10 fun-to-drive hatchbacks, sedans & SUVs coming soon to India: Maruti Swift Sport to Tata Tiago JTP

The Indian car market is finally getting a crowd of performance and sporty cars. Yes, there are a few performance cars on the market but most of them do not get a pocket-friendly price tag. Soon, enthusiast customers will have a choice to choose from a much wider range of sporty and performance vehicles. Here are 10 fun to drive cars that will be launched in India soon.

Tata Tigor JTP

Expected launch: April 2018

Tata showcased the performance sedan, Tigor JTP at the Auto Expo. The car has been developed with the Jayem Auto and will be launched in the Indian market. The Tigor JTP will be the cheapest hot sedan available in the Indian market. It gets a lowered suspension, new air dams, air scoops on the bonnet, new smoked headlamps and a body kit. The body kit consists of side-skirt and rear diffuser.

The car uses the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that goes into the Nexon but additional changes have been done to the intake and the exhaust system to improve the performance. The power output is rated at 108 Bhp and 150 Nm and it gets the 5-speed manual transmission.

Tata Tiago JTP

Expected launch: April 2018

Tata earlier confirmed that they are working on a hot version of the Tiago instead of the Bolt. The Tiago JTP was finally showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo. The Tiago JTP also carries the similar changes like the Tigor JTP. It gets smoked headlamps, bonnet scoops, body kit and rear diffuser. Tata has also painted the ORVMs in a contrasting red colour and the roof in black colour to add a sporty look. Engine-wise, the car will be powered by the same 1.2-litre REVOTRON turbo-petrol engine that powers the Nexon. It generates similar 108 Bhp and 150 Nm in the JTP twins.

Maruti Swift Sport

Expected launch: Mid – 2018

Maruti has recently launched the all-new Swift in the Indian market and now the company is working to launch its second hot hatch in the market. After the Baleno RS, Maruti is preparing to launch the Swift Sport in the Indian market. The vehicle is already on sale in the international market. It gets a more aggressive bumper and a body kit with side skirts, and splitter.

Maruti is expected to bring in the new 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine to power the Swift Sport. It develops a maximum of 138 Bhp and 230 nm of torque and gets a 6-speed manual transmission. The same engine is also expected to power the upcoming Grand Vitara in the Indian market.

Ford EcoSport S

Expected launch: Mid – 2018

Ford already offers the “S” badge variant with the Figo and the Aspire in the Indian market. Soon they will extend it to the newly launched compact SUV, the EcoSport. It’ll be offered with petrol and diesel engines. It has been already spotted in India and is expected to be launched soon.

The EcoSport S will get sharper steering response and stiffer suspension for the enthusiastic drivers. Notably, the new Ford EcoSport’s steering is not as sharp as the previous model. The engines will remain untouched.

Mahindra S201

Expected launch: September/October 2018

Mahindra’s highly anticipated sub 4-meter compact SUV will be another performance SUV in the Indian market. The car is based on the SsangYong Tivoli, which was earlier planned for the Indian market. Internally codenamed as S201, the new vehicle will take on the likes of Ford EcoSport and Maruti Vitara Brezza.

Mahindra is developing the vehicle in-house, but it will get the same platform as the Tivoli. Mahindra has said that it will not be a rebadge job and the S201 will look quite different from the Tivoli. The S201 will be powered by a newly developed 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that will churn out a maximum of 140 Bhp. The diesel engine will be a 1.5-litre Twin-Scroll turbocharged engine with 125 Bhp on tap. It will be the most powerful vehicle in the segment.

Maruti Vitara Brezza petrol

Expected launch: March 2018

The Maruti Brezza is another highly anticipated car in the Indian market. The Brezza was launched only with a diesel engine with manual transmission and Maruti had expressed that will launch a petrol powered Brezza in the future.

The car will be powered by the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder Boosterjet engine that powers the Baleno RS in the current lineup. It is expected to produce around 110 Bhp. It will be the second SUV in the segment that will be powered by a turbocharged petrol engine after the Nexon petrol if it gets launched before the Mahindra S201.

Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Expected launch: March 2018

Jeep Compass has become the best selling vehicle in the segment. The American manufacturer is now planning to bring the Trailhawk, which is the more adventurous version of the vehicle in India. The car has been already spied at a dealer stockyard and is expected to be launched soon.

The car will be powered by the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates a maximum power of 170 Bhp – 350 Nm. It gets a 9-speed automatic transmission and many off-road friendly aids. The Trailhawk version gets Jeep’s Active Drive low-range 4WD, hill descent and a new Rock Mode that makes the vehicle more capable.

Force Gurkha

Expected launch: Mid -2018

Force launched the new Gurkha last year with many new changes and a new look. The SUV currently draws power from a 2.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine that develops a maximum of 85 Bhp and 230 Nm but soon, Force Motors is expected to launch a new 2.2-litre FMTECH engine that also powered the Force One. The new engine can get a power output of around 140 Bhp, making the Gurkha a seriously fun-to-drive SUV.

Ford Figo S

Expected launch: End 2018

Ford Figo is all set to get a facelift this year. The car has been revealed in the international markets and has been spied testing in India too. The changes include a new front grille, new bumper and slightly updated headlamps. While the interiors will get the new SYNC 3 infotainment system similar to the facelifted EcoSport. The S variant will get a more driver-focused steering wheel and stiffer suspension. A new 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is expected to power the car alongside the 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Ford Figo Aspire S

Expected launch: End 2018

The Ford Figo Aspire is the sedan based on the Figo S and it will also get similar updates later this year. The sedan will get a similar grille change, new bumper and headlamp. The boot of the vehicle may also get updated. The engine options will remain same as the Figo S too.