India’s biggest motor show, the Auto Expo is scheduled to take place from 7th February 2018 and will open on 9th February for the general public. A slew of Indian and international manufacturers will participate in the expo and will showcase their upcoming products. We bring Auto Expo’s biggest unveilings from each major car maker.
Maruti Future S concept
India’s biggest carmaker Maruti will showcase the Future S concept at the Auto Expo 2018. It will be the first car to be unveiled at the event. The car will be based on lightweight HEARTECT platform and will get a very SUV-ish shape. Maruti says that the Future S shows the changing preference of the customers in the market.
The car is expected to be powered by a 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine and a new turbo diesel engine that is currently being developed by the company. The car will get AMT as an option. The car is expected to be launched by late 2018 or early 2019.
Toyota Yaris Ativ
Toyota has officially released a teaser image of the Yaris Ativ that will take on the likes of Honda City, Maruti Ciaz and Hyundai Verna. The car is sold as Vios in the international market and it will fill the gap between Toyota’s Etios and Camry in the market.
The Yaris Ativ is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that generates a maximum power of 108 Bhp – 140 Nm in the international market. However, the Indian engine may get updated for more fuel efficiency. The car will also get a diesel engine in India. The Yaris Ativ is expected to get a 5-speed manual and a CVT.
Hyundai Kona electric vehicle
Hyundai has confirmed that they will showcase the electric version of Kona at the 2018 Auto Expo. With an expected increase in electric vehicle offerings in India, Hyundai is also expected to launch their first vehicle in the market soon. Kona electric is expected to be the first electric car from the brand. The electric motor of the SUV will be able to propel the vehicle for 384 km on a single full charge. Other details are not known yet.
Honda HR-V
The HR-V will become the fourth vehicle in the R-V series when launched. After the launch of the WR-V, which has gained some popularity in the market, Honda is looking forward to launching the HR-V. It sits above the WR-V in the lineup and will compete against the Hyundai Creta. The car will be showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo.
HR-V also sells in the Brazilian market just like the WR-V, and it is also built on the Jazz platform. It gets five seats and many premium features like electric sunroof, touchscreen infotainment and the touch panel climate control system. The SUV will be powered by the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that produces 115 Bhp. The diesel unit will the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC or 1.6-litre diesel unit.
Tata X451
Tata will unveil the premium hatchback X451 at the Auto Expo. Tata has already released a few teaser images of the upcoming car that will go against the likes of Maruti Baleno and Hyundai Elite i20 in the market. The car will be based on Tata’s latest Advanced Modular Platform (AMP) architecture.
The power plants are expected to be a 1.2-litre petrol engine and the 1.08-litre engine from the Tiago but Tata will re-tune the engine to increase the power output. The transmission options are not known as of now.
Mahindra U321
The Mahindra U321 is an upcoming MPV that Mahindra will field against the Toyota Innova in the market. The 7-seater MPV will offer a lot of premium features and a great level of comfort. The MPV has been caught on test multiple times already.
This is the first MPV that is being developed by the manufacturer’s North American development centre in Troy, Michigan. The U321 will be a global MPV that will be available in various markets including India. Details like platform or engine are not known as of now but the car will be unveiled at the Expo.
Renault Duster
Renault sells the Duster under the Dacia brand in the international markets. The compact SUV received an update last year, but the launch has been delayed due to the arrival of the Captur. The new Duster is expected to be launched sometime in the middle of this year.
The new Duster gets a new grille and a repositioned windscreen that adds a fresh look to it. The interiors have also been thoroughly updated to give a modern look. Renault may continue to use the current engine options with the upcoming Duster.
