2016 is in its last month and what a year it has been for the automotive industry. We’ve witnessed a flurry of new launches and facelifts from various car manufacturers. Thank you 2016, you’ve been great!
Time to look at what’s in store for us in 2017. While there are many cars lined up to make headlines, here we compile a list of sedans which we expect to go on sale next year.
Honda City Facelift
Honda is expected to launch a refreshed Honda City, which in all probability will borrow styling cues from the Honda Greiz, the City’s equivalent in China. The refreshed Honda City will carry the company’s new design language, as seen on the recently launched Honda Accord.
On the outside, it is expected to get redesigned bumpers, front grille and taillights. Inside, the Honda City is likely to feature equipment upgrades like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, half-a-dozen airbags, and voice command integration. Engine family, however, is expected to remain the same.
Expected Price Range: Rs 8.5-12 lakh
Expected Launch: Mid 2017
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Facelift
India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, is expected to launch a facelifted version of its highly popular sedan, the Ciaz. The update is likely to incorporate some cosmetic changes, such as a redesigned front grille and bumpers, LED daytime-running lamps, new alloy wheels and HID projector headlamps.
The top-of-the-range variant is expected to feature a sunroof and the infotainment touchscreen could get Apple CarPlay. Engine options will remain the same and the Japanese carmaker may relocate the Ciaz to be sold from Nexa dealerships from 2017.
Expected Price Range: Rs 8-10.5 lakh
Expected Launch: Mid 2017
Volkswagen Passat
German carmaker Volkswagen is expected to launch its all-new Passat in India next year. Unlike its primary rivals, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, the Passat GTE variant will feature a plug-in hybrid tech.
This means the battery pack on the new Passat can be charged via a regular power socket or by the combustion engine. Apart from the GTE variant, the Passat could get a diesel-powered variant as well for the Indian market. The new Passat is already on sale in international markets and it is expected that Volkswagen will bring it to India via the CBU route.
As compared to the previous-gen model, the new Passat gets a 79mm longer wheelbase but is 2mm shorter in length. While the GTE will get a 1.4-litre petrol motor, other variants could get a 1.8-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel engine.
Expected Price Range: Rs 30-35 lakh
Expected Launch: Early 2017
Hyundai Verna
Hyundai is expected to replace the current-gen Verna with an all-new one in 2017. Just like the recently launched Tucson and Elantra, the Verna will feature the company’s Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy.
The Verna was recently launched in China. It is longer, wider but a bit lower than the model it will replace in India. On the inside, it could feature a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other features could include a sunroof, push-button start and automatic climate control.
It is expected to carry the same, but differently tuned, 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines and could get a mild hybrid setup, just like Maruti Suzuki’s SHVS tech.
Expected Price Range: Rs 8-10 lakh
Expected Launch: Late 2017
Skoda Octavia vRS
Czech carmaker Skoda is gearing up to increase its Octavia portfolio by launching the vRS variant. The new variant is all about its performance figures. While there are a couple of engine options on offer in Europe, the India-spec vRS is likely to get the 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine which will pump out 220PS of power and 351Nm of torque.
Mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Skoda claims the Octavia vRS will reach the 100kmph mark from standstill in less than 7 seconds. To support all the grunt, the vRS variant will get stiffer suspension, strengthened anti-roll bars and an electronic differential.
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet is expected to launch the new Cruze sedan next year and, just like the current model, it will be a head-turner. It will feature a coupe-like design, with the roof merging into the back of the car elegantly. In terms of dimensions, the new Cruze is larger in size but lighter in weight.
The top-spec variant is likely to get features such as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G compatibility, electric seats, wireless phone charging, and an in-car Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity.
Under the hood, it is expected to boast a 1.6-litre, turbocharged diesel engine, which will be considerably more fuel-efficient than the 2.0-litre unit that’s currently on offer. The American carmaker may also introduce a turbo-petrol engine, which will pump out more than 150PS of power.
Expected Price Range: Rs 13-16 lakh
Expected Launch: Late 2017
Toyota Vios
Toyota is betting big on its first ever B-segment sedan for India, the Vios. It will be priced to compete with the Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento.
Toyota is expected to equip the Vios with the same 1.5-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines that feature in the Etios, albeit with a bit more oomph to match the performance figures of its rivals.
On the looks front, the Vios is expected to be a shrunken version of the Corolla Altis, which isn’t bad by any means. Inside the cabin, the Vios is likely to boast features like automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and steering-mounted controls. The Vios will feature airbags with ABS with EBD on all variants.
