2014 started with quite a dull response, but as the year progressed we started seeing the signs of growth in car sales. The last quarter of the calendar year, for instance, did pretty well thanks to some really capable products that were launched over the year. The carmakers are now expecting to do even better in the year 2015, riding on some all new products.
Here’s a list of the 10 most anticipated cars of 2015.
Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha
Ever since its debut as a concept at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki’s sub-compact SUV – the XA Alpha – has been one of the most-anticipated cars. The car will finally hit the production lines in the year 2015. Expected to be powered by a 1.3-litre multijet diesel and a 1.4-litre petrol, this sub-4 metre SUV will take on the likes of Ford EcoSport and other upcoming sub-compact
Expected Price: Rs. 5.5 lakh – Rs. 8.0 lakh (ex-showroom)
Expected Launch: Second half of 2015
Engine options: 1.3-litre diesel, 1.4-litre petrol
Maruti Suzuki SX4 S-Cross
Maruti Suzuki doesn’t have any crossover or SUV in its current line-up, but that will not be the case in the year 2015. The company is planning to bring a sub-compact SUV – the XA Alpha – and a crossover – the SX4 S-Cross – in the Indian market. Of the two aforementioned products, the SX4 S-Cross will come first. The Indo-Japanese carmaker has, in fact, started testing the vehicle in India and might launch it anytime in the early 2015.
The crossover resembles to the European SX4 hatchback based ‘S-Cross’. However, it will get some exterior and mechanical updates. The SX4 S-Cross is expected to feature a 1.3-litre, 92bhp multijet diesel engine and a 1.4-litre, 94bhp petrol engine.
Expected Launch: Early 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 6.5 lakh – Rs. 9 lakh
Engine options: 1.3-litre diesel (92bhp) and 1.4-litre petrol (94bhp)
Maruti Suzuki iK-2 aka YRA Premium Hatchback
Maruti Suzuki India is planning to bring in a new premium hatchback in 2015 to take on the Hyundai i20 and the yet-to-be-launched new-generation Honda Jazz. The vehicle was recently unveiled as a concept, named the Suzuki iK-2, at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle will be launched in several international markets including India. Though the global model might get a new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Indian model could get the Swift’s 1.2-litre K-Series unit. The diesel engine, too, could be the same 1.3-litre multijet unit that also power the Maruti Ciaz.
Expected Launch: September/October 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 4.80 lakh – Rs. 8.0 lakh
Engine options: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.3-litre diesel
New Honda Jazz
There is no denying that the premium hatchback segment is one of the most competitive ones in the Indian market, thanks to some really capable products like Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo etc. In the year 2015, we’ll also have the new-gen Honda Jazz in the growing segment. The car failed to attract many buyers in its first innings for two primary reasons – high price tag and unavailability of diesel engine. In its new avatar, the car will have a highly fuel-efficient diesel engine and an all new design. The price too is expected to come down.
Powering the petrol model of the car will be the 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that is good for 87bhp and 108Nm.Whereas, the diesel model will feature the City’s 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel powertrain that churns out 99bhp and 200Nm. The company might also bring in the hot-hatch petrol version of the car, which will feature the 117bhp 1.5-litre i-VTEC mill of the City.
Expected Launch: Mid 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 4.80 lakh – Rs. 8.50 lakh
Engine Options: 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol (87bhp), 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel (99bhp)
Maruti Suzuki Celerio Diesel
Maruti Suzuki that launched the Celerio in February 2014 is now working on the diesel-engined model of the small hatch. Since the company has already started testing the vehicle in India, we expect it to be introduced in the first half of 2015.Powering the vehicle will be an all new 800cc diesel engine on which the company has been working on for quite sometime now. The similar engine will also power other small hatchbacks and an upcoming LCV. Though exact details on the small engine are not out yet, it is likely to offfer as high as 35Km/l of fuel efficiency. With such a high mileage figure, the Celerio diesel will become the country’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. That said, the power output will be as low as 50-55bhp.
