From SUVs, luxury sedans to supercars, 2016 has a lot in store still
1.) Toyota Etios Facelift:
Launch: This month
Toyota is all set to being in the facelifted Etios soon. The India-spec cars are expected to be identical to the ones shown in the South American market recently. The refreshed Etios gets a sportier looking v-shaped grille up front and a newly designed bumper with large air dams and circular fog lamps. In profile, it retains the same silhouette but now sits on newly designed 15-inch wheels. Expect the interior to be mildly updated as well. Under the hood, the 2016 Etios will continue with the same petrol and diesel engine options. The Etios came with a 1.5-litre petrol motor that churns out 88bhp of peak power and 132Nm of max torque. The diesel on the other hand gets a 1.4-litre 67bhp/170Nm mill. Both these engines come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
2.) Volvo XC90 T8:
Launch: September 14
The XC90 has tasted quite some success so far but Volvo still thinks there is scope for more. The Swedish car maker will now be expanding its product range with the introduction of the XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid on September 14. To be launched in the Excellence trim the T8 petrol unit is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder mill that comes fitted with a turbocharger as well as a supercharger. The Internal Combustion Engine working in correlation with the electric motor is capable of making peak power of 400bhp and maximum torque of 640Nm. The car has three driving modes – Pure, Hybrid and Power. In the pure mode, the vehicle makes use of the electric motor; in the Hybrid mode a mix and match of both powerplants is applied; and finally, the Power mode, that extracts maximum juice from the engine and the electric motor for improved performance. Expect the Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid to be priced around the Rs 1 crore mark.
3.) New Jaguar XF:
Launch: This month
Following the launch of its entry-level sedan XE at the Auto Expo, Jaguar has now shifted focus to the mid-sized XF. Based on a new aluminium platform, the new Jaguar XF has a longer wheelbase that helps it make more space on the inside. The XF will also debut JLR’s new Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel engine that is good for 177.5bhp and 430Nm. The XF is also expected to be introduced in a 2.0-litre petrol avatar that pumps 237bhp and 340Nm. Both engines come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Changes on the exterior and interior front will be easily noticeable too. Expect the new XF to be launched at a starting price of around Rs 48 lakh.
4.) Hyundai Tucson
Launch: October 2016
To bridge the gap between the Creta and the SantaFe, Hyundai will reintroduce the Tucson moniker in India next month. The new Tucson was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo and proved itself to be a massive crowd puller. This new SUV gets the Hyundai’s trademark hexagonal grille with pulled back headlamps, diamond cut alloy wheels and wrap around taillights. In all the Tucson looks like a scaled down version of the SantaFe. Expect it to be amply spacious on the inside with loads of features on offer, much like any other Hyundai offering on sale currently. The Tucson may get the same 2.0-litre petrol motor that has just made its debut in the Elantra. This unit churns out 150bhp and 192Nm. The diesel however is the same 1.6-litre unit that makes 126bhp and 265Nm. Both engines will come with a manual as well as an automatic gearbox option. The new Tucson is expected to be priced between Rs 17-24 lakh.
5.) Tata Hexa
Launch: October 2016
Tata is about to replace the Aria MPV with the new Hexa and going by the near production version they showcased at the Auto Expo, it looks pretty promising. As opposed to the outgoing model, the Hexa looks a lot more butch thanks to the sharply designed bumper with silver scuff plates, 19-inch wheels and the body cladding around the perimeter. On the inside, expect the Hexa to be a spacious 7-seater with a well-built cabin. The car will come packed to the brim with features including a 10-speaker system audio system and touchscreen infotainment. Powering the Hexa will be the 2.2-litre Varicor 400 diesel producing 154bhp. This engine will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and may also come with a 4x4 option like its predecessor. The Tata Hexa is expected to be priced in the Rs 13-18 lakh range.
