New hatchbacks coming to India in 2015

You may walk into a dealership and the salesman might just tell you about launches just around the corner, but this is your one stop to get all the dope on hatchbacks that will be making their way into the showrooms in 2015.

The hatchback segment is one of the largest in the Indian automobile industry. The coming year will see the likes of Fiat, Honda, Maruti, Volkswagen add further to the hotly-contested segment. And the best part is, launches range right from Rs 3 lakh all the way upto Rs 30 lakh.

TATA NANO TWIST ACTIVE

As we've seen in the last few years, Tata has chosen to update the Nano sequentially rather than with one big facelift. And for 2015, it will get one of its most significant updates yet. Dubbed the Twist Active, this version will get a mild facelift, better interiors, and an opening tailgate for much better practicality. It will also get the option of an AMT automatic gearbox, which should do wonders for its appeal as a small, efficient urban runabout. The AMT will be a similar unit to the one in the Zest. Of course, all this will make it more expensive than the standard car, but it’s still likely to be the most affordable automatic car in the world.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price: ₹ 2.5 lakh
Engine(s): 0.6 L petrol
Rivals: Maruti Alto 800

DATSUN REDI-GO

Yes, this is only a concept, but the Datsun Redi-Go looks quite striking for what’s going to be one of the most affordable cars in India, particularly since the production car will at least ape a lot of the styling cues seen here. It was unveiled to the world at the 2014 Auto Expo. This car’s 2,350mm wheelbase points to generous cabin room and its crossover-like appearance will appeal to the SUV-loving Indian masses. The production version of the Datsun Redi-Go will use an all-new platform, Alliance Partner Renault’s new CMF-A, although the French company is bringing out its own car on that platform first. However, what we do know is that the Datsun Redi-Go will be powered by the same three-cylinder, 800cc petrol engine as its Renault counterpart. When it does go on sale in 2016, the car will be very aggressively priced too – in fact, we’re expecting that all variants will be sold for less than Rs 4 lakh, making it an aggressive Maruti Alto 800 competitor.

Factfile-
Coming: 2016
Est price: ₹ 3-4 lakh
Engine(s): 0.8 L petrol
Rivals: Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Santro

NEW RENAULT SMALL CAR

Renault is also working on a new budget hatchback based on the same platform as Datsun Redi-Go to take on the likes of Maruti and Hyundai at the low-cost, high-volume end of the market. In fact, Renault is the lead brand for this new small platform which is likely to be launched before Alliance partner Nissan comes out with the Datsun Redi-Go.

This baby Renault will use the most affordable version of Renault’s new Common Module Family (CMF) platform, called CMF-A. Though it will share this platform with the Datsun Redi-Go,
the company insists this won’t be another re-badging job like other cars in the Renault-Nissan Alliance, namely the Duster-Terrano, Sunny-Scala or Micra-Pulse. The Renault car will be styled differently too; however, the engine will be common – an-all new 800cc petrol.

Factfile-
Coming: Mid-2015
Est price: ₹ 3 lakh
Engine(s): 0.8 L petrol
Rivals: Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Eon

TATA KITE

Following the Zest and Bolt is an all-new family of Tata cars codenamed Kite, which is fundamentally an all-new car sitting on a thoroughly re-engineered platform of the original Indica (code: X0). The Kites (coming in hatchback and compact sedan iterations) will sit a rung lower than the Zest and Bolt and fill the gap above the Nano. Going by what we’ve seen in the Zest and the Bolt, there’s a lot to be excited about with the Kites. You can expect a more attractive exterior and interior and a whole lot more equipment. The quality in the cabin should also see a big improvement, and Tata is said to be working on fine-tuning the suspension for better comfort and handling as well. The Kite will likely go head to head with sub-premium hatchbacks like the Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10 and Maruti Celerio, but since the basic dimensions of the car are the same as before, you can expect fantastic interior space in the Kite by segment standards.

Factfile-
Coming: End 2015
Est price: ₹ 4-5 lakh
Engine(s): 1.2 L petrol, 1.4 L diesel
Rivals: Maruti Celerio, Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat

MARUTI CELERIO DIESEL

The Celerio has  roused quite a lot of attention already with its AMT automatic gearbox and there is still a waiting list for the AMT-equipped variant. Maruti believes it has created a revolution with its low-cost, low-tech automatic and is gearing up to kickstart another revolution in the Celerio – with the smallest diesel engine in the Indian market. It’s not the Fiat motor which has powered all Maruti diesels so far, but an 800cc, two-cylinder unit developed inhouse by Maruti itself, and while it won’t be the most powerful around, it does promise to be very affordable to buy and to run.

