New Compact Saloons for 2013

Honda Brio saloon

Honda will expand on its Brio platform with the launch of a new saloon variant in India by mid-2013. While the Brio saloon will be significantly longer than the hatchback, overall length will be under the four-metre mark to allow Honda to avail of the lower excise duty on small cars. The Brio saloon will also feature larger rear doors and should offer slightly more rear-seat space than its hatchback sibling. Luggage space will see a significant improvement too.

There’s more – the Brio saloon will be the first car to feature Honda’s all-new diesel engine that has been developed specifically for the Indian market. This 1.5-litre engine will be available in two states of tune and will eventually power a whole host of Honda cars in the future. The saloon will also be offered with the Brio’s 1.2-litre petrol motor. Expect an aggressive Rs 6 lakh starting price for Honda’s Dzire-beater.

FACTFILE
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5 diesel
Power/torque: 86.7bhp/11.1kgm, NA
Kerb weight: NA
L/W/H: NA
Expected: Mid-2013
Price: Rs 6-7.5 lakh*

Mahindra Verito sub-4m

Mahindra’s recent updates to the Verito have made it a far nicer car, and with the launch of a new sub-four-metre variant in March 2013, it is all set to become a lot more affordable too. As you’d have guessed, the length reduction is to qualify this variant of the Verito for excise duty sops offered on small cars. A truncated boot section and possibly a different front bumper will differentiate this car from the standard Verito. While luggage space will not be as generous, the new mini-saloon will inherit the Verito’s spacious cabin, tough build and excellent ride quality. Mahindra will sell the sub-four-metre Verito with the Renault-sourced 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine only. Pricing will be aggressive and could undercut the Maruti Dzire’s, which would make this a seriously well-rounded value proposition.

FACTFILE
Engine: 1.5-litre diesel
Power/torque: 65bhp/16.3kgm
Kerb weight: NA
L/W/H: NA
Expected: March 2013
Price: Rs 6 lakh*

Tata Manza CS

Tata knows all too well how successful a formula it is to chop a mid-size saloon’s boot to bring length under the crucial sub-four-metre mark to avail of the consequent excise duty benefits on small cars. Its sub-four-metre Indigo CS has been selling well since its launch, and Tata will hope to emulate this success with the Manza CS too that arrives in late 2013. In its CS form, the Manza will feature a substantially smaller boot section and is likely to get the Vista’s 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines. Pricing will be competitive and will allow Tata to plug the gap between the Indigo CS and the regular Manza. 

FACTFILE
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol, 1.3-litre diesel
Power/torque: 65bhp/9.8kgm, 74bhp/19.3kgm
Kerb weight: NA
L/W/H: NA
Expected: End-2013
Price: Rs 6-7.5 lakh*

* Estimated, ex-showroom, Delhi