6.) Jaguar F-Pace
Launch: October 2016
Jaguar unveiled the F-Pace in India at the Auto Expo earlier in February and is now getting it ready for launch. Like all other Jaguar models, the F-Pace too sports a large mesh grille up front. The swept back headlamps are reminiscent of its namesake and the large air dams in the front bumper give it the ruggedness that you’d expect from an SUV. The sloping roofline, the 10-spoke alloy wheels and the slender wraparound tail lamps give it a nice aggressive touch. The cabin is draped in black with high-quality plastics and wood inserts that make it look plush. In terms of features it comes with a fully-digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, four-zone climate control and more. Having a 5-seat layout has allowed Jaguar to make space for a 650 litre boot and make enough space for a full-sized spare wheel. The F-Pace will come with the 2.0-litre Ingenium engine that generates 177.5bhp, same as the XF. There might also be a more powerful 3.0-litre V6 on offer that makes 296bhp. This engine option will be available in the top-spec variants with the AWD option. The Jaguar F-Pace is expected to be priced around the Rs 1 crore mark.
7.) Honda Accord Hybrid
Launch: November 2016
Honda will soon reintroduce its luxury sedan in the Indian market, and this time around will also bring it in the hybrid avatar. Powering the new Accord will be a 2.4-litre petrol motor as well as a 2.0litre Atkinson cycle petrol hybrid which works in conjunction with an electric motor with a lithium-ion battery. Aside from introducing a hybrid motor, the new Accord comes with several cosmetic changes including the bold chrome grille similar to the other current-gen Honda models. Expect major updates in the interior too. The Honda Accord will be brought to India shores via the CBU route, expect it to be priced around the Rs 25 lakh mark.
8.) Volvo S90
Launch: November 2016
Volvo’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and the Jaguar XF will soon be launched in India. The S90 that replaces the S80 sedan, is based on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Platform. Like the XC90, the S90 too will come rich in terms of luxury and features. Under the hood, the S90 will get the 2.0-litre diesel motor in the 187bhp D4 and the 232bhp D5 trims. Volvo could also add a petrol engine or even a plug-in hybrid later, just like they are for the XC90. The S90 is based on Volvo’s new design language that dawned with the XC90. It gets the newly designed vertically slat grille and those beautiful looking Thor headlamps to go with it. India-spec S90 is expected to get all-black interior similar to the XC90. Volvo is expected to price the S90 extremely competitively, with prices starting around Rs 46 lakh.
9.) Nissan GT-R
Launch: November 2016
Supercar enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Godzilla will soon make it to India shores. Bookings for the new 201 Nissan GT-R have already commenced with a minimum booking amount of Rs 25 lakh. This is the first complete makeover the GT-R has received since its introduction in 2007. Providing firepower to the GT-R is a 3.8-litre V6 Twin-turbo that now develops 562bhp, 20bhp more than its outgoing model. Peak torque produced is rated at 637Nm. All of this power is sent to all four wheels allowing it to do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.8 seconds!
10.) Audi SQ7
Launch: End of 2016
A year after the launch of the luxurious Q7, Audi is getting its souped up version ready for India. The SQ7 makes peak power of 435bhp and max torque of a 900Nm from a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, Audi’s Quattro system sends all of this power to all-four wheels. The Ingolstadt based luxury car maker claims that the SQ7 is the first ever production car to feature an electrically powered compressor (EPC) resulting in quicker response from the engine. In terms of design, Audi has made changes in the right places to make it look sportier than the standard model. Audi will also be offering 20-22-inch wheel options along with optional carbon ceramic brakes. Expect the SQ7 to be priced about Rs 25-30 lakh more than the standard model.
11.) Maruti Suzuki Ignis
Launch: End of 2016
Initially scheduled to be launched around the festive season, Maruti Suzuki has pushed forward the launch of the Ignis. Showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo earlier this year, the Ignis sports a unique design with its rather high-set bonnet and the flat boot section. Maruti Suzuki will launch the Ignis with petrol as well as diesel engine options. The gasoline Ignis will come with Maruti’s 1.2-litre K-series petrol unit that makes 83bhp and 115Nm, while the diesel unit will be the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre unit that will come in the 74bhp 190Nm tune in the Ignis. The Maruti Suzuki Ignis should come in around the Rs 5-7 lakh mark.
12.) Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS
Launch: End of 2016
Along with the Ignis, Maruti Suzuki also announced the launch of a more powerful iteration of its Baleno hatchback this year. The Baleno RS will get Suzuki’s new 1.0-litre BoosterJet engine that will dish out an impressive 110bhp and 170Nm. In the looks department, the Baleno RS will look identical to the standard version except for a few cosmetic changes to justify the 'RS' tag. When launched the Baleno RS will compete against the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and the Abarth Punto. The Baleno RS will be priced higher than the standard version.
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