Festive Flaunts of the Season from the Indian Automakers

For carmakers hoping to bring new models to the Indian market, festive season is the hottest seat in the year round game of blackjack, and 2019 is going to be no different. From the arrival of Ganpati and through to Diwali, seven new vehicles are being launched in the market, three of them cars, three facelifts and a new variant, and are expected to arrive in showrooms across the country sometime in the coming months. Despite the current slow sales in the industry, the car manufacturers are going forward with their launch plans. Doesn't that provide a silver lining to this desolate cloud blanketing the market right now? Quite a few of the four wheeler players are planning to launch new cars and it is confirmed that Maruti Suzuki, Renault, Honda, Hyundai, Tata and Toyota will be adding fresh offerings to their respective line-ups.

The following cars can be expected in the market in the months to follow:

1. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

This production-spec version of Maruti’s Future S Concept will be arriving in the market in the form of the S-Presso, the release date set to September 30. The new micro-SUV displays features of a small hatchback and an SUV-like styling to woo the buyers in the Indian market, and poses a challenge to the Renault Kwid, and the Datsun Redi Go. The model is also going to serve as the debut for a BS6-compliant version of Maruti’s K10 petrol motor. Maruti has converted a few engines from its cars from BS-4 to BS-6 compliant motors and based on the data gathered, S-Presso is said to produce 68hp and 90Nm torque, which also means a slightly lower kilometres to the litre ratio. As yet there's not much information about the vehicle but, according to some sources, it is said to have a centrally mounted speedometer, now quite a common interior design feature amongst car-makers.

2. Renault KWID facelift

KWID is Renault’s highest-selling model and is re-entering this season with a fresh new look and some major upgrades. It gets a facelift and slight changes to the body and they are expected to not only improve the aesthetics but also comply with pedestrian safety and crash test norms. The new Kwid also sports some modifications to the interiors and some exciting new features. The visual aesthetics of the car seem to be inspired from the City K-ZE EV, which was first showcased in the 2019 Shanghai motor show, but the interiors are expected to mimic those of the Triber’s. It would have a new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a digital instrument cluster is added to the dashboard design and the steering wheel. Engine remains the same the same as the old Renault Kwid facelift with 54hp and 0.8-litre or 68hp 1.0-litre petrol engines. The only upgrade in the engines is that it will comply with the BS-6 norms. The gearbox options include a 5-speed manual and 5-speed automatic transmission. The Datsun Redi Go and Maruti Suzuki S-Presso will be it's competition in the market.

3. Hyundai Elantra facelift

Hyundai has quite a few new models up its sleeve for the remaining part of the year. They have just launched the Grand i10 Nios, and their compact SUV Venue earlier this year, and the well timed gap between the two different segment launches suggests that the Korean manufacturer still has more to give. Next, Hyundai is bringing out a new refreshed version of its Elantra for 2019. Hyundai Elantra facelift is prepped to launch mid-September. The new interiors bring a fresh perspective and are more in line with the design language of the newer Hyundai models. The exterior is expected to have been upgraded to make sure it presents a respectable challenge to the rivals- the likes of Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla Altis and Honda Civic. The Elantra facelift is going to come with a BS6-compliant 2 litre petrol engine producing 152 hp. It has, however, not been announced if the diesel variant of the powertrain producing 128 hp through 1.6 litres would be available or not.

4. Tata Harrier Dark edition

Tata Motors is launching an all new, all black version of the Tata Harrier. As the name suggests, Dark edition is getting a complete goth makeover - the exterior will have one of a kind Atlas Black colour and would be complemented by 17 inch wheels crafted from "Blackstone" alloy. The front and rear skid plates will also be - surprise - black, with silver grey lamp trims. The interiors would of course follow the all black theme with a "Blackstone" dashboard finish and inserts on the centre console in shades of grey, instead of the usual faux wood. The seats are dressed in Benecke-Kaliko Blackstone leather.

The other specifications of the car are pretty much the same as the company has only sought to provide for an early upgrade to the visual appearance of the car. The top spec of Tata Harrier comes for a price of Rs. 16.76 lakh.

5. Honda HR-V

Honda has been patiently planning to time their next product that would be their champion in the extremely competitive midsize SUV segment. The HR-V, as Honda's next product in the country is being named, faces a prepared and fierce competition even before its arrival, in the forms of Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier and MG Hector, in addition to others. The HR-V is expected to sport looks similar to those of the CR-V, and will come with 17-inch alloy wheels. The cabin appears to find its inspiration in Honda Civic. The higher-spec variants are said to have a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a sunroof and other bells and whistles. Powertrain options for the HR-V are likely to be a 141 hp producing 1.8 litre petrol CVT combination and a 120 hp, 1.6 litre diesel engine with manual transmission.