The Indian passenger vehicle market may be alive with exciting options right now, but there will be some new car and SUV launches soon.
It’s the third week of February and passenger vehicle manufacturers like Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Citroen India, Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor India are lining up to introduce new and refreshed models across various segments. Here’s a list of what to expect in the coming weeks.
1. Toyota Innova Crysta diesel
Toyota has reintroduced the Innova Crysta diesel after a brief hiatus. Before it was discontinued, the Crysta was only available with the 2.7-litre petrol engine, while now it will only be available with the 2.4-litre diesel engine. It is also the first time that Toyota will sell two Innova models simultaneously. Also, as part of the update, the Innova Crysta also gets a revised front bumper, grille and fog lamp housing.
2. Citroën eC3
The latest entrant in the hatchback EV segment will be the Citroën eC3the fully electric version of the C3 hatchback The French manufacturer will also export the eC3, increasing its sales volumes. Citroën’s electric portable looks identical to its ICE-powered sibling, save for the lack of an exhaust pipe and the addition of a charging port in the front fender. Inside, it now has a new drive selector instead of a shifter. The eC3 features a 29.2kWh battery that has an ARAI-certified range of 320km. Its electric motor mounted on the front axle generates 57 hp and 143 Nm of maximum torque.
3. Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG
Once launched, the Brezza will become the first Runs on CNG vehicle in the country with automatic gearbox. It will be powered by the 1.5-litre K15C DualJet engine that also powers the Ertiga and XL6. In MPVs, it produces 100 PS and 136 Nm in petrol mode and 88 PS and 121.5 Nm in CNG mode. Expect similar outputs to the Brezza. While the Ertiga and XL6 CNG only get a 5-speed manual gearbox, the Brezza will also get a 6-speed automatic torque converter.
4. Updated Hyundai Venue
While the Venue was launched in June 2022, Hyundai is giving its compact SUV a new diesel powertrain as well as an updated equipment list. The Venue will now feature a 1.5-litre 115bhp diesel engine from the Creta and an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) with start-stop function.
5. Hyundai Verna
Hyundai has was teased recently the next generation verna and has opened bookings for Rs 25,000, with the launch confirmed for March 21. The new Verna will continue with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual or IVT gearbox. In addition, it will also have the 1.5-liter direct-injection turbo-petrol that produces 160 hp. This new engine will be mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT gearbox. This new turbo-petrol engine will also serve the Creta, Kia Seltos and Kia Carens.
6. Lexus RX
Lexus showed the Fifth generation RX SUV at the Auto Expo 2023 and is expected to be launched in the coming weeks. It will be available in two versions: RX 350h Luxury and RX 500h F Sport Performance. There’s a choice between a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol, both of which have strong hybrid assistance. While the former is paired with a CVT, the latter gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
7. Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Maruti’s latest compact SUV is the Baleno-based one Fringe SUV coupe It will have two engine options: a 1.0 liter turbo petrol and a 1.2 liter petrol. While both are mated to a 5-speed manual, the turbo-petrol will get a 6-speed automatic and the petrol will get an AMT gearbox. It will be sold through Nexa outlets and will compete with the Citroën C3, Tata Punch, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
8. Honda City face rental
Representative image.
The fifth-generation City is due for a mid-life facelift and will be the car’s first update since its launch in mid-2020. It’s expected to get mild cosmetic updates in the form of redesigned and new front and rear bumpers alloy wheels Honda is also expected to mix up the City variants by adding a more affordable version of the City e:HEV. Test drives for the Honda City facelift will begin on March 3.
9-10 Tata Harrier, Safari Update
Tata Motors will update Harrier and Safari SUVs and both will go on sale next month. In this update, Tata Motors will add features like ADAS, a new infotainment system, 360-degree camera and a new 7-inch semi-digital instrument panel. Mechanically, the two SUVs remain the same, but are now RDE-compatible and will likely be priced Rs 1 lakh more than the current models.
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