Factfile
Coming: End 2015
Est price: ₹ 4-5 lakh
Engine(s): 0.8 L diesel
Rivals: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat

NEW FORD FIGO

You’ll see the neat- looking compact sedan called the Figo+ later on in this list, but take away the boot and the ‘+’ symbol from the name and what you have is the replacement for today’s Figo hatchback. Scheduled to be launched after the sedan, what’s immediately clear is that Ford is moving the Figo further upmarket than the last car. While the current Figo is based on the last-gen Fiesta hatchback from Europe, this one is based on the current Fiesta. The styling, though not very dramatic, is in line with the company’s new look. The car has already been launched in Brazil as the Ford Ka, and going by that version, the next Figo should be pretty well-equipped too – it even features the Sync infotainment system. On the powertrain front, Ford will likely stick with its 1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesel engines.

Factfile-
Coming: End 2015
Est price: ₹ 4.5-6.5 lakh
Engine(s): 1.2 L petrol, 1.5 L diesel
Rivals: Hyundai Grand i10, Maruti Swift

TATA BOLT

At this stage, there’s probably little you don’t know about the Tata Bolt. Unveiled alongside its compact sedan counterpart, the Zest, at the Auto Expo in Feb this year, the Bolt is a very thorough reimagining of the Indica Vista. It shares its chassis, its basic shape and a few other bits with the old car, but like the Zest, it’s been re-engineered enough to credibly be considered a new car. Apart from the jazzy new styling — most notably the more conventional tail-lamps that replace Tata’s characteristic ‘christmas tree’ units — you can also expect a lot more equipment in the Bolt, better ride and handling, and also better fit and finish inside the cabin. As for what’s under the hood, the 74bhp Quadrajet diesel will return, and Tata is likely to use the same 1.2-litre ‘Revotron’ turbo-petrol engine from the Zest in this car as well. The diesel AMT version, however, is unlikely to make it to the hatchback at launch.

Factfile
Coming: Early 2015
Est price:₹ 5-6 lakh
Engine(s): 1.2 L petrol, 1.3 L diesel
Rivals: Hyundai Grand i10, Maruti Swift

FIAT PUNTO EVO ABARTH

The Punto has just been facelifted and one of our biggest criticisms of it is its weak range of engines, which lets its strong chassis down. If you feel that way too, you won’t have to worry for too long, as Fiat will launch a high-performance Abarth version. It will most likely use the 1.4-litre T-jet motor from the Linea, with the power pumped up to around 140bhp, which is hot hatch territory. Fiat could also give it stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, while still keeping it suitable for Indian conditions. But the best bit is it will be assembled here, and so won’t cost a fortune.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price:₹ 9.5 lakh
Engine(s): 1.4 L turbo-petrol
Rivals: Ford EcoSport, EcoBoost, VW Polo GT

FIAT 500 ABARTH

The three very fashionable ‘retro’ hatches will all be back in new forms in the coming year, starting with the relaunch of Fiat’s 500 hatchback. When launched a few years ago, the 500 wasn’t as big a hit as it could’ve been, despite being cheaper than the VW Beetle in the market at the time. That’s partly because the 500 isn’t as well known here as the Beetle or the Mini, but also as it was only available with a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine. The new car, however, will be coming in all guns blazing as the 165bhp 500 Abarth, and in doing so, will also introduce Fiat’s high-performance brand here. If Fiat manages to price this version competitively, it should be a lot more popular than the last model.

Factfile-
Coming: Oct 2015
Est price: ₹ 25 lakh
Engine(s): 1.4 L turbo petrol
Rivals: Mini Cooper S, Volkswagen Beetle

NEW VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

After a bit of a gap, VW will likely be bringing its iconic Beetle back to India. While the previous car’s cutesy looks limited its appeal somewhat, the new car’s design has the intention of reaching out to a wider audience. There are some harder edges in the styling, evident mainly in the nose, and on the inside, the air-con vents on the centre console ape the horizontal slats from the old car. And, for a change, this visually appealing car is supposedly fun to drive too. With a pair of powerful TSI engines running the show, it’s likely to have quite a bit of poke as well. But expect pricing to be on the expensive side – in the region of Rs 28 lakh – as VW will bring in the Beetle as a full import. 

