2019 can very well be the flagship year for the automobile industry in India. The year promises an impressive line-up of cars to be launched in the mass market as well as the premium segment of vehicles. Some of the leading brands in the budget category, like Maruti Suzuki, Tata, and Nissan, and niche players such as Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and Range Rover have already showcased some of their upcoming vehicles at the last Auto Expo.
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Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
The country’s favourite budget family car is ready for a relaunch in 2019, with a (more) powerful engine, a sleek facelift, and other innovative features in-line with developing automobile technology.
According to Maruti Suzuki, the new Wagon R will come with a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that can impart a maximum power of 83PS to the vehicle. The lower variants of the car will retain its former 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that makes up to 68PS of maximum power. It will come in both manual and automatic transmission gearboxes.
The Wagon R will be returning to its upright tall-boy design, but will also get a new platform. Coming to interiors, the car will be loaded with a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system in the topmost variant, and steering mounted controls for audio and calls. It will be based on Suzuki’s Heartect platform and is expected to be priced more or less the same as the outgoing model.
All in all, these upgrades could give other cars in the segment a run for their money.
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Tata Harrier
Fuelled by the huge success of recently launched Tiago and Nexon, Tata Motors is once again ready to make new additions to its expanding fleet. The big one to look out for is the Tata Harrier. This bold SUV was showcased as the H5X concept at the Auto Expo 2018.
The exteriors feature the company’s 2.0 design philosophy. Built on the Omega Arc platform, the car derives its design from the Land Rover D8 that also underpins the best-selling Discovery Sport. So, expect to find far roomier interiors that rival those of the Mahindra XUV500, Jeep Compass, and Hyundai Creta. When it comes to features and interiors, the Tata Harrier packs in an 8.8-inch touchscreen with Android and Apple CarPlay, ESP, anti-roll stability and terrain drive modes. It will be offered with a Fiat-sourced 2.0-liter Kyrotec diesel engine to deliver 138 bhp and 350 Nm torque. It also comes mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The car is expected to be priced between ₹14 lakh to ₹19 lakh.
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Toyota Camry Hybrid
One of the most well-known brands across the world, Toyota is ready to launch a revamped version of its premium sedan – the Camry. While the car will retain some of its key attributes, it will be available at a much more affordable price tag of around ₹30 lakh for the base model.
Another major addition is the hybrid powertrain to deliver better efficiency than before. Based on the TNGA-K platform, this 10th generation sedan uses the same platform as the Lexus ES 300H. This new platform will make it 35 mm longer, 15 mm wider, and 35 mm lower than before. Another perceived advantage of this platform is the 50 mm increase in the wheel-base that will give the car more stability. It also spells more space for passengers in the rear seats.
Some stylish additions include an 8-inch smart touchscreen, infotainment console, and a 9-speaker JBL sound system, which will up the oomph quotient.
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Mercedes Benz V-class
With the launch of the V-class MPV in India in January, Mercedes established itself as the only premium car brand to offer a luxury MPV in India.
Globally, this car is available in three different dimensions – 4895 mm, 5140 mm, and the 5370 mm, all of which ride on an extra LWB. The car will feature a 2.0-liter engine, reminiscent of the E-class, and will be BS VI compliant. The diesel engine will be capable of producing a maximum of 191 bhp with 400 Nm torque.
The Mercedes Benz V-class is expected to be priced at around ₹75 lakhs in India.
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MG Hector
The revered British automobile brand finally brought its 94-year-old legacy to India by unveiling the much anticipated, Benedict Cumberbatch-endorsed MG Hector. With over 50 connected features, it will be India’s first truly Internet-connected SUV.
The MG Hector Petro MT is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo engine that pumps out 143 PS of power and 250 NM torque with a 6-speed manual transmission. The hybrid version of Hector retains the conventional petrol configuration but is also comprised of a 48V hybrid battery for a significantly reduced carbon-footprint ride. The car will be available in a diesel variant as well.
From a connectivity standpoint, the MG Hector features the revolutionary iSMART NextGen technology and is a perfect combination of software, hardware, applications, services, and connectivity. MG has partnered with Cisco, Airtel, Gaana, Microsoft, and AccuWeather among others to bring cutting-edge smart features, like remote AC on/off, stolen vehicle tracking, collision alarm, online navigations w/ live traffic, voice commands, and more.
With a starting price tag of ₹12.18 lakhs, it is sure to revolutionize the way you drive.
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Nissan Kicks
Dubbed as the ‘intelligent SUV’, Nissan has introduced an all-new Nissan Kicks that is not only high on performance but is equally packed with smart connectivity features for a comfortable ride. Priced at ₹9.5 lakhs, the Kicks is available in petrol and diesel variants.
The SUV is powered by a 1.5-liter Intellitune K9K dCi diesel engine / H4K petrol engine. For rapid acceleration and smooth control, Nissan offers a 5-speed manual transmission for the petrol model and a 6-speed manual for the diesel one. The Kicks comes with Nissan’s proprietary Nissan Intelligent Mobility that offers a 360-degree view of your surroundings, courtesy of cameras mounted on all four sides of the vehicle. You can also select the desired camera view via the interactive console on the dashboard.
Coming to its smart features, the SUV is connected to Nissan’s main systems via NissanConnect, which provides round-the-clock security, convenience, and safety. Nissan Kick is India’s first SUV to come with a factory-fitted Connected Car Solution that has been made possible with the use of a Telematic Control Unit (TCU).
Other salient features include 8.0 A-IVI touchscreen with speed sensing, Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, automatic climate control, electronic brake-force distribution system (EBD), and voice recognition support for Apple Siri and Google Assistant.
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Toyota Glanza
Taking a dive into the expanding Indian automobile market, Japanese auto giant Toyota has now come out with an all-new offering in the form of Glanza. Starting at ₹8,29,900, the Glanza is the latest entry into a very competitive hatchback market.
Under the hood, the Glanza sports has an in-house developed K-series engine that not only provides superior performance but is also fuel-efficient. You can choose your gear shift preference from a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) or a manual transmission. On the tech front, Toyota Glanza features a touchscreen infotainment system that connects seamlessly to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems. Other attractive features include telescopic steering, light-sensing auto headlamps, automatic AC, push start/stop engine & Smart entry, and auto door lock with speed sensors.
Besides these attractive mentions, there are other impressive vehicles in both the luxury and budget-friendly segments, ready to hit showrooms later this year.
With a multi-year motor insurance policy now in place, you can ensure the full protection of your vehicle by paying an upfront amount at the time of purchase. Alternatively, you can buy your car insurance online for a seamless and hassle-free insurance purchase experience.