Upcoming Cars in 2017: Sedan

We have seen quite exciting launches last year, right from New Innova Crysta to Vitara Brezza and Ford Mustang. Despite monetization, Odd even rule and diesel car ban, 2016 was a fruitful year for Indian automotive industry. The new year likely to be even bigger as many manufactures have some interesting cars lined up for 2017. Last year we saw many old nomenclatures like Vitara, Hyundai Tucson entering Indian market with a bang and reached new heights. This year also seems to follow the same trend, so it’s time to look at what auto majors have in store for us:

Honda City Facelift

The facelift of Honda’s popular mid size sedan ‘City’ will be on sale in India by early 2017. The new model will be first launched in Thailand on 12^th January while India roll out is expected in the last week of January. It will carry design language similar to recently launched Accord and receives modifications on bumpers, front grille. Up front, there are new projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights grace the front fascia. New alloy wheels, revamped tail lights further add the zing.

2017 City will feature a new touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android auto and voice command integration. Besides it will also feature six airbags, eight speaker audio system, rear ac vents with automatic climate control and much more. Mechanically it will remain same and continue to be powered by 1.5-litre i-Vtec petrol and 1.5-litre i-Dtec diesel engine. Both the engines will be paired with a manual and CVT gearbox (only with petrol).

Expected Price: Rs. 8.5-12 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: January end

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift

To rival new Honda City, India’s largest carmaker Maruti will launch its mid size sedan Ciaz’s facelift in India soon. Ciaz has gained immense popularity owing to spacious cabin, aggressive pricing, impressive mileage and SHVS technology. The sedan could feature updates on both outside and inside and will be sold via Maruti’s Nexa dealership range. Expect cosmetic changes like new front grille, HID projector headlamps with LED DRLs, tweaked front bumper, revised fog lamp enclosures, new alloy wheels making it more appealing.

Expect new Ciaz to feature with new interior color, new touchscreen system with Android auto, Apple car play, foldable rear seats, reverse parking camera etc. Engines will remain same- 1.4l petrol and 1.3l DDis diesel, mated to five speed manual gearbox as standard while CVT with petrol as optional.

Expected Price: Rs. 7.8 -12 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: February 2017

Tata Kite 5 Sedan

Tata showcased Tiago based compact sedan codenamed Kite 5 at last year’s iteration of Indian auto expo. The test mule of sedan has been spotted on Indian roads multiple times hinting its launch on the cards. Essentially the booted version Tiago comes with chubby 420 liters of boot space, wraparound taillights with LED brake lights. While earlier it was expected to Indian market by upcoming festive season, now the rumor is Tata will launch Kite 5 sedan aka Viago (tentative name) by early 2017.

The sedan version will share its powertrain with its hatchback sibling, i.e. 1.05l Revotorq diesel unit that makes 69bhp power and 140Nm of torque while 1.2l Revotron petrol develops max output of 84bhp and 114Nm of torque. Both the engines come with 5-speed manual gearbox as standard along with optional AMT. Once launched, it will compete with new Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze and Hyundai Xcent.

Expected Price: Rs. 4.5 -6.2 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: March 2017

New Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire has been India’s favorite compact sedan and remains on top since its launch. It seems MSI is gearing up for its new version as test mule the new model is spotted on test runs. Going by the spied images, 2017 model is likely to come with upmarket appearance both inside and outside and will share cues with new Swift hatchback. Reports suggest that, Maruti will pre-pone the launch of 2017 Dzire by 3-4 months and it likely to hit market by early 2^nd Quarter of 2017.

On the design front, it will boast plethora of changes like projector headlights with LED DRLS, modified front bumper, new alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, touchscreen system with Android

auto, Apple car play, automatic climate control and much more. MSI might offer dual front airbags, ABS with EBD as standard across the line up. While exterior and interior might see modifications, powertrains are likely to carry from the ongoing model 1.2l petrol and 1.3l DDis diesel engine. We might see bigger 1.5l diesel motor and famed SHVS hybrid technology.

Expected Price: Rs. 6 -10 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: April 2017

Chevrolet Beat Essentia

The Beat Essentia, compact sedan of Chevrolet was first showcased at 2016 Auto Expo which is based on new Beat hatchback. The Sub 4m sedan looks ready to take on the fierce competitors like new Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Ford Figo Aspire and Tata Zest. The sedan wears similar front fascia of the hatchback such as twin pod front grille, bulky bumper, laid back headlamps and chunky bonnet. For features, it will sport a Chevrolet MyLink 2 touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple Car Play support. Dual front airbags reverse parking camera and ABS will be offered as standard.

Expected Price: Rs. 5 -7.5 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: March 2017

2017 Hyundai Verna

The new Gen Hyundai Verna was showcased at last year Chengdu motor show and it is all set to grace Indian roads in 2017. The car has been designed on company’s famed fluidic 2.0 design philosophy. Speaking about the changes, next gen Verna will feature new multi slate hexagonal front grille dipped in chrome, projector headlamps with integrated LED DRLs, new alloy wheels, sharp character lines and wrap around LED tail lights.

On the inside, new Verna could feature a revised MID, new touchscreen infotainment system with apple car play, android auto and navigation, new multi function steering wheel. It could also don a sporty all black theme with silver wrapped central console and rear ac vents. Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD might be offered as standard features while top variants could get six airbags. 2017 Verna will continue to power with the same set of engines of current generation- 1.4l & 1.6l VVT petrol and 1.4l CRDi and 1.6l CRDi diesel engines.

Expected Price: Rs. 8.5 -13 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: August 2017

Toyota Vios

We all have been waiting for Toyota Vios for quite some time now and it seems the long wait might come to an end this year. If emerging reports are to be believed Vios India launch could happen later this year and spotting of test mule on Indian roads further confirm the reports. With Vios, Toyota aims to take new Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and Skoda Rapid in the mid size sedan segment.

Toyota Vios measures 4410mm in length, 1700mm in width and 1475mm in height. It has a ground clearance of 147mm though Indian spec model will sport higher ground clearance. It takes design inspiration from current Corolla Altis featuring almost similar design such as projector headlamps with LED DRLs, sleek chrome front grille, larger bumper and lustrous LED tail lights. It is also likely to don leather upholstery with dual beige color theme, touchscreen system, automatic climate control, start stop button, dual front airbags, ABS, reverse parking camera and much more. Engines include 1.5l petrol and diesel engines mated to manual gearbox with CVT gearbox.

Expected Price: Rs. 7.5 -11 lakh (ex-showroom)

Expected Launch: October/November 2017

Besides these popular models, here are few others which are likely to launch in 2017:-

Sandeep Singh