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price: ₹ 28 lakh
Engine(s): 1.4 L turbo petrol, 2.0 L turbo petrol
Rivals: Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 Abarth

NEW MINI COOPER

Rounding off the trio of retro hatchbacks is the Mini, and while the other two are coming back after being discontinued for some time, the Mini Cooper is currently on sale. The one that’s launching in November, however, is an all-new, third-generation car. It comes with a range of new four-cylinder turbocharged engines, including a new 1.5-litre diesel. Apart from the standard three-door hatchback (the convertible version is still a while away), there will be, for the first time, a larger and more practical five-door hatchback version with more rear seat and boot space. The next-gen Mini Countryman is not due for a few more years, and so the current-gen car is likely to stay on sale alongside the new hatchbacks.

Factfile-
Coming: January 2015
Est price: ₹ 25-30 lakh 
Engine(s): 1.5 L turbo petrol, 2.0 L turbo petrol, 1.5 L diesel
Rivals: Volkswagen Beetle,Fiat 500 Abarth

NEW HONDA JAZZ

The recently launched Hyundai i20 may have set the bar on interior space for hatchbacks, but we have a feeling it’s going to face some stiff competition from Honda’s brand new Jazz. The Jazz has always been famous for packing in a lot of interior space, and with this latest model, you can expect even more of the same. Honda is determined not to make the mistakes it did with the last car, so the new one will likely be priced a lot more competitively from the get go (thanks mainly to greater localisation of parts), and in addition to the rev-happy 1.2 i-VTEC petrol engine, it will get Honda’s 99bhp 1.5-litre diesel as well. After the Brio, Amaze, City and Mobilio, the Jazz will round off Honda’s range of cars in the all-important sub-Rs 10 lakh segment in India. For now.

Factfile-
Coming: March 2015
Est price: ₹ 6-8 lakh
Engine(s): 1.2 L petrol, 1.5 L diesel
Rivals: Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo GT

New SUV'S for India in 2015

Car makers have been seeing green in their ledgers for some months now; and the coming year is going to see a number of launches at various times and in varying price brackets. 

Suvs-

Maruti XA Alpha

Maruti missed out on the super-popular compact SUV craze when it hit, but it hasn’t given up yet. The XA Alpha concept was shown at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi and work is underway on the production version. It will be a sub-four-metre SUV and it has been designed specifically for the Indian market, much like the Swift Dzire. Having learnt a lesson from its rather uninspired recent car designs, Maruti is said to be giving the XA Alpha’s styling some serious attitude, akin to the Mahindra XUV500. This being a compact car, it will use the Swift’s 1.2-litre K12 petrol engine to comply with Indian government norms. The diesel, however, will be an all-new 1.5-litre engine from Fiat.

Factfile-
Coming: End 2015
Est price: ₹ 7.5-10 lakh
Engine(s): 1.2 petrol, 1.5 diesel
Rivals: Ford EcoSport, Fiat Avventura

Hyundai ix25

Hyundai wants to cash in on the SUV craze in India and will launch its compact SUV next year. Shown in concept form earlier this year, it is similar in size to the Renault Duster and looks quite neat. However, interestingly, the car won’t be called the ix25 when it comes here, and will get a conventional name instead. This is because Hyundai doesn’t want buyers to mix it up with the i20, which is seen as a class lower in India. 

The face has sharp headlamps that complement its distinct chrome grille. Other interesting design elements include the upward rising window line and wraparound tail-lamps. The car is expected to use the same engines as the Verna – 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. Gearboxes are likely to mirror the Verna as well, with five-speed and six-speed manuals along with a new five-speed automatic as an option.

Factfile-
Coming: Mid 2015
Est price: ₹ 10 lakh
Engine(s): 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel
Rivals: Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano

Maruti S-Cross

Maruti’s attempts at selling premium models, like the Kizashi and Grand Vitara, have never been successful in India. Now, the company is looking at slowly crawling its way up the ladder, segment by segment, and after the Ciaz, the next car in line is the S-Cross. Shown to the Indian public at this year’s Auto Expo, you can tell by looking at it that it’s more of a large, high-riding crossover hatchback than a proper SUV.

 In fact, the rather tame styling is one of its weak points. However, it makes up for that by being very spacious on the inside, pretty well-equipped and quite practical. Power comes from 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines mated to manual gearboxes. Its big trump card, however, will be its all-wheel-drive system that actually gives it decent off-roading ability. Speaking of its rivals, it will go up against the likes of the Mahindra XUV500, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano, at an estimated price of ₹ 13-14 lakh.

