What you'll see...

Auto Expo 2012 Preview

PEUGEOT

508
The 508 is Peugeot's centrestage entry for the Expo. It is a tad larger than the Volkswagen Passat although it will be priced similarly, with only some of the higher end variants being priced close to the cheapest Mercs and Beemers you can buy. The most likely motor on the 508 will be the 2.2 litre turbo diesel that produces 201 bhp@3500 rpm and 45.9 kgm@2000 rpm. A six-speed automatic will be the choice of gearbox on the diesel and perhaps also on the more powerful petrol motor. Peugeot's production facility at Sanand will only roll out cars by 2014 until which the 508 will be brought in as a completely built unit (CBU).

RCZ
Peugeot's also bringing along a show-stealer to the party, and it's going to be the, you guessed it, RCZ coupe! The RCZ is Peugeot's answer to the Audi TT and in fact looks rather similar to the latter in profile. The front-end is typically Peugeot though what isn't is the nomenclature — the first time a Peugeot isn't called something with a '0' in the middle. The RCZ is powered by a 1.6-litre 200 bhp petrol and also alternatively with a 163bhp 2.0-litre hybrid diesel, reflecting in the focus being more on handling than all-out performance. If, like us, you want one too, start writing to Peugeot...

VOLKSWAGEN 
NEW TOUAREG

Since the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and BMW X5 have now become household names, it isn't surprising that Volkswagen wants to get its share of the pie too. Now there's a new Touareg and it's most definitely going to make an appearance at the Auto Expo 2012. The 'new' bit in the Touareg refers to the new front-end that is in sync with all the current-gen Volkswagen models and also a new range of engines. Likelier options will be the 225 bhp 3.0 TDI engine followed by a 3.0 V6 that produces 280 bhp. Both motors will be paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and will of course, duly receive the standard fare of SUV party tricks.

NEW BEETLE
The much-discussed New Beetle will be officially launched in India at the Expo. Among the engine options will be a 2.0-litre 140 bhp diesel (same as on the Jetta/Passat), a 2.0 TSI petrol paired with a six-speed auto 'box and, if we're lucky, the 2.5-litre, 170 bhp petrol with a 5-speed manual transmission. Unlike the older, New Beetle, the interiors on the 2012 Beetle will be in tune with the current Volkswagen family, the previous car being nearly a decade old when it was launched in India. Hopefully, the new Beetle will have a more enthusiastic run than its predecessor.