Sedans to be launched in India in 2017

Planning to buy a new sedan, there are a host of new launches planned for 2017. Tata Motors might bring in its Zica based sedan to take on the like of the Hyundai Xcent and the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire. Both the latter sedans too are up for a makeover. Hyundai will launch the updated Xcent while the Swift DZire will get a new-generation transformation. In the premium segment, Volkswagen will relaunch the Passat with a plug-in hybrid while BMW will launch the new 5-series by mid-2017. Here is a list of sedans that you can look forward to next year

Tata Kite 5

Expected price: Rs 3.7-6.5 lakh

The Tata Kite 5 concept shares its underpinnings with the Zica hatchback, debuted at the 2016 Auto Expo. The engine options that will be offered in the Tata Kite 5 include the 1.2L Revotron petrol and Revotorq diesel motor. While these units put out 85PS/114Nm and 70PS/140Nm respectively, expect the Kite 5 to get increased power as sources tell us that the engines will be updated. One of these updates includes a larger turbocharger. These engines will be paired to the same 5-speed manual transmission. In terms of design, the front profile of the Tata Kite 5 looks similar to the Zica. It is the side which gives it a distinct appeal. The sloping coupéish roofline, strong shoulder line and 15-inch sporty alloys make it look impressive. Upon its launch in India, the Tata Kite 5 sedan will compete with the Hyundai Xcent, Volkswagen Ameo and the new-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire.

Tata Kite 5 preview

Volkswagen Passat/GTE

Expected price: Rs 30 lakh

Volkswagen is all set to relaunch the Passat in India. However, this time around it is the new-generation version that will enter our shores. In addition to the regular 2.0-litre diesel and 1.8-litre TSI trims, Volkswagen is getting the Passat GTE plug-in hybrid. It will be powered by an 85kW (115PS) electric motor and a 156PS 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 6-speed DSG gearbox. The Volkswagen Passat GTE has a combined power output of approximately 218PS and a maximum torque of 400Nm. According to Volkswagen, the Passat GTE, with this plug-in hybrid technology, is capable of clearing the Euro-IV emission norms.

Volkswagen Passat GTE details

Volkswagen Passat GTE first drive review

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Expected price: Rs 52-67 lakh

The updated Mercedes-Benz E-Class borrows a lot of design cues from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and C-Class. It looks so similar to the C-Class that the only way for a casual observer to tell the two cars apart is the difference in size. Look closer though and you will notice that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets the new Multibeam LED headlamps along with different LED DRL detailing. The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class will most likely feature a range of 4- and 6-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. While we wait for more information on that, here's a closer look at the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E Class details

2017 Mercedes-Benz E Class image gallery

Chevrolet Essentia

Expected price: Rs 4.5-6.8 lakh

The Chevrolet Essentia will compete with the likes of the Ford Figo Aspire, Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and the newly launched Volkswagen Ameo. It will reach Indian showrooms in 2017 and is expected to be priced between Rs 4.5-6.5 lakh. In all possibilities, Chevrolet may offer the Essentia with the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engine options, the same that powers the outgoing Sail sedan.

Chevy might also use its Talegaon plant as a base to ship the Essentia to the African and Latin American markets. The pricing of the Chevrolet Essential will be the key factor in deciding its fate in India, especially considering its rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire (Rs 5.50-8.89 lakh), Ford Figo Aspire (Rs 5.45-8.86 lakh) and Hyundai Xcent (Rs 5.60-8.40 lakh).

Chevrolet Essentia preview

Chevrolet Essentia image gallery

Audi A5

Expected price: Rs 42 lakh

The A5 is Audi's mid-segment coupe, which is placed above the A4 and shares similar styling cues, albeit a bit more on the sporty side. The new Audi A5 comes with a host of upgrades over the outgoing generation with more efficient and powerful engines, a lighter kerb weight and improved aerodynamics. It also features Audi's new virtual cockpit system. The new A5 is going to be offered with five engine options in the UK, two petrol and three diesel units. Power figures start at a healthy 190PS and going up to 286PS. There is also a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 which will feature on the S5, which produces 354PS (21PS over the outgoing S5).

Audi A5 details

2017 Hyundai Verna

Expected price: Rs 8.5-14 lakh

The 2017 Hyundai Verna follows the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language which the new Elantra follows as well. The Verna measures 4,380mm long, 1,728mm wide, and 1,460mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,600mm, making it taller, longer and wider than the current Verna. The 2017 Verna will be available in four engine options: 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre diesel. The 1.4-litre petrol engine develops 106PS of power and 135Nm of torque, whereas the 1.6-litre petrol develops 122PS of power and 155Nm of torque. It will be sold in China first, before it makes its way over to India later in 2017. The new car is larger than the outgoing model in every dimension and features several design cues from the Hyundai Elantra.

2017 Hyundai Verna details

2017 Toyota Prius

Expected price: Rs 30-35 lakh

The major change that the new model gets is a sharper design along with a revised cabin layout. Most importantly, the new Toyota Prius Hybrid boasts of a fuel efficiency of 40kmpl. Toyota states that the new Prius gets an improved hybrid system along with aerodynamic enhancements. The same can be seen with the new active shutters positioned on the radiator grille. It helps reduce the aerodynamic drag. Inside, the cabin features a modern design but the highlight will be the centrally placed instrument cluster. The Toyota Prius hybrid will come equipped with a 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle, 4-cylinder petrol engine along with an 80PS electric motor. The combined power output is 134PS. This series-parallel hybrid system can be run on petrol engine alone, the electric motor alone, or a combination of both.

