BackPreview: 12th Auto Expo 2014
At the Auto Expo, enthusiasts can expect launches in categories ranging from small cars to the luxury market
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A smooth drive
The biggest car show in India is back. Over five days from 7 February, the show will be on at a new venue—the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of Delhi. Like previous iterations, there will be a variety of cars on display, but this year’s line-up includes new launches of every shape and size, radical concept cars, and even a few sports and racing cars.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen has been studying the feasibility of launching its own compact SUV in India and the good news is that the project has been given the go-ahead. Volkswagen will showcase a concept version of the India-bound Taigun at the expo. It looks attractive and should find favour among those who find Ford EcoSport’s design a bit too adventurous. New-age petrol and diesel motors and a dual-clutch gearbox are likely to be on offer when the Taigun goes on sale in 2016.
Ford
Tata
Datsun
Hyundai
The Honda stall is expected to be a real crowd-puller, with a mix of concept cars and forthcoming production cars on display. For a start, there will be the Brio-based Mobilio MPV and the next-generation Jazz. The new Jazz is based on the same all-new platform as the recently launched Honda City and it improves on its already well-rounded predecessor in just about every respect. The Mobilio is Honda’s first MPV for India. Although based on the Brio, it gets a longer wheelbase to accommodate a third row of seats at the rear, making it a proper seven-seater. Honda will also showcase another Innova-sized MPV concept car, though it’s still too early to say if it will even make production. Also, there will be the exciting NSX concept car and the latest Accord Hybrid.
Toyota
Audi
Audi sold more cars than any other luxury car maker in India in 2013, and to keep up this momentum, it will present the A3, which is expected to be launched soon. As the name suggests, it will be positioned below the A4 sedan and is expected to be priced at around 25 lakh. The A3 will offer buyers the option of a 1.8-litre turbo petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel engine. It will be sold in India only as a front-wheel-drive car and will not get Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In terms of size, the A3 is similar to a Toyota Corolla but in terms of luxury, quality and features, it will be a true Audi.
BMW
BMW will launch the 3 series GT that will be positioned between the 3 series and the 5 series. It’s essentially a more practical version of the 3 series, with more interior space, better ground clearance and a more convenient hatchback boot with a lot more room. To be brought into India as a full import, the 3 series GT is expected to be priced at ₹ 35-45 lakh, and will be launched with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine.
Nissan
Nissan will launch the updated version of the Sunny. The makeover will include a new grille, reworked headlights and some more chrome embellishments to add a touch of class. However, the Sunny’s class-leading rear-seat space will remain its main selling point. And there will also be a better-equipped version of the Evalia MPV.
Maruti
India’s biggest car maker is set to present a new small car at the expo. Called the Celerio, this hatchback will introduce, for the first time, automated manual transmission (AMT) in this class of cars. It is roughly the size of the Hyundai Grand i10 and will be powered by an updated version of Suzuki’s 1.0-litre, three-cylinder K10 engine. The AMT is cheaper to produce than a regular auto gearbox and this should help the car maker price the new Celerio competitively.
Mahindra
The Mahindra stall will display a production-ready hybrid version of the XUV500. This is not to be confused with the micro-hybrid start-stop feature that it currently offers—it will be a full hybrid power train similar to the Scorpio Hybrid that Mahindra showcased a few years ago. Mahindra Reva, the division that gave us the e2o electric city car, will also unveil an electric concept sport scar, called the Halo, which is sure to draw more than just a few eyeballs. Mahindra’s SsangYong brand will display the LIV-1 concept that might reach production stage as the next-generation Rexton. The 11-seat Korando Turismo MPV will also be showcased.
Renault
Apart from the facelifted Fluence saloon and Koleos SUV, Renault will unveil a new concept car. The French car maker will also have a kitted-up version of its popular Duster SUV.
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