Factfile-
Coming: March 2015
Est price: ₹ 13-14 lakh
Engine(s): 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel
Rivals: Mahindra XUV500, Renault Duster AWD

Honda CR-V  facelift and diesel

If you want to sell an SUV in India, it has to have a diesel engine. So it’s no wonder Honda is working on a diesel version of its impressive CR-V. The engine is a 1.6-litre i-DTEC with 118bhp, but if you think that’s too little, consider its 31kgm of torque. The diesel CR-V will be front-wheel-drive only, however. While that may be a downer for those who plan to venture off road, the CR-V should more than make up by delivering class-leading fuel efficiency. There will be a mild facelift too, with a few tweaks to the bumpers, grille and lights, and perhaps a bit more equipment in the cabin. Prices for the CR-V facelift will likely range from ₹ 24 to 27 lakh.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price:₹ 24-27 lakh
Engine(s): 2.0 petrol, 2.4 petrol, 1.6 diesel
Rivals: Skoda Yeti 

New Ford Endeavour

The current ford Endeavour is getting a bit long in the tooth now, but after a long delay, the next-generation car will be launched next year. The car in the picture is a concept, but the production version won’t look too different from it. That means it retains the butch look we loved on the original, but still manages to look modern as well. The look and feel of the cabin is a lot more contemporary too. While the final specification is yet to be revealed, the Endeavour is likely to come with 2.2- and 3.0-litre diesel engines with 2WD or 4WD. As on the current car, you can expect an optional automatic transmission as well. What’s more, the Endeavour is likely to be priced more competitively than before. Perhaps you should hold back on that Fortuner or Pajero Sport until this one comes along.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015 

Est price:₹ 25-30 lakh
Engine(s): 2.2 diesel, 3.0 diesel
Rivals: Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Jeep Wrangler

If there’s one model that embodies everything Jeep is known for, it’s the Wrangler. An out and out off-roader, the Wrangler comes with huge off-road tyres, locking differentials, a specially designed suspension and robust four-wheel-drive system.

If there’s one model that embodies everything Jeep is known for, it’s the Wrangler. An out and out off-roader, the Wrangler comes with huge off-road tyres, locking differentials, a specially designed suspension and robust four-wheel-drive system. It won’t be the most comfortable or luxurious vehicle around,
but its ability to tackle the great outdoors will be second to none. Sadly, the Wrangler won’t come cheap, with an expected ₹ 40-lakh starting price.

Factfile-
Coming: 2014 

Est price: ₹ 40 lakh
Engine(s): 3.5 petrol, 2.8 diesel
Rivals: Mercedes-Benz ML 250 CDI, Audi Q5

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep’s flagship, the Grand Cherokee, is also headed to India and, as is very evident, it’s a smart, burly luxury SUV. Developed along with the latest Mercedes-Benz M-class, the Grand Cherokee offers genuine comfort for five occupants with all the off-road ability you’d expect from a Jeep.  Jeep will also sell the Grand Cherokee with powerful V8 petrol engines that bring even more serious performance to the mix. Jeep could assemble the Grand Cherokee in India and that would mean pricing could undercut European rivals.

Factfile=
Coming: 2015
Est price: ₹ 70 lakh
Engine(s): 3.0 diesel
Rivals: Mercedes-Benz ML 350 CDI, Audi Q7, BMW X5

Land Rover Discovery Sport

This is the replacement for the current Land Rover Freelander 2, which happens to be the company’s best-selling model. As is clear, however, it will be dropping the ‘Freelander’ name and joining the new ‘Discovery’ family of SUVs. It promises to offer better off-road ability, more interior space and a bigger boot.The new car is based on the same platform as the Evoque, which in turn is a development of the current Freelander’s platform, although Land Rover says 90 percent of the parts are new. It will be the first of the new Land Rover Discovery model range,
and unlike most of its rivals in the segment, it is a seven-seater, which should give it an edge in India. Just like the new Jaguar XE sedan, this car will draw power from JLR’s new range of super-frugal four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

Factfile-
Coming: 2016 

Est price: ₹ 45-60 lakh
Engine(s): 2.0 turbo petrol, 2.0 diesel
Rivals: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Volvo XC60

New Audi Q7

Audi Crosslane Coupe concept image shown for representation only.