Expected Launch: First half of 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 4 lakh
Engine option: 800cc diesel
Hyundai ix25 Compact SUV
Hyundai recently unveiled the production-ready version of the ix25 at the 2014 2014 Guangzhou Auto Show, China. Expected to be launched in the Indian market in 2015, the company has already started testing the vehicle here. The vehicle will compete against the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Ford EcoSport here.
Taking its design cues from the Santa Fe, the ix25 is based on the company’s evolved ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design philosophy. Measuring 4270mm in length, 1780mm in width, 1630mm in height, the car is slightly smaller than the Duster. That said, the 2590mm of wheelbase ensures a spacious cabin for five passengers.
The engine options to be offered with the ix25 are likely to be a 1.4-litre VTVT and a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel, which also power the Hyundai Verna.
Expected Launch: Mid 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 7.50 lakh – Rs. 9.50 lakh
Engine options: 1.4-litre VTVT petrol (89bhp); 1.6-litre CRDi (126bhp)
Renault 800cc Hatchback
While in the first half of 2015, Renault will launch its MPV – the Lodgy – in India, the much-awaited 800cc hatchback (Codenamed XBA) will come in the second half of the year. The company is working on a new 800cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that will power its upcoming small cars. The small hatchback will be built on the CMF-A platform that has been jointly developed by Renault and Nissan. Upon its launch, the Renault XBA will take on the likes of Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon.
Expected Launch: Third or Fourth Quarter of 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 3 lakh – Rs. 4 lakh
Engine: 800cc, 3-cylinder, petrol
Mahindra’s Sub-Compact SUV
The home-grown automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra, is currently working on a range of new products for India which includes three compact SUVs and an MPV. The one we are talking about is the mini SUV – S101 (codename) – that will take on the Ford EcoSport and other upcoming sub-compact SUVs. The S101 will be built upon a new monocoque platform which will also be used for the more premium S102 compact SUV albeit. Since it will be an entry-level SUV, the S101 will be a sub-4 metre vehicle. Powering the vehicle could be the same 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine that does duty to the Quanto.
Expected Launch: First half of 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 4 lakh – Rs. 6 lakh
Engine option: 1.5-litre diesel (100bhp)
Ford Figo Sedan
Unveiled as a concept in February 2014, the Ford Figo sedan’s production version was recently launched in the Brazilian market as KA+ sedan in the second half of 2014. The Brazilian version of the sedan measures over 4 metres in length, though the India-bound model will be sub-4 metre in length. The sub-compact sedan is expected to be offered with two engine options – a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel.
The production model of the car looks almost similar to the concept showcased in India, save for some practical changes made to the head-lamps. With a lighter, high tensile strength steel platform, the sub-compact sedan sedan will deliver high fuel efficiency and a good performance.
Expected Launch: Mid 2015
Expected Price: Rs. 5 lakh – Rs. 7.50 lakh
Engine options: 1.5-litre diesel (90bhp), 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol (123bhp)
Tata Kite twins
Tata is in mood to leave no stones unturned to reclaim its lost position in the market. In 2014, Tata brought the Zest which, in fact, is now among the top-selling sub-compact sedans in India; in January we’ll have the Bolt hatchback. Post the Bolt, the next two all new products that the company will launch will be a small hatchback and an affordable sub-compact sedan. Codenamed as the Kite hatchback and the Kite sedan, these two will replace the Indica eV2 and Indigo eCS respectively in the Indian market. Since both the vehicles are already on test in India, expect these to come anytime by mid-2015.
Powering the kit twins will be a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel engines. While the 1.2-litre petrol unit will be an all new engine, the 1.05-litre three-cylinder mill will be the downsized version of the 1.4-litre DiCOR diesel engine.
Expected Launch: Mid 2015
Expected Price: Kite Hatchback – Rs. 2.5 lakh – Rs. 4 lakh; Kite sedan – Rs. 3 lakh – Rs. 4.5 lakh
Engine options: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.05-litre diesel