2017 Toyota Prius details

Skoda Octavia vRS

Expected price: Rs 18-21 lakh

The Skoda Octavia vRS will return to India and will be one of the most anticipated performance sedans. However, this time around the Skoda Octavia vRS will come equipped with a diesel motor that makes 184PS of power and 380Nm of torque. The RS sits 11mm lower than the regular Octavia and is suspended by a similar McPherson strut and a multi-link axle combination for the front and back respectively. It is set up stiffer in the RS though and would be completely unfit for the Indian roads. The Skoda Octavia is built on the same MQB platform that also underpins the Audi A3. Presently, there are no equal rivals for the Skoda Octavia vRS in the country.

2017 Skoda Octavia vRS review

2017 Toyota Corolla Altis

Expected price: Rs 14.8-20 lakh

The carmaker says that the Corolla facelift sports a wider stance, has new alloys and features its 'Under Priority and Keen Look' design language. It also gets a redesigned grille, front bumper and headlamps with LED DRLs. It retains the same side profile as the current version, but the door handles have received a chrome finish. It is likely to retain the 1.8-litre petrol and the 1.4-litre diesel engines for the Indian market. While a 6-speed manual transmission will be standard for both the engines, the petrol will also get an option of a 7-speed e-CVT. The Toyota Corolla facelift will be offered in three new colours, including platinum bronze, Tokyo red and earth bronze. In certain international markets, it will come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense as standard which includes pre-collision system, lane departure alert, road sign assist and automatic high beam.

2017 Corolla Altis details

2017 BMW 5 Series

Expected price: Rs 55-65 lakh

The 2017 BMW 5 Series sedan now gets the familiar kidney grille teamed with twin-circular LED headlights flowing into the grille. The bumper too sports a new design which can be seen with the muscular contours and the new central air dam. The air vents housing the fog lamps have also received a design revision. The new iteration is also taller by 2mm at 1,466mm and has a wheelbase of 2,975mm up by 7mm. BMW states that the G30 5 Series offers the best coefficient of drag at 0.22 Cd that is 10 per cent lower than the previous version. The seventh-generation BMW 5 Series gets a redesigned chassis, states the company. It is believed that the new modular CLAR (CLuster ARchitecture) rear-wheel drive platform, which also underpins the new-gen 7 Series, powers the new 5 Series.

2017 BMW 5 Series review

2017 BMW 5 Series image gallery

2017 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire

Expected price: Rs 5.5-9 lakh

While the new-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift hits showrooms next year, it was surprising to catch the first glimpse of the new-gen Swift Dzire before that. The spy pictures suggest that the Swift Dzire gets an updated large front grille and projector headlamps with integrated daytime running lights. Maruti Suzuki appears to have completely re-worked the rear design which was the biggest shortcoming of the Dzire. The tail section appears to blend well with the overall design. It will likely retain the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines from the outgoing model. Upon its launch in India, the new-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire will compete with the likes of the upcoming Tata Kite 5 sedan, Hyundai Xcent facelift, Ford Figo Aspire and also the Volkswagen Ameo.

2017 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire details

2017 Volkswagen Vento

Estimated price: Rs 8.5-13 lakh

Volkswagen India showcased the Vento facelift at this year's Auto Expo. The changes that the 2017 Vento receives are very subtle compared to its present form. It gets an LED headlight with daytime running lamps and updated tail lights. In terms of features, it gets the new touchscreen infotainment system with MirrorLink that is presently offered in the Volkswagen Ameo. Most importantly, it will come equipped with the updated 1.5-litre TDI motor that does duty in the Ameo and also in Skoda Rapid facelift. The petrol motor will be retained from the existing range.

2017 Volkswagen Vento details

2017 Hyundai Xcent

Estimated price: Rs 5.5-8.5 lakh

The 2017 Hyundai Xcent, which will be Hyundai India's second launch next year, will go on sale sometime in March. The updated car hasn't been revealed as yet, but will get similar cosmetic changes to the face and interior along with the same mechanical updates to the 2017 Hyundai Grand i10. The new design, which will make it look larger, will be designed to bear resemblance to the larger sedans that Hyundai currently sells. The update is expected to make the car more appealing.

2017 Hyundai Xcent details

2017 Skoda Octavia

Estimated price: Rs 18-24 lakh

The overall design makes the car look similar to the Vision D Concept with a sharper grille element intersected in the middle like BMW's kidney slats, revised headlamps with full LED lights and a chrome line underlining the fog lamps. Skoda has retained the neat sidelines as well as the rear of the current car on the updated Octavia. It gets a capacitive 9.2-inch displays with an optional WLAN hotspot as well as SIM card module for high-speed Internet connectivity. Heated steering wheel, customisable key with memory settings. The Skoda Octavia facelift will retain the engine options from the present model.

2017 Skoda Octavia details

2017 Honda City

Estimated price: Rs 9-13.5 lakh

The Honda City has always been one of the most popular cars by the Japanese car manufacturer which has been doing steady sales. The mild facelift on the Honda City will further increase it appeal. Though the exact details of the design update and changes have still not surfaced online, we believe Honda will carry on the same changes that have been introduced in the new Honda Greiz, sold in China. The headlight and the front grille will be updated to make the overall design make larger than the previous iteration. Also expect more chrome garnishing on the overall design,