Even though its sister cars, the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, moved into their second generation a few years ago, the Q7 has soldiered on largely unchanged since its launch way back in 2005. Now, however, the new model will be leading the charge for the newest version of the VW Group’s MLB ‘large car’ platform that will later spawn not only the next Cayenne and Touareg, but also new SUVs from Bentley and Lamborghini. Expect the new Q7 to be much bigger than before, but also at least 350kg lighter, thanks to the advanced new chassis. It will also be a lot more luxurious and tech-laden than the current Q7, and you can expect this to be a proper rival for Mercedes’ gargantuan GL-class. The engines, initially at least, will be shared with the current car, and that means a 3.0-litre petrol engine and 3.0 and 4.2-litre diesels.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price: ₹ 60-75 lakh
Engine(s): 3.0 turbo petrol, 3.0 diesel, 4.2 diesel
Rivals: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-class

New BMW X6

BMW created a new segment with its first-generation X6 – that of a big SUV with a sloping, coupé-like roofline, and it proved surprisingly popular, despite the obvious compromise on space and practicality. The second-gen X6, based on the new X5, is on its way to India. Like its conventional, seven-seat sibling, the new X6 will get an improved cabin with more space than its predecessor. A welcome change is the styling, which does look a lot better and more aggressive than the oddball look of the previous X6. Powertrain options will remain the same as before, with a 3.0-litre diesel being the mainstay of the range for India, and the possibility of the 442bhp 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 as well.

Factfile-
Coming: 2015
Est price: ₹ 80 lakh
Engine(s): 4.4 turbo petrol, 3.0 diesel
Rivals: Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne facelift

Its smaller sibling, the Macan, may have been making the news for Porsche in 2014, but hot on its heels will be an updated version of the original sports SUV, the Cayenne. The changes to the look are ever so subtle, and the bigger changes are to the equipment list and the range of petrol and diesel engines, which will all be tweaked for better efficiency, and in some cases, a bit more power too. The naturally aspirated V8 from the Cayenne S will also be replaced by a more efficient turbocharged V6, but don’t worry, the Turbo, Turbo S and GTS will still be powered by V8 motors.

Factfile-
Coming: Late 2014
Est price: ₹ 1.5-2.5 crore
Engine(s): 3.0 turbo petrol hybrid, 3.6 turbo petrol, 4.8 turbo petrol, 3.0 diesel, 4.2 diesel
Rivals: Range Rover Sport, Mercedes ML-class

MPVS-

Renault Lodgy

Just as it gave us the Logan and the Duster, Renault’s Romanian offshoot company Dacia will also be giving us a new seven-seat MPV, that will come to India badged as a Renault. The Lodgy is considerably larger than the likes of the Ertiga and Mobilio, and its size alludes to the acres of space it has inside. The good news is that the car will begin production in India by the end of this year, so you can expect it to be priced very competitively. It also shares a lot of components with the Duster, which will further help bring costs down. One of these components is the 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine, which will be available initially in the 84bhp state of tune, with the 109bhp version possibly coming at a later stage. What works in its favour though is that despite its gargantuan proportions, this MPV looks quite attractive, and this should help it find more buyers where sister company Nissan’s boxy Evalia could not.

Factfile-
Coming: Early 2015
Est price: ₹ 8-11 lakh
Engine(s): 1.5 diesel
Rivals: Honda Mobilio, Maruti Ertiga, Nissan Evalia

Kia kx3

Kia has revealed a new SUV concept called KX3. It has been designed and created specifically for the Chinese markets by Dongfeng Yueda Kia, the Korean carmaker’s joint venture in China.

The KX3 concept has a 1.6-litre T-GDI direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine that sends power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. On the outside, the mesh grille has some matte chrome surrounds and the headlights and tail-lights are wraparound LED units. Kia also claims that the interior has been given production-ready elements. The carmaker says the KX3 has the “latest in-car connectivity technology, with easy-to-use smartphone functionality” and it comes with “a high level of standard equipment, and a wide range of options, to ensure the greatest possible value to buyers”.

Standard equipment of the KX3 is likely to include side and curtain airbags, a start-stop button, cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, rear ventilation outlets, an auto climate control and a rear-view camera.

Reportedly based on the Hyundai ix25 the 2590mm-long wheelbase of the KX3 concept allows for a lot of cabin space and a large boot. Kia also says that the new concept is capable of earning a five star rating in C-NCAP (Chinese New Car Assessment Programme) tests.

