The thrill of seeing new and revamped cars is building as the second month of 2024 gets underway. It is expected that several well-known automakers, including Mahindra, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and others, will add new and updated models to their respective portfolios in India. The new Swift, the Taisor, the XUV300 facelift, and are among the most anticipated cars to hit Indian roads this month. Although there hasn't been an official update, the upcoming models will come with a slew of new features that should improve their standing in the Indian market. If you are planning to purchase a new car, here are some of the upcoming cars in India that you can watch out for.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
The all-new Maruti Suzuki Swift is all set to make its entry in India. It has been in the news for testing in India ever since it made its debut as a concept at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. While official details are under wraps, the car will reportedly be made at the company's Gujarati Hansalpur factory. Cosmetically, the hatchback will gain some modifications, while maintaining a similar silhouette. Some of the improved design elements include revised headlights and taillights, a redesigned bumper, and new alloy wheels.
Inside, the upcoming hatchback will likely come equipped with a 3-spoke steering wheel, a floating touchscreen infotainment system, and other noteworthy features. It's important to note that the India-spec Swift is unlikely to feature rear disc brakes and ADAS technology like the model that was on display at the Japan show.
Mechanically, the car will reportedly be powered by a brand-new 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol mill. With several upgrades, the upcoming hatchback is expected to fetch a higher price than the present model, which retails from Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Tata Tiago & Tigor CNG AMT
The Tiago and the Tigor—the first CNG vehicles with automatic gearboxes—are ready to hit our Indian streets. The bookings for these versions are currently being accepted for Rs 21,000 in India. The Tigor CNG AMT is offered in two versions (XZA CNG and XZA+ CNG), whereas the Tiago CNG with an automatic transmission is available in three models (XTA, XZA+, and XZA NRG).
A 1.2-litre petrol engine with 85bhp and 113Nm powers the base Tiago and Tigor models. A 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT transmission is offered with this setup. However, the same engine produces less power—72bhp and 95Nm—when operating in CNG mode. Until now, these CNG models were only available with a manual 5-speed gearbox. But, the manufacturer will now offer a 5-speed AMT option, making these models—the first CNG cars with automatic gearboxes. The calibration of this new transmission has been specifically designed to enhance low-speed driveability when navigating confined situations or navigating stop-and-go traffic.
Price-wise, the new versions are anticipated to cost more than their regular counterparts. For reference, the current starting prices of the Tata Tiago and the Tigor are Rs 5.60 lakh and Rs 6.30 lakh, respectively.
Toyota Taisor
The Japanese automaker is getting ready to introduce the much-anticipated Fronx rebadged in India. Dubbed the Taisor, the car is speculated to have certain similarities and differences with the model it is based on, similar to other vehicles produced in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki and Toyota. The rebadged version of the Fronx is expected to have some improved design elements, such as unique wheels, an updated grille, revised bumpers, and altered lighting components, although there isn't a formal announcement yet. Further, there might be a handful of adjustments made to the interior theme.
The new Taisor is expected to be exactly like its Japanese sibling, the Fronx, on a mechanical front. The Fronx is offered in India with two different engine options: a 1.0-litre Turbo Boosterjet unit with 99bhp and 147.6Nm, and a 1.2-litre Dual-Jet Dual-VVT petrol with 89bhp and 113Nm. As far as prices are concerned, the Taisor might cost a little more than its Japanese twin, the Fronx, owing to some visual enhancements.
Mahindra XUV300 Facelift
India will soon see the release of an updated XUV300 SUV. The vehicle has been frequently spotted in India going through road testing. Based on earlier spy photos, the car is anticipated to have multiple modifications to the front and rear ends, including Mahindra XUV700-like LED DRLs, a sleek grille, new split LED headlights, updated front and rear bumpers, patterned alloy wheels, and linked LED taillights.
Inside, the XUV300 facelift is expected to come with a new steering wheel, an automatic parking brake, a larger infotainment system, a redesigned center console, and a dual-tone interior motif with white seat upholstery. While it's unlikely that Mahindra will change the SUV's engine in any way, which means that a 1.5-litre diesel and 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine options will still be offered. As for the prices, the upcoming XUV300 is expected to cost more than the current version, which has a starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom) in India.
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