Three new sedan launches to watch for in 2013

As the year draws to a close, the slew of launches is also slowing down. But there’s more to look forward to in the new year. If you are planning to buy a sedan in 2013, here are three interesting sedan launches to look forward to – the Honda Brio sedan (and it may come in diesel too), Chevrolet Sail sedan in petrol and diesel and an attractively priced Mahindra Verito notchback in petrol and diesel.

CarToq looks at what’s exciting about these three upcoming sedan launches.

Honda Brio sedan

Expected price: Rs. 6 lakh – Rs. 8 lakh

Fuel options: Petrol and diesel

Selling point: Compact, aggressively priced entry-level sedan, and Honda’s first diesel!

 

The Honda Brio sedan will be based on the Brio hatchback. But it does not look like just a hatchback with a boot and teaser pictures show that it is well proportioned. The boot will be a small stubby affair, which will keep the car at just 4-metres in length (3,990 mm in length to be precise) in order to benefit from excise duty sops. The wheelbase of the Brio sedan has been increased by 62 mm (to 2407 mm) compared to the Brio hatchback. The boot is really spacious for a car under 4-metres. It will be able to hold 420 litres of luggage.

What’s unique about the car is that it will feature Honda’s first ever diesel engine for the Indian market. Speculation is that it will have a 1.5 litre diesel engine that will put out about 70 bhp to 110 bhp of power and 167 to 215 Nm of torque. It will also have a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which may be carried over from the Honda Jazz and Honda Brio. The petrol variant will also feature an automatic transmission option as well, using the same unit that the Brio hatchback automatic has.

The Honda Brio sedan is expected to launch in India in April 2013, after its launch in Thailand. Also read: Honda Brio Sedan photo out: First official image!

 

Chevrolet Sail sedan

Expected price: Rs. 6.5 lakh – Rs. 8.5 lakh

Fuel options: Petrol and diesel

Selling point: Luxurious interiors, good maintenance package offer

The Chevrolet Sail sedan will soon follow the hatchback (U-Va) launch. The Chevrolet Sail sedan is the car that will replace the Chevrolet Aveo in India. The Sail sedan is expected to come with two engine choices – a 1.3 litre diesel based on the Fiat multijet and most-likely a 1.4 litre 94-bhp petrol engine, that will also likely be fitted in the Chevrolet Enjoy MPV that is to be launched later this year. The diesel engine variant is the car to watch out for.

The Sail will have nicely appointed interiors with wood inserts and will be decently feature loaded. It will be pitched against the Maruti Dzire and Ford Classic. The Sail sedan is expected in January 2013. Also read: India’s top-five best-selling sedans of 2012

 

Mahindra Verito CS

Expected price: Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 6.5 lakh

Fuel options: Diesel only

Selling point: Fuel-efficient diesel, most spacious car in class, low-running costs

Mahindra is working on a compact-sedan version of the Mahindra Verito. The car will have a shortened boot to bring it under 4 metres in length, to benefit from excise duty sops. This will allow Mahindra to aggressively target the Tata Indigo eCS and the Maruti Dzire.

As Mahindra currently does not have a 1.2-litre petrol engine in its portfolio and will have to make do with only a 1.5 litre diesel engine to meet the criteria for small car excise duty sops. However, the Verito is one of the most spacious cars in its segment, and since the passenger cabin will be unchanged, it will continue to be one of the most spacious. Boot space will reduce from 510 litres to about 320 litres or so, which is good enough for most buyers.

The Verito notchback or compact-sedan will be launched in January 2013.

Tata will also be introducing a compact-sedan version of its popular Manza, but there’s no confirmation on the exact time of launch. But if you want an entry-level or budget sedan, these three cars are the ones to watch out for, especially the Honda Brio diesel! Also read: Three SUVs to look forward to in 2013