Qoros City SUV

Chinese start-up brand Qoros will reveal the Qoros 3 City SUV at the Guangzhou auto show in China this week.

Based on the company’s hatchback, it gets larger wheels, more ground clearance and more rugged styling. The engines are expected to be the familiar 1.6-litre petrol units in 124bhp and 154bhp forms. 

A full-on Qoros SUV is also well on the way to the showrooms. Although launch sales have been slow for the brand in its Chinese home market, the company has just opened a new design studio in central Munich as part of its expansion plans.

 

Qoros was created in a joint venture between Chinese carmaker Chery and investment fund Israel Corporation.

Chinese media reports say that the Israel Corporation's investment has resulted in two new cars (the Qoros 3 hatch and sedan) and a new factory and a medium-size SUV, which is in the late stages of development. Qoros is not expected to reach profitability before 2016.

Mercedes may expand Maybach brand into range

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it may turn the newly created Mercedes-Maybach brand into an entire range of cars.

 

“I would not call it an active plan yet,” said Dr Hermann-Joseph Storp, the development director for the S-class, at the Los Angeles auto show. “Because we have to first wait to see how successful the new sedan will be. But if the brand is popular, we could of course make a Maybach version of many different cars.”

 

Storp went on to say Maybach versions of the E-class and GLS-class would be possible, as well as a Maybach-branded version of the existing S-class coupé.

 

“Maybach is about quality, refinement, comfort and exclusivity – as long as a car has these characteristics, it could be a Maybach,” he said.

 

The expansion of the Maybach brand would fit very clearly into the company's new naming strategy. With Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models being available across a vast range of products from the A-class to the S-class, it would be inconsistent for the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand to continue to apply to just one car.

 

Storp said it would take up to two years to adapt an existing product to meet Maybach standards although it would take half that time to put a new engine in the Maybach.

Audi Q8

Luxury carmaker Audi has confirmed that it will put a new Q8 SUV into production. The new SUV – based on the next-generation Q7 which is slated to be unveiled at the 2015 Detroit motor show – will go up against rivals like the BMW X6, Range Rover Sport and upcoming Mercedes MLC. 

 

"The Q8 will come," said technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg at the LA auto show. "It will be something new, following designs established on the Prologue concept. It will be positioned as something more emotional and more sporty than the Q7. The Q7 will be a car for seven people, the Q8 will be more coupe like."

 

The Q7 will be one of the last Audis with the current design language and the Q8 will have some visual differentiation to the Q7 both inside and out. The Q8 has been granted official production approval and is progressing through a development programme that aims to have it on sale within the next three years. 

 

The official sketch.

The upmarket crossover forms a crucial part of Audi’s growth strategy that will see it extend its line-up by no fewer than 11 new models by 2020. Five of those models have been identified as additional SUVs in the form of the Q1, Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q8.

 

This will push Audi’s range to a 60-strong model line-up, with the company predicting that 40 percent of its annual sales – around 8,00,000 units – will come from SUVs. Company boss Rupert Stadler admitted that more investment would be diverted to SUVs as a result. 

 

The Q8 has been conceived to extend Audi’s reach at the top of its line-up and to provide the company with added sales in potentially crucial markets such as China, the Middle East and the US.

 

In terms of performance and technology, the Q8 is described as being on par with Audi’s A8 flagship sedan, albeit with the added ability to head off road thanks to its raised ride height and, on top-end models, adjustable air suspension. 

 

A range of V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines will be offered, alongside plug-in hybrids and possibly an all-electric version to rival the upcoming Tesla Model X SUV. 

 

The Q8 is set to receive its own, unique five-door body styled under the stewardship of new Audi design boss Marc Lichte. Among the various elements expected to set it apart from the more practical second-generation Q7 is a racier front end with a more sporting grille, more obvious tapering around each corner, shallower side glass, a generously sloping roofline and a more heavily angled rear window.

 

The basis for the Q8 is the second-generation MLB (modular longitudinal architecture) platform. Insiders say the MLB structure has far greater flexibility than that used today, with added scope for variability within the wheelbase and track widths in a move that, it is suggested, will lead to a wider differentiation between the models planned by the VW Group’s various brands. 

Bloodhound SSC

Jaguar is in a technical partnership with the Bloodhound SSC project, as was announced at the LA Auto Show. The former’s V8 engine will be used to power the fuel pump used for the rocket that will push the car beyond 1,600kph.

