New cars for 2017: Upcoming sedans

Here is an exhaustive list of all the new sedans due to be launched next year.

The coming year has it all set for the appearance of some spectacular sedans. Mercedes is set to bring in the new E-class; BMW, the new 5 series, while Honda is set to give its bestseller, the City, a much anticipated facelift. Other notable inclusions include the launch of the all-new Essentia compact sedan from Chevrolet and Tata’s highly anticipated Kite 5 compact sedan.

Here is the longlist of sedans expected in the coming months.

Chevrolet Essentia

Following Volkswagen’s Ameo, it’s Chevrolet that’s now going the made-in-India, make-for-India way with the Essentia. It’s a sub-four-metre compact sedan based on the next-gen Beat hatchback that will arrive in 2017. Positioned half a segment below compact sedans like the Swift Dzire, the Essentia will rival Tata’s upcoming Tiago-based compact sedan. However, despite its compact dimensions, the near production-ready concept showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo revealed how well Chevrolet managed to pull off the sedan shape. More importantly, it packs quite a spacious interior for its size. The carmaker also plans on giving the car a premium interior and upmarket features like its MyLink touchscreen infotainment system.

Besides the underpinnings, the sedan will also share the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with the Beat hatchback.

Coming: March 2017
Price: Rs 4.5-7 lakh
Engine: 1.0 P, 1.0 D

New Audi A8

Audi’s next-gen A8 is likely to raise the bar in the big luxury sedan game, especially in terms of looks and tech. It takes much of its low-slung styling from the futuristic Prologue concept, and futuristic really seems to be the theme on the car. The interior features a virtual dashboard with all functions controlled via three highly configurable screens – a digital instrument cluster, a 14.1-inch central touchscreen and a smaller unit for the air-con controls. Engine options are likely to include 4.0-litre V8 and 6.3-litre petrols, a 3.0-litre diesel, a more potent 4.0-litre V8 diesel with the electric supercharging tech from the SQ7, and even a hybrid powertrain. India could even get a 190hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel in entry-level variants.

Coming: Late 2017
Price: Rs 1.2-2 crore
Engines: 3.0 P, 3.0 D, 4.0 P, 4.0 D

New BMW 5-Series

The next 5-series is one of many all-new models that its segment will soon witness. It’s features an aluminium-intensive construction akin to the new 7-series, making it as much as 100kg lighter than the current 5, and hence more fuel-efficient. It’s marginally longer, wider and taller too, and much of the freed-up room has gone into making the rear seats more spacious. Besides making it more comfortable and luxurious, BMW has also brimmed the 5-series with autonomous driving aids like steering and lane control assist and crossroads warning, most of which unfortunately, won’t make it to the Indian car. However, we will get tech like the gesture-control and voice-command enabled iDrive infotainment system which is offered on the pricier 7-series.

Coming: Late 2017
Price: Rs 55-65 lakh
Engines: 2.0 P, 2.0 D, 3.0 D

New Audi S5 Sportback

If the new A4 is too buttoned up for you, Audi has something that might just hit the spot. Meet the second-generation S5 Sportback. It’s got all the appeal and practicality of the new A4 – a tech-loaded, superbly appointed and spacious interior, and a 480-litre boot – plus, it comes in a sexier four-door coupé body style. Under the hood, the current car’s 333hp, supercharged 3.0-litre V6 will be replaced by a more potent 354hp 3.0-litre turbo-petrol.

Coming: Mid 2017
Price: Rs 65 lakh
Engine: 3.0 P
 

New Chevrolet Cruze

The upcoming Chevy Cruze is going to be a quantum leap over the current model in every way. For a start, its aggressive styling, swept-back coupé-like silhouette and large 17-inch alloys (likely for the India-bound model) make it quite the stunner. While it’s lighter, hence more frugal, Chevrolet has also made it larger, which means the interior is more spacious. Space aside, the low-set cabin is quite upmarket and uses high-quality materials. Fully loaded variants are likely to get features like a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 4G compatibility, in-car Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity, wireless phone charging and heated leather seats. The current car’s 166hp 2.0-litre diesel engine is likely to be replaced by a slightly less powerful, but more efficient 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. Also, with petrol cars back in vogue, a 155hp, 1.4-litre, direct-injection turbo-petrol is also likely to be introduced here. 

