MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS
The stylish new A-Class will join the fray in 2013, making it the most reasonably priced three-pointed star in the country. When it comes in, the A-Class will most likely start under the Rs 20-lakh barrier and will make for a great entry-level model to undercut the other Germans. The A-Class comes with a pretty sporty design and a feature-packed interior, which will go a long way in attracting younger buyers to the brand.
Based on the same platform as the B-Class, the A-Class will share its engines with it too — the 1.6-litre 121 bhp petrol engine and a 1.8-litre 134 bhp diesel engine (which will also be introduced in the B-Class soon).
VOLKSWAGEN POLO & CROSSPOLO
Early next year, there will be a couple of additions to the Polo line-up. As far as hot hatches go in India, the Polo 1.6 has been something of a torchbearer. Now, a new variant carrying a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine will slot in below that. The 1.2-litre engine will possibly make 89 bhp of peak power and 16.3 kg of peak torque, compared to the 103 bhp peak power and 15.6 kg torque figures of the now discontinued Polo 1.6. Expect the Polo 1.2 TSI to be announced very early on in 2013 with a price tag that keeps it in the Polo family’s midst.
Volkswagen also plans to bring a small crossover into the mix. The CrossPolo is essentially a hatchback on stilts. They take one regular Polo, increase the ride height by a good 15 mm or so, add body-side cladding in matte plastic to give it that rugged look, plus functional roof rails on top and mount the spare wheel on the bootlid to make it look like a mini-SUV. It may also come with a new 1.5-litre diesel engine that will take advantage of the excise duty benefits. Expect the CrossPolo to make an appearance mid-2013. Pricing is still not known, but we expect it won’t stray too far from the Polo’s price range.
SKODA OCTAVIA
More From This Section
With the Laura getting a little long in the tooth, Skoda has a replacement ready. This new model will go back to being called the Octavia and will bring Skoda’s new design language into the country. Sharp exterior styling and plush interiors along with reliable engine options, some of which will be carried forward from the existing Laura, will ensure that this will become a hit for Skoda.
There are four engines on offer internationally, but India might get a 128 bhp 1.4-litre TSI engine and a 147 bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a DSG ’box. This new car will be larger than the Laura in just about every dimension, while still weighing less, which means peppier performance and more savings at the pumps. The new car will make it to India in mid-to-late 2013 with a price slightly higher than the current Laura.
CHEVROLET SAIL & ENJOY
The sedan version of the Sail U-VA is set to make an entrance pretty early on in 2013 with the same engines as the U-VA in tow. As with the U-VA, the Sail will come with a lot of interior space and decent looks, but the real clincher here will be the pricing. Expect the Sail to be priced in the Rs 6-8 lakh price band, which will make it great value for money.
The next product lined up is the Enjoy MPV, that hopes to steal some sales away from the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. In fact they even have similar powertrain options — a 1.4-litre petrol engine and the proven 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine — under the hood. The major advantage of the Enjoy is that it has lots of space on the inside, and the fact that it will be priced competitively. Some say it might even start below Rs 6 lakh!
FORD ECOSPORT
This year was touted to be the year of the SUV, but Ford seemed to have missed that memo, so it is letting loose its EcoSport SUV in early 2013. The bombshell SUV which caused quite a stir at this year’s Auto Expo, because of it’s bold styling, will finally make it to the roads here. This sub-four metre SUV is based on the same platform as the current Fiesta; so as far as driving dynamics are concerned, this one pretty much has it in the bag. The EcoSport will come with the same 1.5-litre diesel found under the hood of the Fiesta, but the petrol engine is the real bomb here. It features a new 1.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine that will produce 120 bhp, while still being frugal.
The Ford EcoSport will make its appearance early on in 2013 and will be priced very competitively because its size and engine capacity qualify it for excise duty benefits. This is one car to watch out for.
BMW 1 SERIES
The 1 Series is BMW’s affordable entry-level hatch, that carries with it all the virtues of a BMW. So despite being a small car, it is still rear wheel driven. It’s not the roomiest of hatches, thanks to that layout, but it is pretty good fun to drive. It will come here with a choice of engines ranging from 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, to range-topping 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. The only dampener is that it will most likely come with only an 8-speed automatic transmission without the option of a manual. Despite all of that, the 1 Series will still be worth looking at when the time comes for it. Expect it to land here sometime in mid 2013, with pricing more or less in line with that of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
KTM DUKE 390
Wild, raw, and lightning quick, the Duke has captured the imagination of many a performance biker. Now imagine twice that much aggression and power in the same compact frame. That’s the KTM Duke 390 for you! The 373.2cc single-cylinder engine produces a crazy 45 bhp and, weighing only 139 kg, the Duke 390 is going to be an absolute hooligan. This is definitely not a machine for the faint at heart, and, thanks to its compact packaging and explosive performance, it is probably going to be challenging to ride for even seasoned bikers. The 390 we will get is likely to be a fully faired version, though, an on/off-road variant is on the cards too. There is no word on the pricing yet, but if Bajaj’s recent pricing strategy is an example to follow, expect the 390 to be positioned close to the Rs 2-lakh mark. What we like is that the Duke 390 will provoke the competition to get into the same league as well. More bikes for us, then!
HONDA CBR500R/CB500F/CB500X
Unveiled at EICMA Motor Show earlier this year, Honda's new range of 500cc motorcycles could very well translate into your big bike dream coming true. A 500cc, parallel-twin cylinder motor, a friendly yet involving chassis and styling that's not too radical but pleasing at the same time — that’s what the full-faired Honda CBR500R is all about. The CB500F is the naked version and the CB500X is an enduro style machine, but the engine and platform is common to the trio and all of them could very well be out on sale in the country sooner than you think they will.
Want multi-cylinder thrills without the fear-inducing shenanigans? Watch out for these Hondas!
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES
Now here’s a brand that made the biggest news during the 2012 Auto Expo and has kept us waiting in eager anticipation ever since. Triumph’s motorcycles are the last word in genuine old-school motorcycling — chunky bodywork, meaty engines, classic styling — although bikes like the Daytona 675 and the Speed/Street Triple are a thrilling exception to this. Our pick of the lot is the Bonneville, or maybe the Street Triple, or perhaps the Tiger... that’s just how much we love the Triumph badge, see? What’s also coming is the enormous Rocket III — a bike that's big enough to give mining trucks an inferiority complex. With prices expected to start at a cool Rs 6 lakh, emulating Steve McQueen will definitely be a lot easier than ever.