The provision of the engine to be used with the fuel delivery system is a part of a bigger co-operation between Jaguar and the Bloodhound team that includes technical input, sponsorship and marketing assistance.

The Bloodhound will use a jet engine from a Eurojet EJ200, which powers the Eurofighter Typhoon. Once Andy Green, driver for the Bloodhound, reaches a set velocity in the car, he will fire the rockets for extra boost, which will make the total thrust go up to 77,500bhp.  It is for this rocket that the Jaguar V8 will need to pump fuel at a rate of 40-litre per sec.

Jaguar engineers have already finished testing the communication systems at the Hakskeen Pan desert in South Africa. For the test, they flew a fighter jet at 800kph toward the newly unveiled Jaguar F-Type AWD being driven flat out. They achieved a combined speed of 1125kph, which allowed them to test the radio equipment.

The team will begin testing the Bloodhound next year, with the goal of surpassing 1,227.985kph. If that goes well, they will then try and break the 1000mph (1,600kph) barrier.

Bugatti's 1500 bhp Veyron

A likely replacement of the 1,500 bhp Veyron has been seen testing on international roads. This is the first evidence that the replacement for Bugatti's nine-year old Veyron is finally under development.

Despite having looks similar to the current car, there are clues as the shape of the new model, particularly the NACA-style air ducts in the roof, and the new rear window and engine cover details.

Sources told that the new car’s styling has been signed off by the Bugatti design team, allowing full-scale road testing to commence. This test mule is thought to be fitted with the new-generation Bugatti engine, which is expected to well exceed the 1,200bhp output of today’s Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse Veyron models.

According to the latest inside information received , the new Veyron will see the 8.0-litre W16 engine updated with a direct fuel injection and even electrically-assisted turbochargers.

The biggest change, however, is expected to be the adoption of hybrid assistance, with an electric motor incorporated into the new transmission, which will be backed up by a small battery pack. Significant weight saving is also planned for the new car.

The upshot is that the engine should be able to produce just short of 1,500bhp, though its torque output will be pegged back to 152.1kgm to ensure the longevity of the gearbox. With greater power comes the need to manage even greater levels of heat, which probably explains the large openings in the new car’s roof and engine cover.

The arrival of the new car was partly delayed by the need to “fit in with other (VW engineering) programmes ”, according to another company insider. The presence of a VW steering wheel in this test car suggests that the Veyron will probably be sharing much of its electrical architecture with MQB-and MLB-based VW Group cars, both of which support a wide range of safety equipment, including automatic braking and cruise control.

Brand boss Wolfgang Dürheimer has told that the company was determined to keep its world speed record for a production car. “We know there are challengers, but we are determined to do our homework on this.”

This means the production version of the new Veyron must exceed the performance of the Super Sport World Record Edition's 431kph top speed and 0-299kph time of 2.5sec. Sources say, the Bugatti development team has its eyes on a new top speed of 460kph.

It's thought there are eight Veyrons left to be sold out the current production run. An expanded factory should be able to build the new car more quickly, though the total production run of the second generation is also expected to be limited to around 450 units.

Lexus LF-C2 concept unveiled

Lexus has unveiled the LF-C2 concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Unsurprisingly, the overall appearance is very similar to the recently launched Lexus RC coupé, as this concept is in essence a drop-top version of that car. However, there is still no confirmation if this convertible concept will enter production.

It continues to showcase the bold future styling that Lexus is trying to follow. Design elements include the spindle-like grille, the edgy headlights, 20-inch alloys, rear lid and quad exhaust pipes. More so, it gives a peek into what the Lexus RC convertible could look like, if it ever rolls out. The Japanese carmaker says the LF-C2 has been designed “to give driver and passenger the best top-down driving experience”.

The LF-C2 concept is 4,715mm long, 1,840mm wide and is 1,385mm tall. Those dimensions mean it is 21mm longer, 6mm wider and 9mm lower than the standard RC.

Inside, the dashboard gets a prominent central screen that can be controlled by a touchpad, and there are form-fitting seats for the driver and passengers. The cabin of this concept, which has a two-plus-two layout, also gets LED lights that adorn the entire window line.

“This concept shows consumers around the world Lexus’s devotion to emotional designs and its passion for an exceptional driving experience,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus US vice president and general manager.

