The Indian car market is expanding at a rapid rate and the spirit of competition is ever present. Newer models are constantly being introduced and existing models are continually being refreshed as domestic and international car manufacturers realize the potential offered by the Indian car market. Car manufacturers like Hyundai, which have made India a second home in terms of manufacturing capacity, are also introducing their fully-built units in the Indian market to offer a greater choice to Indian consumers.
Other automakers are introducing mid-model updates to compete with their rivals, as Honda has done with the City to better compete with the Volkswagen Vento. The burgeoning Indian car market means that we as buyers are receiving a large number of new vehicles on a more regular basis than we have ever been used to and this can only be a good thing. Some of the newer cars to enter the Indian market are discussed below and should make for exciting reading.
Hyundai Santa Fe makes its entrance
Hyundai has launched its latest offering in the SUV segment, the Santa Fe has launched in time for the Christmas season. The SUV, which is a seven-seater, is available in two variants: a four-wheel drive option that costs around Rs 23 lakhs and a two-wheel drive option that costs around Rs 21 lakhs. Looking at the way the Hyundai Santa Fe has been priced, it’s easy to think that it might be a bit pricey compared to its rivals, but the folks at Hyundai are confident that the range of qualities, specifically the 2.2-litre diesel engine, should get the desired response from the market.
Other attributes include ABS, traction control, ESP, six roll-sensing airbags, and a host of other active and passive safety features. The Santa Fe is also equipped with low rolling resistance tires that help conserve fuel and Hyundai sources claim to get 14.66 km/l according to ARAI certifications. One of the reasons for the slightly high prices is due to the fact that Hyundai will be importing the Santa Fe as a completely built unit from Hyundai’s factory in Korea.
Tata Aria to break new ground
Tata Motors’ biggest offering to date has finally hit Indian roads and the Tata Aria offers something very exciting for the Indian market. Being India’s first four-wheel drive crossover, Tata’s offering brings the convenience of an MUV with the toughness of an SUV (I’d take the toughness part with a pinch of salt and decide after a few months). Tata hopes that the combination of these two facets will ensure that the Tata Aria becomes its best-selling and most profitable car to date.
The Tata Aria will use the existing engine from the Safari, which is the 2.2-litre DICOR unit that is capable of generating a maximum of 140PS with a torque of 320Nm and is mated to a 5-speed transmission and incorporates a Mark gearbox. completely new II. . The Aria comes packed with safety features like rear passenger airbags, dual HVAC with climate control, EBD and ABS, and Tata has packed it with everything you’ll need. The Tata Aria will be available in three trim levels: Pride, Pleasure and Prestige and a full leather upholstery is also available. All models are BS IV certified. The price of the Aria is the only factor that may inhibit sales as it is priced between Rs 13.1 lakhs and Rs 15.8 lakhs, though Tata fans should make sure it is still doing pretty well.
New Fiat Linea with T-Jet engine
Fiat India has launched its C+ segment which offers the Linea with a new look and the car will now be powered by a 1.4-litre T-Jet engine. The new T-Jet engine will be more powerful, delivering 114 horsepower and a maximum torque of 207 Nm. The Fiat Linea will be the first car in its segment to have a turbocharged gasoline engine and will also be equipped with disc brakes. in the front and back. There are other new features like the new Sumbeam Beige color scheme, new chrome exhaust tip, and new roof antenna. The Fiat Linea will be available in two versions: T-Jet (available for around 9.5 lakhs) and T-Jet Plus (available for around 10.1 lakhs. The T-Jet will come with 15″ alloy wheels and the T-Jet Plus will be available with 16″ alloys and leather upholstery. The 16″ alloys give the car a lowered and sportier appearance and initially Fiat aims to sell the upgraded model only in the regions of Mumbai/Pune and Delhi/NCR with availability increasing in the other metro areas soon after
Fabia enters with Fab Factor
The Fabulous Fabia returns and this time the car is powered by its fabulous factor. Skoda Auto hasn’t made any massive changes to the Fabia, but the ones that have been made stand out easily. The most notable changes are the new chrome front grille, newly designed multi-reflector fog lamps, and new front and rear bumpers. The interiors also receive major upgrades and are now uncompromised as the Fabia is equipped with climate control, one-touch power windows and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. These small changes prove that keeping it simple and paying attention to detail goes a long way in improving not only looks but also performance.
The Skoda Fabia will be available in 1.2-litre petrol, 1.2-litre diesel and 1.6-litre petrol versions. With all the refinements in exterior and interior styling and design, the most exciting part of the Fabia is definitely its price. Launching it in time for Diwali seems to have cheered up even the folks at Skoda and they have priced it very competitively between Rs 4.2 lakhs and Rs 5.8 lakhs. If looks aren’t enough to ensure that the Skoda Fabia generates impressive sales in the competitive hatchback segment, price definitely will.
Audi will launch Q7 with updates
India’s best-selling luxury SUV, the Q7, has been unveiled with a new engine giving fans yet another option to do business on the Audi A6. The Q7’s engine is tuned slightly differently to give slightly more power and torque, with the engine now delivering 335bhp and 440Nm respectively. This increased power translates directly into quicker acceleration, with the Q7 going from 0 to 100 km/h in less than seven seconds. The 2,995 cc engine is mated to Audi’s new eight-speed gearbox and will also feature Quattro four-wheel drive.
The new 3.0-litre engine will be available alongside the current 3.0-litre diesel and 4.2-litre diesel engine offerings. The new 3.0-litre petrol will now be the only petrol version offered by Audi for the Q7 and was introduced for a starting price of around 59.3 lakhs, making it the cheapest of Audi’s impressive range of vehicles. .
Mercedes-Benz… Who are you?
Mercedes-Benz has been targeting India on a large scale for almost a year now and has introduced a wide range of its cars to the Indian market. The latest vehicle to be offered to the Indian public is also the newest car in the Mercedes-Benz stable and that is the R-Class. The R-Class is a completely new niche segment and offers the qualities of an SUV combined with luxury and the comfort of a sports sedan. This car should serve the four-wheeler segment in India and will be positioned slightly lower than the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class and GL-Class vehicles.
The Indian version of the R-Class will be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine delivering a maximum of 272PS and 350Nm of peak torque. What is a big surprise is that Mercedes-Benz has no plans to introduce a diesel version of the R-Class in India and ultimately this may be the deciding factor in vehicle sales as the Indian market is very fuel conscious and shows a leaning towards diesel rather than gasoline engines. The R-Class is a very comfortable vehicle and would suit those companies that need to heat up their entire boardroom for the company weekend retreat with all the opulence they deserve. Competitively priced at around Rs 59 lakhs, we will have to wait and see if Mercedes-Benz has taken the right step regarding ditching the diesel option.