The year of 2019 posed a lot of challenges for the Indian auto industry. The transition from BS4 to BS6, the GST regulations, policy instability and the general lack of sentiment from the buyers led the auto industry through turbulent times. Nonetheless, 2019 saw a large number of launches with breakthrough models. Like 2019, the year of 2020 will also see a significant number of launches in India and here, we list out the cars which have us excited and we really look forward to driving them.
Tata Nexon EV
(The Tata Nexon EV will be launched in January 2020)
The much-anticipated, fully electric Tata Nexon EV made its global debut in India earlier this month. While it is not the company's first electric car in the country (that was the Tigor EV) the Nexon EV is, in fact, the first of the new-generation electric vehicles, which will use the new Ziptron electric powertrain technology. The Nexon EV uses a 30.2 kWh battery offering a maximum range of over 300 km on a single charge. The new electric powertrain in the Nexon EV puts out 245 Nm of peak torque, enough to clock triple digit speeds in 9.9 seconds. The battery can be charged up to 80 per cent in 60 mins using a fast charger while it will take 8 hours to do the same using a home charger. Visually, the Tata Nexon EV remains largely identical to the regular ICE-powered Tata Nexon, featuring the same humanity line grille, flanked by a set of sharp headlamps with projector lights, and LED daytime running lamps. The car gets a wide air dam and foglamps with chrome bezels, along with new alloy wheels, ORVMs with turn indicators and the same taillamps. Here, the addition, of course, is the Nexon EV badging. We expect the Tata Nexon EV to be priced around Rs. 14-15 lakh and it will be launched in India in January 2020 itself.
Tata Altroz
(The Tata Altroz will be launched on January 22 in India)
Along with the Tata Nexon EV, the other big launch from the company will be the Tata Altroz. Billed as Tata's first premium hatchback, the Altroz will be going up against the Hyundai i20 and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. There will be a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine on offer and both engine options will get a 5-speed manual gearbox. There will not be an automatic transmission on offer at the launch. The top-end variant of the car will come with projector headlamps, LED DRLs, fog lamps (front and rear), and rear defogger. The cabin comes with a 4-way adjustable driver seat and 2-way adjustable front passenger seat. The cabin also gets a 7-inch TFT colour display with media & navigation from Harman. The system will also come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, video playback and more. Other features include - power windows, engine push-button start/stop, fast charging, smart key, rear AC vents, electric tailgate, cruise control, rain-sensing wiper, Ideal Start Stop, auto headlamps and more. In terms of safety features, the car will come with dual airbags, seatbelt reminder, speed sensing auto door lock, engine immobiliser, ISOFIX child seat mounts, cornering fog lamps.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Petrol
(The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza facelift will only get a petrol engine on offer: Photo Credit: Rushlane)
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza was introduced in 2016 and has remained largely unchanged ever since with strong sales numbers as well. But with Maruti doing away with diesel engines from April 2020, the company is all set to launch the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza petrol, possibly at the 2020 Auto Expo. The Vitara Brezza has been a cash cow for the company and we expect it to get a mild facelift too. In fact, the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza petrol has spied testing in India as well. The mid lifecycle refresh brings a new twin-slat chrome grille, reworked bumper with a brushed aluminium insert and revised fog lamps. The headlamps also receive tweaks and get new LED DRLs and could be upgraded to LED bulbs as well.
Hyundai Aura
(Hyundai Motor India will launch the Aura on January 21, 2019)
Hyundai will kick-start 2020 with the launch of the Hyundai Aura, in January 2020. It will replace the Hyundai Xcent in the company's portfolio. The Aura is basically the new-generation model of the Xcent and it takes its styling cues from the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, which was launched earlier in 2019. Hyundai will offer two petrol motors and 1 diesel engine and all will be BS6 compliant right upon launch. Up first is a 1.2-litre petrol which pumps out 82 bhp and 114 Nm. There will be a 5-speed manual and AMT option on this car. There will be another, more powerful petrol engine unit, which will be a 1-litre turbo that churns out 99 bhp and 172 Nm. It will get only a 5-speed manual gearbox. A 1.2-litre diesel will be available too with 74 bhp and 190 Nm of peak torque on tap. The engine will be paired to a 5-speed manual and have an optional AMT unit as well. The current range of the Hyundai Xcent starts at Rs. 5.81 lakh and go up to Rs. 8.79 lakh (All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). We expect Hyundai to start the price range of the Aura subcompact sedan at about Rs. 6 lakh and believe it will go up to Rs. 9 lakh upon launch. Its biggest rivals will be the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Tata Tigor and the Ford Aspire.
