Five upcoming sedans in India - Skoda Slavia to Honda Amaze facelift
While SUVs are taking over the charge across the globe, some brands still have some faith left in sedans. The number of new sedan launches has gone down drastically and the newcomers in the Indian automotive market, Kia Motors and MG Motor India, only have crossovers and SUVs on offer. However, there are a handful of sedans that are slated to get launched in the coming years.
Honda is all set to launch the Amaze facelift on August 18 and it will come with substantial styling changes. On the exterior, we will see the inclusion of LED headlights and taillights, a new set of alloy wheels and an electric sunroof. Honda will also tweak the interiors with an updated instrument cluster and infotainment system. The engine options on offer will remain the same, that is the 1.5-litre diesel and 1.2-litre petrol with manual and CVT options. We expect a marginal hike in prices of the Amaze given the competitive rivals.
Skoda India is prepping up the replacement for the ageing Rapid. The next-gen Rapid is speculated to be called the Slavia and it will be underpinned by the localised MQB-AO-IN platform that also underpins the Skoda Kushaq. Skoda Slavia will carry design cues from the global Skoda portfolio and will be loaded to the gills on the inside. It will carry over the 1.0-litre TSI engine and we also expect Skoda to offer the 150PS 1.5-litre TSI with the Slavia. Skoda will unveil the Slavia later this year and launch could happen in early 2022.
Volkswagen Virtus will be the sibling of the Slavia and it will also share its underpinnings and engine options. While we still do not have the launch timeline for the new-gen Polo, VW could launch the Virtus as early as Q1 of 2022. The Virtus has been spied multiple times on tests on Indian tarmac and its design is inspired by the VW group of sedans. Engine options on offer will be the same as on the Slavia and it will be priced attractively to take on the rivals.
Toyota Belta
Toyota and Suzuki alliance has given us the Glanza and the Urban Cruiser. The third product out of the global alliance will be the Belta that is the rebadged Ciaz. Toyota could do a minor nip and tuck on the inside to make it feel more premium and different than the Ciaz. The Belta will be powered by the same 1.5-litre K15B petrol engine and will come mated to both 5-speed manual and 4-speed AT. Toyota has not revealed any launch timeline for the Belta but we can expect it to get launched later this year.
2021 Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai had revealed the Elantra in the global markets last year and it is heading towards the Indian market next year. The new Elantra sports even sportier design and quality interiors. Its sharp looks comprise big creases and character lines all across and the N-Line trim appeals more to the enthusiasts. The Elantra will be powered by the 2.0-litre petrol engine we also find in the Alcazar. Hyundai could also consider the N-Line with a turbo powerplant but no details have been given yet.
Text by Amit Saraswat
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