A common question that is always on the minds of automobile lovers of India pertains to the new cars that are going to come out into the market. To answer this query that most of our readers have, we at Indian Drives bring to you some of the best cars that will adorn Indian roads in the year 2012.
Mini Cooper:
BMW is finally bringing in its subsidiary Mini designed cars into India. The brand Mini has always been associated with a cool image. The manufacturer has already conducted feasibility studies on launching this brand in India and the reports from the same have been very encouraging. The first brand of the Mini that will make an entry into the Indian market is its Cooper hatchback. With its classic design and retro interiors, the Mini Cooper is a visual treat. Add to that a power of 122 Bhp from its 1.6L petrol and diesel engines and an expected price of Rs.12 lacs, the entry of this car into India will be with a lot of impact.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster:
If auto lovers felt that the SLS AMG coupe from Mercedes Benz was a real extreme vehicle, they have just to wait and see what the SLS AMG Roadster can deliver. With its classic design itself a drawing feature, the effect is almost unreal when you see it power down the road reaching 100kmph from transit in just 3.8 seconds. The top speed it achieves is 321kmph justifies the powerful engines that deliver a huge 563Bhp of power and a peak torque of 66.3kg-m. The vehicle however will match its performance with equally high price of Rs.2.4 crore.
Maruti Ertiga:
The first attempt that Maruti India, the largest car manufacturer of the country, has made in the MPV segment has given birth to the Maruti Ertiga. The vehicle has been given a sporty styling having huge air inlet and its length of 4.2m along with wheelbase of 2740mm gives it the capacity to seat 7 people comfortably. The popular 1.3L VGT diesel engine used in the SX4 will power this vehicle as well and generate peak power of 95Bhp. Priced in the range of Rs.6 lakh to Rs.9 lacs, the Maruti Ertiga is going to be launched at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012.
New Maruti 800:
One of the historically popular cars in India, the Maruti 800 comes in an all-new avatar to challenge the existing budget cars in the Indian auto market – the Hyundai Eon and the Tata Nano. Maruti has kept the manufacturing costs of the car down using its existing platform for Alto to build the new Maruti 800. Its base variant could be priced below Rs.2 lacs, which could definitely give Tata some reasons to get worried. Design of the car has been kept quite basic; however its interiors have been made quite spacious.
Mahindra Mini Xylo:
The special excise rebate that the Indian government provides to the small cars has been able to bring out a lot of creativity among Indian engineers. The case that can best illustrate this aspect is the Mini Xylo from Mahindra, which has redesigned its tail to bring down the length of the car below the four-meter mark. It will no longer have three rows of seats but carry most other design elements from the existing Xylo. The best part will be its pricing, which will be in the range between Rs.4 lacs to Rs.5 lacs and this could make the car give a tough challenge to the hatchbacks.
New Hyundai Sonata:
Though the present Hyundai Sonata Transform has not been able to identify the pulse of the customers in India and has suffered from low sales figures, Hyundai has put in great efforts on its new car for changing this scenario. This car is known in most markets as i45.
The swoopy lines that the latest Sonata has been provided with have made it among the top designed cars from the stables of Hyundai. The interiors also reflect the same aspect with its cockpit-themed cabin not only looking classy but also providing ample amount of space, particularly at its rear. With its peak variant achieving a power of 198Bhp, the question on its performing ability is also adequately answered. The vehicle is going to be priced in the range of Rs.16 to Rs.18 lacs.
New Honda CR-V:
The latest CR-V from Honda has been recently unveiled and its styling is way different from its present variant. The vehicle has been provided with a lot more aggression in its looks. Car handling aspect of this vehicle is going to be substantially improved owing to the completely new platform in which the vehicle has been built. Though the company is yet to announce anything pertaining to the engine, it is speculated that the existing lines will be joined by a new diesel engine. With the word that the new CR-V is going to be locally assembled, price factor is definitely going to take a drop. You can now get the latest Honda CR-V for Rs.20 lacs.
HM Ambassador:
The Ambassador is going to be infused with a new lease of life in 2012. Its latest pick-up variant has already been launched in rural markets and Hindustan Motors, like many other auto manufacturers, is now exploring the benefits of bringing out a sub-four meter variant of the Ambassador. This length reduction comes through shortening its humped boot, something that was the trademark of its original version. Improvement to its engine is being planned for enhancing its performance as well as complying with the stringent norms of emission. A CNG variant is also in the offering. Price reduction is also a strong possibility with the new model expected to cost Rs.30,000 lesser. Indeed, it looks like the HM Ambassador is all geared up to extend its innings even further.
Ford EcoSport:
The Ford EcoSport has been blessed with all the necessary qualities that can make it a trump card for Ford India. The vehicle that has been coded as B515 comes in the sub 4m segment, hence getting the privileges that small cars receive thanks to the Indian governmental norms. It is being built on the same platform as the Fiesta so it can be expected that the vehicle is going to classy riding and handling. The spare wheel has been mounted on its tailgate because this does not come under the regulations of calculating body length. Upgrade to its engines is expected to rev up the power equation substantially. The Ford EcoSport is expected to compete aggressively in the market with its base model priced around Rs.6 lacs.
Ford Endeavour:
The latest Ranger pick-up that has been recently unveiled by Ford Thailand forms the basis of its latest Endeavour SUV that is expected to come to India by late 2012. With its design in similar lines to the global models of Ford, the new Ford Endeavour will be based with a more contemporary look than the present model in the Indian market. Interiors have also been improved further by usage of high quality materials. It could come with the new 2.2L diesel engine that has been given to the Ranger, which has proved adept in delivering high performance and also maintains the desired norms of emission. Six-speed manual as well as auto transmission models look bound for India. However, a price hike on the vehicle seems very likely, which however is being compensated by loading the vehicle with the latest features.