New Car launches for 2008:Was reading a lot these days about almost every automobile manufacturer bringing in a
new model or two by year end or
next year in India. Today an article on the Economic times compelled me to write about them. According to The ET atleast
20 new cars would be launched in India by next year end, amongst which the
1 Lakh Tata car also called as The peoples car, is the most hyped about and awaited car.
Update:- Tata 1 lakh car launched.Picture of Santa Fe
Hyundai:-The first car that would hit the roads would be
Hyundai PA / P-A (
i10) which would be positioned between Santro and Getz. Rumors are that the Hyundai Pa might also replace Santro which has been around for quite a while now. Another suv Hyundai Santa Fe is also expected in the fist half. The Santa Fe is available in 2.7 litre 185 bhp and 3.3 litre 242 bhp V6 engines. Price in overseas markets varies from $21,145 to $26,145. The Santa Fe can easily accommodate 7 persons.
Picture of Maruti Suzuki Splash
Maruti :-Maruti would be launching a hatchback called as The
Splash in 1.1 / 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 Litre diesel engines and would compete with the
Hyndai Pa and would also eat into the market Share of recently launched
Zen Estilo and Wagon R if at all it is not discontinued. Another Models would be
Swift Sedan and diesel version of sx4.
Update:- Pictures and details of Maruti Suzuki's new A-StarPicture of Skoda Fabia
Skoda :-The Skoda Fabia is one of the most comfortable and spacious hatchbacks that has been doing well in the European markets. When launched in India it would be available in 1.2 lite petrol engine and 1.5 lite diesel. The design is extremely attractive and features un heard so far in any of the indian Hatachbacks. It would we priced around 5 to 6.5 lakhs and would compete with Getz, Swift, Uva,
Honda Fit/ Jazz.
Picture of honda Fit Jazz
Honda :-A completely new version of Honda city to take on Verna, SX4, Fiesta, etc. , a new HatchBack The Honda
Fit/Jazz. in the small car segment and a
new Accord in the premium segment. Honda Fit/Jazz is one spacious hatchback that i am personally waiting for which would be available in 1.4 litre cvt or 1.5 litre vtec engine or both would be real sporty and fun to drive car and very much successful world over.
Mahindra:-Mahindra & Mahindra will introduce the new 2.2 litre engine for Scorpio (Eagle) in early 2008. A Logan HatchBack is also expected soon which would be as bad as the logan sedan as far as design is concerned but a wide bodied 5 door hatch back and extremely spacious one. And a big Ingenio competing with Toyota Innova.
Picture of Fiat Grande Punto
Fiat:-Fiat would bring in the diesel palio and the much awaited and successful hatchBack
The Grande Punto which will have a 75bhp engine same as that in the Maruti swift. It would be another Spacious (Grande) car in the premium small car segment competing with the swift, Fit/Jazz, Getz, etc.
GM:-Chevrolet Captiva a 5 seater suv with a 2 lite diesel engine capable of pumping 148 bhp and expected price os 20 lakhs in India. I am not very sure how successful this suv would be. But as far as the medium and premium small cars are concerned Indian buyers would be spoilt for choices.
So great year ahead for the 4 wheeler buyers in
India. Stay tuned as i will cover each of these cars in greater detail over next few months.
Update:- We can expect to see almost all the
new cars for 2008 in the upcoming
Auto Expo 2008 in delhi.
Related:-
1) Hyundai launches new car i102) Honda Jazz3) Volkswagen Passat now in India4) Skoda India launches new Laura Ambiente5) i10 gets excellent reviews6) Hyundai i307) Suzuki splash to replace wagon R8) Skoda Fabia launched in India