Coming: End 2017
Price: Rs 12-15 lakh
Engines: 1.4 P, 1.6 D

Audi A3 facelift

Audi’s nippy junior sedan is soon to receive a nip and tuck. Updates to the car include sportier bumpers, a bigger hexagonal grille, and new A4-like headlamps that can be opted with Audi’s Matrix LED technology. The options list is also likely to include paddle shifters for the new flat-bottom steering and the all-digital Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster. The biggest change will, however, be under the hood – the smaller 1.4-litre TFSI petrol from the new A4 will replace the current car’s 1.8-litre petrol unit. 

Coming: Late 2016
Price: Rs 25-30 lakh
Engines: 1.4 P, 2.0 D

Audi A4 diesel

With the latest A4, Audi has perhaps near perfected the recipe for the entry-level luxury sedan. It’s got the ride, the handling, a tech-packed and luxurious interior, and even an impressive ARAI-acclaimed fuel economy of 17.4kpl with the 1.4-litre TSI petrol. And now, it will get a punchy 2.0-litre diesel engine that the VW Group plans to localise in India. The unit produces 190hp and a healthy 400Nm and will be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It is also likely to get the option of a more affordable six-speed manual which should be a hit with both, chauffeur-driven owners and enthusiasts alike.  

Coming: Late 2016
Price: Rs 39-45 lakh
Engine: 2.0 D

Hyundai Ioniq

With the uncertainty looming over diesel cars, and the government slowly warming up to hybrids, Hyundai plans tobring in its eco-friendly Ioniq to India. Aimed squarely at Toyota’s popular Prius (also coming back to India in a new avatar), the Ioniq for international markets is available with three powertrains – an all-electric, a regular hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Of these, the latter is being considered for India. This means you can use a regular power outlet to charge the car’s batteries, and if your commutes aren’t too long (the plug-in has a pure-electric range of 50km), you could skip visits to the fuel station altogether. For long-distance trips, there’s a 105hp 1.6-litre petrol, coupled with a six-speed dual-clutch auto, that works in conjunction with the electric motor. To enhance efficiency, it features a super-slippery exterior and aero-efficient wheels that help it cut through the air better. However, how much headway it makes into the finicky Indian car buyer’s list remains to be seen. 

Coming: Early 2018
Price: Rs 45-50 lakh
Engine: 1.6 + electric
 

Honda City facelift

The mid-size City, Honda’s bread-and-butter model in India, has been going strong thanks to timely model changes and a strong fan following. Of late, however, it has been facing stiff competition from the Maruti Ciaz, which has even begun outselling it. And to bring it up to speed with its rivals, Honda plans on putting the City under the knife. Although it will remain mechanically unchanged, the City will get cosmetic tweaks like a new front grille, re-profiled bumpers, updated headlamps with projector units and bigger alloys.

Coming: 2017
Price: Rs 8-10 lakh
Engines: 1.5 P, 1.5 D

New Porsche Panamera

With the new Panamera, Porsche will once again challenge luxury sedans like the new BMW 7-series and the Audi A8. Despite being bigger than its predecessor, its aluminium-heavy modular framework makes it lighter. Also, the Panamera now sports more athletic stance than the humpbacked looks of the last car. The tech-laden interior comes with a touch-sensitive centre console, two hi-res 7.0-inch displays in the instrument binnacle, and also a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. And with the cabin detailed in rich leather and wood trim, it’s got luxury chops as well. India will initially get the 550hp 4.0-litre petrol-powered Panamera Turbo, followed by a 442hp 4.0-litre V8 diesel.

Coming: Mid 2017
Price: Rs 2 crore
Engines: 4.0 P, 4.0 D

New Hyundai Verna

To up its game against the Honda City and the Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai will replace its long-in-the tooth Verna with a new one. It shares the Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy and the big hexagonal grille with the Elantra. It’s longer, wider, and a bit lower, but expect it to be more spacious overall. The interior features a touchscreen on the neatly laid-out centre console, steering-mounted controls for audio and Bluetooth connectivity, climate control and push-button start. Higher variants are even likely to come with bigger alloy wheels and a sunroof. While the Verna is expected to continue with the current car’s 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, it will get Hyundai’s mild-hybrid system, which is similar to the SHVS system offered in the Maruti Ciaz.