Renault readying Maruti Suzuki Alto rival

Renault India has established itself fairly well in the Indian market. However, the brand’s success hinges around just one product — the Duster SUV. The company plans to get a stronger foothold in the market by introducing a low-cost hatchback. But to compete with Maruti, the product will have to be nothing less than a game changer. 

Code named XBA, the hatchback will be based on the company’s highly flexible CMFA platform, and will compete head on with the Alto 800. However, the big differentiator is expected to be the styling, which, according to sources, will be more of a crossover than a compact hatch. This will also give the car sufficient wheel travel, making it suitable for our less than ideal roads. The brainchild behind this project is Gérard Detourbet, better known as the father of the M0 platform — Renault’s most profitable platform  that has spawned models like the Duster. In fact, Renault has so much faith in Detourbet that the company has pulled the 68-year-old out of retirement to head this project. 

The XBA is expected to be high on space efficiency, and will feature a robust and very stiff body shell. Company insiders say they have learnt that the budget Renault will not compromise much on quality, and will show no obvious signs of cost-cutting, like you normally see on low-cost cars. However, the talking point of the XBA is  the engine. Code named BR-8, the motor is an all-new 800cc, three-cylinder unit, and will make its debut in this car. It will feature a twin-cam, four-valves-per-cylinder setup, making it quite a sophisticated piece  of hardware. So clearly, Renault is not stinting on the powertrain. Moreover, fuel consumption is expected to be class-leading as well. 

 

The big news though is that it will also come with the option of an automated manual transmission (AMT), pitting it directly against the new AMT-fitted Alto K10. So, Renault will clearly be watching the customer’s response to the K10 AMT over the coming months. Additionally, future engine options could include a  more powerful 1.0- litre motor (codename: BR10). However, the option of a diesel engine has been  ruled out for two reasons. Firstly, the engine bay is designed to accommodate just the BR series of small motors. And secondly,  while a three-cylinder  motor was in the pipeline, Renault has shelved the plans as future regulations could lead to diesel losing its cost advantage.

Further, the XBA platform will spawn a new line of small cars ranging from 3.4 to 4.0 metres in length with multiple wheelbases. Speaking to us, Executive Vice President and Chief Performance Officer for Renault, Jerome Stoll  said, “For me, the Indian market is a priority for  the CMFA platform.”  Additionally, the XBA hatchback will be the first  in a series of derivatives which could include a compact sedan and a proper crossover on the CMFA platform. The low-cost XBA hatchback is expected to be priced at around Rs 3 lakh, and should be in showrooms by mid-2015. This will also give the company enough time to ramp up its dealerships dramatically. 

XBA will also go the AMT route. Will have new ALto K10 AMT in its crosshairs. 

“In the next 2-3 years, we want to cross a five percent-plus market share, for which we need the right products. We have two big launches planned for next year, for which we need a strong dealer network, which we are working on,” said Sumit Sawhney, CEO and MD Renault India.

Renault will be banking heavily on the XBA to reach its targets, but there’s the small problem of Maruti. The country’s low-cost car kingpin has a vice-like grip on the segment, and Renault’s XBA will have to be nothing short of a game changer to squeeze its way past Maruti’s grip.

Maruti YRA hatchback coming soon

Maruti is adding another model to its growing India-line up, this time, a premium hatchback which is expected to take on the likes of the new Hyundai i20 and upcoming Honda Jazz.

This new hatchback (Codename: YRA) is a global model and has been spotted testing in Europe as well earlier. This new set of spy photos show the car in its production guise and reveals more details on its rear styling. The Maruti YRA, unlike the usual hatchbacks we’ve seen from Maruti, breaks the norm of the upright C-pillar look. Its rear slopes down and ends in a steeply raked windscreen. The YRA's side reveals pronounced haunches and a window line that rises towards the rear. One can easily make out the YRA will be much wider than the Swift and longer too. The overall look of the YRA is surely fresh for a Maruti but does look a bit unexciting.

Up front, the headlamps are placed at far corners and the wide grille is expected to get Suzuki’s honeycomb treatment. New here for Suzuki is the V-shape chrome-surround at the bottom. The front bumper gets conservative styling with a wide air-intake inlet, fog lamp inserts and vertical daytime-running lamps. What’s to note is that Maruti, for the first time in India, could provide standard daytime-running lamps. Also to note are large alloy wheels which lend the car an upmarket look.

The Maruti YRA is expected to be powered by a 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol and the 1.3-litre diesel motors.