New-Generation Honda City
(We believe the new-gen Honda City will be launched in India in the middle of 2020)
The fifth-generation Honda City has finally broken cover as the C-segment sedan made its global debut at a special event in Thailand. The all-new offering looks evolutionary over the outgoing version, playing on the strengths of the current model while improving on space, quality and powertrain. The 2020 Honda City gets a turbocharged motor this time for the Thai market to meet the local Eco Car Phase 2 regulations, and this motor is likely to remain limited to the South East Asian markets. The new-generation City will make its way to India sometime in 2020 and is likely to continue being offered in petrol and diesel powertrains. Expect the new City to get new petrol and diesel engines which will be powerful and efficient as well.
New-Generation Hyundai Creta
(One of the biggest launches this year will be the new-generation Hyundai Creta)
The bestselling Hyundai Creta compact SUV is all set to get its second generation in India. We can officially confirm that the car will be the big unveil for Hyundai at the 2020 Auto Expo. Its actual market launch will follow soon after in the first week of March 2020. The next gen Hyundai Creta will have the same powertrains as the Kia Seltos. So expect a BS6 compliant range - a 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel, as well as the 140 bhp, 1.4-litre turbo GDI petrol with an optional 7-Speed DCT (dual clutch transmission). The three engine types will come with a 6-Speed manual gearbox. The diesel is expected with an option of a 6-Speed torque convertor automatic too. The car is expected to sport a 6-airbag top spec across engines, though side impact protection, dual airbags, ABS (anti-lock brakes) and EBD (electronic brake force distribution) is expected to be standard. Some top trims will also sport a sunroof - along with an inbuilt air purifier, power-adjust front seats, and Blue Link connected car services. There'll also be a flat bottom steering on offer which will give it some sporty credentials. The new-generation Creta will have a sharper design and will be slightly bigger than the current gen model as well.
Tata Gravitas
(The Tata Gravitas was previewed as the Buzzard concept at the Geneva Motor Show 2019)
Tata Motors recently announced the name of its upcoming flagship SUV, Tata Gravitas. Slated to be launched in February 2020, the new SUV will essentially be the 7-seater version of the Tata Harrier, of course with a host of cosmetic and design updates to accommodate those two extra seats and to give it a fresher look. It is based on the same OMEGA (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced) architecture, derived from Land Rover's legendary D8 platform, which currently underpins the Tata Harrier. The Gravitas will be powered the same Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that powers the Harrier, although the exact power and torque figures haven't been announced yet. The interior will be more or less similar to that of the Harrier while the rear exterior design will be slightly different.
New-Gen Mahindra XUV500
(Next-Gen Mahindra XUV500 Spotted Testing In India Again: Photo Credits: Motorbeam)
Mahindra will have a busy 2020 and one of the biggest draws will be the new-generation XUV500, which is expected to be launched sometime in the middle of 2020. We believe the new XUV500 will get significant updates to the looks and design and the interior will see improvements as well. Apart from that, Mahindra will offer a BS6 compliant diesel engine and the car will employ an all-new platform as well. With the Ford-Mahindra MOU signed, expect Ford to share the same platform and come up with an India-specific crossover as well.
