If you
are a car enthusiast, you wouldn't want to miss catching the first peak of some
of the sexiest models that are due for Indian roads. With the Auto Expo due
mid-January, the curiosity quotient is begin-ning to go up. The spotlight, as
always, will be on cars and bikes, both big and small, that are likely to debut
in India soon.
And some funky
beauties that are there simply to keep the drool factor high. ET Auto-Mania
checks out the likely contenders that will get a parking ticket in Pragati
Maidan come January.
The Auto
Expo has always been the high point of India’s automotive calendar but
this year things are likely to be hotter than before. Indeed some experts say
the mercury could hit the kind of high that was seen in 1998 when Tatas first
showcased the Indica. Reason: the focus will once again be on compact cars this
year.
Given the increasing
interest in both the Indian market and the com-pact segment, the most fiercely
competitive debuts during the Auto Expo would undoubtedly be pint-sized. The
event that's just a little over a month away, will see every automaker showcase
their defini-tion of what is small.
Look out for the
much-talked-about Rs 1 lakh car from Tata Motors. This new-age small car, will
be showcased in both petrol and diesel variants and will likely attract more
eyeballs than any other display. Although there are no confirmations from the
company, Tata could also display the Linea and Grande Punto from partner
Fiat’s stable. The big question is whether some Alfa Romeos, Maseratis and
Ferraris will also grace the marquee? If they do, there’ll be little to
beat that lineup in sheer sex
appeal.
Coming back to small
cars, the other likely exhibit will be from Skoda whose Fabia, scheduled for an
India debut next year, will give current super minis Swift, Getz and U-VA a run
for their marketshare. The other equally exciting exhibit will be from Bajaj
which has tied up with Renault for the ultra low cost car project. The
Pune-based two-wheeler major will likely showcase its indigenously-developed
small four-wheeler, which may well form the basis for the future low cost car.
Equally exciting will be the
exhibits from General Motors. The com-pany will showcase its much-talked-about
Volt electric car concept along with some big wheels like the Hummer and
Cadillac. It still isn’t clear whether the Beat concept, another likely
small car contender for India, will also be showcased. Sources say the WTCC
Ultra, Beat and Trax may also be considered. As for fellow Detroit biggie Ford,
there’s still a question mark over its participation. But if it does get
on board, Ford too may showcase its small car Mazda II.
The
other small star will be Honda’s first compact car Jazz which was recently
unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show. Honda is also likely to bring in its hydrogen
concept car FCX and the FI racing circuit Earth Car. “We are still toying
with different concept car models from the Honda stable. Like the
next-generation hydrogen fuelled Honda FCX, will certainly be there though it is
not targeted for the Indian market (thanks to its $4 million price tag), but
would showcase our strength in future technology,” said Honda Siel senior
general manager (marketing) Jnaneshwar
Sen.
The company has already
confirmed that it is bringing its hybrid Civic to India to give this market a
taste of its famed environment-friendly cars. The company is also likely to
showcase the Civic Flexible fuel, Fit Sports Extreme and the Small Hybrid Sports
car.
Korean auto maker Hyundai
may pitch in with its Genesis, Qarmac, HCD 'Hellion' and HND Veloster concept
cars. Market leader Maruti Suzuki will showcase its army of global cars, many of
which will later make a debut in India. The mid-sized sedan Kizashi concept car
is likely to herald Maruti's entry in the premium mid-sized segment (pitted
against Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Optra and Hyundai Elantra), while
the compact hatchback Splash will simulta-neously hit the Indian and Europe
markets in 2008.
What else
should you look out for? Tata Motors' Elegante concept car, which is dubbed as
the next generation Indigo sedan, will share the limelight with the much awaited
Rs-1 lakh car. Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata, had earlier said, “Several
of the design cues of the Tata Elegante concept are incorporated in the
forthcoming generation of Indica and Indigo
cars.”
Elegante is likely
to be kitted out with a 4-cylinder petrol engine be-tween 1.4 and 2 litre
displacement. Diesel options will have a common rail direct injection turbo
engine with variable valve timing. Both en-gines would be Euro V compatible.
Tata Motors would also showcase its newly redesigned Tata Pick-Up loaded with
airbags and anti-lock brake system.