Coming: Late 2017
Price: Rs 8-10 lakh
Engines: 1.4 P, 1.6 P, 1.4 D, 1.6 D

New Mercedes-Benz E-class

With Mercedes streamlining the design language of its entire sedan range, it could be a bit of a task to tell the all-new E-class from the C-class and the S-class. It’s even built using the same set of mechanical bits as the other two. As a result though, it’s lighter, despite being bigger than the current model it will replace. The highlight of the new E-class is the fact that it will debut tech such as automatic evasive steering, automated parking and a host of driver aids even before they make it into the S-class. 

Its interior design too mirrors that of the larger S-class on higher variants. It gets two 12.3-inch TFT displays placed side by side – one for the instrument cluster and the second for the COMAND infotainment system. The car is initially expected to carry over the current car’s petrol and diesel engines, with more advanced 2.0- and 3.0-litre in-line diesel-powered units arriving later. More importantly, India will get the long-wheel-base models only.

Coming: Mid 2017
Price: Rs 55- 70 lakh
Engines: 2.0 P, 2.1 D, 3.0 D

New Toyota Prius

The Prius is lauded for being the car to bring hybrid technology to the masses. While it’s a comfy, eco-friendly car, it’s a bit boring, or at least that’s the popular belief. And that’s precisely what Toyota intends to change with this rather radical-looking latest iteration of it. We drove it recently, and are happy to report that this all-new Prius, built on Toyota’s new modular architecture is a better drive than before. However, the best seat in the house is still at the rear. The deal-breaker, as it’s always been, is the hefty expected ex-showroom price tag of around Rs 40 lakh.

Coming: 2017
Price: Rs 40 lakh
Engine: 1.8 P + electric
 

Lexus ES 300h

If you are looking for a big luxury car that will mostly be chauffeur-driven, the ES300h, Lexus’ entry ticket into India, is a must have in your list of probables. The ‘h’ in the name stands for the car’s hybrid powertrain – a 2.5-litre petrol paired with an electric motor. It will take on the VW Passat and the Honda Accord hybrids, and like its rivals, the first few models will be CBU imports. However, it shares its hardware with the Toyota Camry –making it easy to build locally – and so, ES300h is likely to be the first Lexus to be assembled in India.

Coming: March 2017
Price: Rs 45 lakh
Engine: 2.5 P + electric

New Volkswagen Passat

The Passat will return to India in an all-new avatar and will get a plug-in hybrid variant in the Passat GTE. Unlike its rivals, the Camry and Accord hybrids, it can be either charged via a regular power socket, or by its 156hp 1.4-litre TSI petrol motor. This powertrain produces a combined 218hp and 400Nm, which makes this sedan quite fleet-footed. For short trips, though, its claimed electric range of 50km alone should serve you well. VW will initially import a small batch of GTEs, likely to cost a lofty Rs 40 lakh apiece. It will be launched with a 1.8-litre petrol and hybrid powertrain, and will get 2.0-litre diesel-powered variants later.

Coming: January 2017
Price: Rs 30-40 lakh
Engines: 1.8 P, 1.4 P + electric, 2.0 D

Tata Kite 5

Tata’s upcoming compact sedan, codenamed Kite 5, is based on the Tiago, and will be showroom-ready by the end of 2016. Nearly identical to the small hatchback up to the B-pillar, the compact sedan features a ‘fast’, coupé-like roofline that terminates in a stubby, yet well-proportioned boot. The silhouette has also allowed the designers to give the sedan a bigger rear door, which should make access to the back seats easier.

The big news on the Kite 5 though, is its 420-litre boot, which is more commodious than what you get on more expensive compact sedans like the Hyundai Xcent and Honda Amaze, and even its bigger sibling, the Tata Zest.

The Kite 5 will take on the Chevrolet Essentia and will replace the Indigo eCS upon its arrival. Besides the three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol and 1.05-litre diesel engines, and a possible AMT gearbox, the Kite 5 will also share its interior with the Tiago.

Coming: Mid 2017
Price: Rs 4-6.5 lakh
Engines: 1.2 P, 1.05 D 

Toyota Vios

Come 2017, the Honda City will get a new rival in the Toyota Vios. Sharing its styling with the bigger Corolla Altis, it’s a more exciting-looking car than the Etios. Its spacious interior is an upmarket affair and comes with features like climate control, steering-mounted audio controls, and a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity. Safety too will be a highlight on the Vios, with ABS, ESP and airbags likely to be standard fitment. It will get retuned versions of the Etios’s 1.5-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engine.

Current -gen car used for representative purpose

Coming: Mid 2017
Price: Rs 8-10 lakh
Engines: 1.5 P, 1.4 D