is expected to continue on the large interior space as seen in the earlier models such as XUV500 and Xylo. In addition to a dual-tone interior scheme, the vehicle is expected to be equipped with a touchscreen informative system with navigation and audio controls on the steering wheel.
The MPV U321 comes with a 2.0-litre engine and a power output of 140PS and torque of 320Nm. It would be a rear wheel drive vehicle coming in both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions. Priced between Rs 14 lakh and Rs 22 lakh, the full-size seven-seater, will be a new competition in the segment which is now dominated by the likes of Toyota’s Innova Crysta and the Tata Hexa.
10. Audi A1 hatchback
Audi is geared to become the latest entrant in the premium hatchback segment in India with the launch of Audi A1 hatch at the end of this year. This would be the most affordable vehicle from the German automaker available India coming at an expected price range of Rs 19 lakh to Rs 26 lakh. The model is most likely to be powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine at 225PS of max power, sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission―depending upon the variant.
Post its Indian debut, the five-seater will pose competition to the Mercedes Benz A-Class, B-Class and the BMW 1-Series in the premium hatchback segment. Other features of the car still remain in its speculative stages as the company is yet to release further information.