Most Anticipated Cars of the Year
2019 will be an important year for the automotive industry as lots of changes are going to happen like the introduction of new safety norms to make our cars safer and two new manufacturers are also coming to the Indian market. Lots of new models from small hatchbacks to ultra-premium SUVs will be launched this year and in this article, we take a look at the top 5 upcoming cars in India.
Maruti Suzuki Alto
Maruti Suzuki is developing a new generation of Alto as the current model won’t meet the upcoming safety norms. The new model design could take inspirations from the Future S Concept as the company want to give SUV look with high ground clearance. The new generation model gets a stronger chassis to make it safer.
The Alto could be based on the advanced Heartect platform. The interior will be completely different from the current model and it is likely to come with premium features like a new infotainment system, multi-function steering wheel and more. The upcoming model will be powered by a new 1.0 L K-Series BSVI engine, mated to manual and AMT gearbox options.
Hyundai QXi
Hyundai is working on a new compact SUV and it is codenamed as QXi. The production model could be named as Styx and it is likely to make its public debut at the New York International Auto Show in April. The QXi is based on the same BA platform as Grand i10 and the design theme will take inspirations from other Hyundai models like Kona and new Sante Fe.
The interior will be modern and it will be packed with features like touch screen infotainment system, climate control, rear AC vents to name few. The QXi will also debut the 1.0 L turbocharged petrol engine in India along with same 1.2 L petrol engine from Grand i10 and 1.4 L diesel engine. These engines will be mated to manual and AMT gearbox options. Hyundai will introduce the QXi in India soon after the global debut.
Honda Civic
Honda is going to launch the 10th generation of Honda Civic next month in India. The company has already showcased the new Civic at the 2018 Auto Expo and the design took some inspirations from the Accord. The new Civic measures 4656 mm length, 1799 mm width, 1433 mm height and 2700 mm wheelbase. The boot space of Civic is 430 L and it rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/50 section tyre.
For the first time, Civic will be introduced with a diesel engine and it will be 1.6 L i-DTEC unit producing 120 PS at 4,000 rpm and 300 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm. The petrol engine is a 1.8 L i-VTEC unit with 141 PS and 170 Nm. The diesel comes only with a 6-speed gearbox and CVT gearbox for the petrol engine. According to ARAI, the Civic returns 26.8 Km/l for diesel and 16.5 Km/l for the petrol model.