MG ZS Electric SUV
(With a range of 340 km (ARAI-claimed), the MG ZS EV can do a 50 km commute daily, for 5 days)
After the success of the Hector, MG is all set to launch the ZS electric SUV in India, in the month of January 2020. It gets a 44.5 kWh battery pack that promises a range of 340 km on a single charge. The lithium-ion unit can be charged up to 80 per cent in 40 minutes with a 50 kW DC charger, or takes up to seven hours with a standard 7.4 kW charger. The company will provide a 7.4 kWh charger in all of the ZS EV cars. The battery-powered synchronous motor can develop 141 bhp and 353 Nm of peak torque and it can do a 0-100 kmph sprint in just 8 seconds. The car has a clean, simple design and gets enough features inside the cabin to keep you in comfort during daily commutes.
Skoda Karoq
(Skoda will the Karoq compact SUV in India, which will occupy the position that Yeti held in the company's India portfolio)
Skoda and Volkswagen have planned a SUV onslaught for 2020 and leading the charge will be the Skoda Karoq, which will be launched in April 2020. The Skoda Karoq will be initially brought to India as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) and will get just a petrol unit upon launch which could be either the 1-litre TSI unit with 113 bhp and 175 Nm of peak torque or a 1.5-litre TSI with 148 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque, both of which are already sold on the SUV in other markets. In terms of tech, the Skoda Karoq will be loaded to the gills with a large touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstered seats with black or beige-black cabin options. The compact SUV will compete in the premium end of that segment against the likes of the MG Hector, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and the likes.
New-Generation Land Rover Defender
(The 2020 Land Rover Defender retains the boxy silhouette from the original while adapting design language from the DC100 concept)
The all-new Land Rover Defender has been taking the world by storm. We had earlier reported in an exclusive newsbreak that the new Defender will be launched in India by June 2020. Yes! The Defender will arrive - first in its 110 or long wheelbase avatar. The shorter Defender 90 will follow that, six months later and will be launched in December 2020. The car is expected to drive in with just the P300 (2-litre, 4-cylinder, 296 bhp) Ingenium petrol engine. Auto transmission and AWD will be standard. The Land Rover Defender 110 is expected to be priced between Rs. 80 and 97 lakh, while the First Edition (limited launch edition) will be priced over Rs. 1.05 crore. The Defender will be available in 4 trims - the standard, Defender S, Defender SE and HSE. The higher two specs will get the bells and whistles like the ClearSight video-driven interior rear-view-mirror. Leather seats, the Meridian audio system, additional driver aids like blind spot warning, and a virtual instrument cluster. The Defender also comes with Land Rover's signature Terrain Response drive modes, and All Terrain Progress Control capabilities.
Audi Q8
(The Audi Q8 will be launched in India on 15th January, 2020)
The Audi Q8 will be launched in India on 15th January, 2020 and when it is launched, it will be Audi's flagship SUV on sale. It will also be Bharat Stage VI (BS6) compliant from the time of its launch, making it the second BS6 model from the company after the A6 sedan. Audi will launch the Q8 with just a petrol engine. We expect it to be powered by a 3.0-litre TFSI petrol engine, which is tuned to offer about 340 bhp. The motor is likely to come mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, along with Audi's quattro AWD system. The SUV also gets a 10.1-inch MMI touch response display on a piano black dashboard layout and another 8.6-inch digital display below for the air-con system and other in-car controls, while the instruments are shown in the fully digital Audi virtual cockpit.
New-Generation Mercedes-Benz GLS
(The new 3rd gen Mercedes-Benz GLS is bigger, better, bolder, and way more capable than the car it replaces)
The new-generation Mercedes-Benz GLS made its debut at the 2019 New York Auto Show and it claims to offer more space, more comfort, and more luxury. Most importantly, in addition to cosmetic changes and feature upgrades, the new GLS also comes with the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems. Also, for the first time, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS will also be available in a six-seater variant with two luxury individual rear seats in the second seat row is available for the first time. Expect the interior and cabin to be lavishly appointed with all kinds of creature comforts one could imagine. Under the hood, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS offers the option of powerful six and eight-cylinder petrol engines that have integrated starter-generator and EQ Boost. Mercedes is also offering two diesel-engine GLS models powered by the OM 656, the six-cylinder in-line engine from the current engine family.
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