Expected Price Range: Rs 8-11 lakh
Expected Launch: Late 2017
Tata Kite 5
Come 2017 and Tata Motors will launch the Kite 5 sedan, which is based on the Tiago hatchback. With its launch, Tata is expected to axe the Indigo eCS sedan. The Kite 5 is nearly identical to the Tiago up to the B-pillar, post which the coupe-like roof blends nicely into a smart-looking boot. Although compact in dimensions, the Kite 5 is expected to feature a 420-litre boot.
It will be powered by the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1-litre diesel engine that feature under the hood of the Tiago. Performance figures are expected to remain the same as well, with the possibility of an AMT coming into the equation.
Expected Price Range: Rs 4-6 lakh
Expected Launch: Mid 2017
Skoda Octavia Facelift
Skoda unveiled the facelifted Octavia sedan in the month of October 2016 and the same is expected to reach Indian shores in 2017. The car receives minor updates both on the exterior and the interior. On the outside, the front fascia gets a makeover with quad-LED headlamp setup and rectangular fog-lamps with wider air-dams.
At the rear, little has changed, with the taillights now featuring LEDs. On the inside, the instrument cluster gets a multi-function information display. The centre console is dominated by a massive 9.2-inch infotainment unit with built-in navigation support. Engine family is likely to remain unchanged for the Indian market.
Expected Price Range: Rs 17-22 lakh
Expected Launch: Late 2017
Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire
Maruti Suzuki is working to launch the all-new Swift next year and with that will come the launch of its bigger sibling, the next-gen Swift Dzire. It is expected to be a roomier car than the one it will replace. Apart from that, it will feature the same 1.3-litre diesel engine and the 1.2-litre petrol engines but they are expected to be re-tuned for more efficiency and power.
The new Swift DZire will continue to sit comfortably below the Baleno hatchback, thanks to the heavy localisation of parts. Expected feature list includes touchscreen infotainment display on the top-spec variant and dual airbags with ABS on all variants.
Expected Price Range: Rs 5-8 lakh
Expected Launch: Mid 2017
Hyundai Ioniq
South Korean carmaker Hyundai is all set to launch its first ever electric car. Called the Ioniq, it will go on sale in European markets in three variants -- all-electric, plug-in hybrid and regular hybrid.
However, India is expected to only get the plug-in hybrid variant, which will be powered by an 8.9kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, which has an estimated range of 50km. The electric motor will likely produce 61PS of power and, mated to the electric motor, the 1.6-litre diesel engine is expected to produce 105PS of power. Because of its hybrid nature, the Ioniq will come via direct import to India, which will attract hefty taxes.
Expected Price Range: Rs 40-45 lakh
Expected Launch: Early 2018
Honda Civic
Honda is expected to launch one of its most successful car models in India, the Civic. It will be the tenth-generation model that is likely to land on Indian shores. If launched, it will reignite the spark in the D-segment, rivalling the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis and the Skoda Octavia. Honda is also expected to equip the Civic with the 1.6-litre diesel engine which currently does duty in the UK-spec Civic. Petrol engine is likely to be a 1.8-litre i-VTEC unit, which could be coupled with a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic.
Expected Price Range: Rs 15-18 lakh
Expected Launch: Late 2017
Chevrolet Essentia
American carmaker Chevrolet is expected to launch a sub-4-metre, made-for-india sedan called the Essentia. Based on the next-gen Chevrolet Beat, the Essentia is expected to wow customers with its funky interiors and features like touchscreen Chevrolet MyLink 2 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support and reverse camera with parking sensors.
All models are expected to feature dual airbags with ABS as part of the standard kit. Under the hood, the Essentia is likely to get a 1.2-litre petrol mill or a 1.3-litre diesel motor. Transmission duties will be handled by a five-speed manual gearbox and an AMT might be offered as well.
Expected Price Range: Rs 4.5-7 lakh
Expected Launch: Early 2017
Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo
Skoda will be active in the year 2017 as it is likely to launch the Monte Carlo edition of its recently launched Rapid sedan. The special edition is garnished tastefully to pay homage to Skoda’s racing heritage.
To make it stand out from the regular version of the Rapid, the Monte Carlo will have a special red body colour, black accents on the front grille, headlamp inserts, body accents, alloy wheels, tail-lamp cluster and ORVMs. On the inside, it is expected to carry the same red-and-black colour combination, with an all-black upholstery and red colour accents on the seats. The Monte Carlo trim, in all probability, is expected to feature on the top-spec variant.
Expected Price Range: Rs 12 lakh
Expected Launch: Mid 2017
(CarDekho is one of the leading automobile portals in India, part of GirnarSoft. The site offers in-depth analysis, comparisons and reviews of the latest car launches in the country.)
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