Top 10 Cars worth waiting for in 2013

Honda Amaze

Yes, it might have been named by an accountant at Honda but the Amaze promises to keep your running costs low. It is after all the first-ever diesel car that the big H will sell in India. The Amaze sedan is based on the Brio platform, which has been extended for better rear legroom. The 1.5-litre engine develops an estimated 90bhp and promises to deliver around 20kpl, making it highly fuel-efficient. The car is under 4-metres in length which means that it will get excise benefits that the government doles out to cars under 4-metres and having engine under 1.5 litres (in diesel).

Prices are expected to start at around Rs 5.5 lakh for the base versions of the car, which means that the Swift Dzire has its days numbered as the king of the entry-level sedan segment. The Amaze arrives in March.

Estimated price - Rs 5.5 - Rs 8.5 lakh
Expected launch – March 2013

New Honda CR-V

First the bad news, there is no diesel version of the new CR-V, at least initially. The 2.2-CTDi diesel will probably arrive only at the beginning of the year 2014. The good news for CR-V loyalists is that this will probably be the first new launch of 2013 and will arrive end of January or first week of February. The engine remains the tried and tested 2.4-litre i-VTEC motor along with the smaller 2-litre engine. Honda has worked hard at making the cabin larger and roomier. The materials have been improved as well.

Being a complete import, prices aren’t expected to drop even a bit. Expect it to burn a hole in your pocket with expected prices starting at Rs 30 lakh.

Estimated price - Rs 30-36 lakh
Expected launch – January 2013

Ford Ecosport

After the success of the Renault Duster this year, the Ecosport could be the next big thing in the compact SUV space. The Ecosport will get a three-cylinder, 1-litre Ecoboost petrol engine that has won numerous awards internationally. This engine develops a meaty 120bhp, which is actually better than some 1.6-litre petrol units from rivals. Ford is using this engine in order to get good fuel economy from the car without compromising on the power front. There will also be a diesel on offer. A 1.5-litre unit from the Fiesta, which will develop 90bhp. Prices are expected to start at a very competitive Rs 9 lakh for the base versions and the SUV is expected to arrive by March.

Estimated price - Rs 9-13 lakh
Expected launch – March 2013

Chevrolet Enjoy

Okay, so Chevrolet seems to have gone a bit overboard while naming this one but chances are that you will like this compact MPV thanks to its highly competitive price, which is believed to be starting at Rs 7 lakh. Few know this but the Enjoy is actually a Chinese van, which is part of GM India’s Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation’s product portfolio. The seven-seater will boast of more interior space than the Ertiga. Powering the MPV will be the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine along with a 1.4-litre petrol engine. The Enjoy should be here by March 2013.

Estimated price - Rs 7 lakh
Expected launch – March 2013

Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSi

VW Polo fans as well as hot hatch fans can rejoice. VW will finally introduce a 1.2-litre TSi petrol engine in the Polo. This engine will develop over 100bhp but more importantly, since it is a 1.2-litre petrol, you will get the excise benefits that are doled out to cars under 4-metres long having 1.2-litre engines (in petrol guise), making it cost competitive. All this power will be transferred via a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The car should arrive in the first half of 2013 with an estimated on-road price between Rs 7-8 lakh.

Estimated price - Rs 7-8 lakh
Expected launch – April 2013

Updated Fiat Linea and Punto

Fiat has plans to inject some life into its staid line-up and will update the Linea and Punto range inside out. The cars will get an all-new front bumper, grille as well as headlamps to make them look different from the current range. The interiors will be spruced up too with fresh new fabric and higher-quality plastic materials used for the cabin. This will be the first-ever major overhaul on the Fiat range since the company parted ways with Tata Motors a few months ago. We however do not expect any changes on the engines, which will remain untouched. The updated Fiats will arrive in the first half of 2013.

Estimated price - Rs 5.5- Rs 8.5 lakh (Punto)/Rs 7-12 lakh (Linea)
Expected launch – April 2013

Updated Toyota Etios/Liva

It’s a well-known fact that the Etios and Liva haven’t been the bumper hits Toyota had anticipated them to be. That’s largely due to the fact that buyers don’t find the interiors premium enough. Toyota is correcting this. A flurry of beige will replace the current grey, along with a boost in the car’s plastic quality to give it a premium feel, something that the rivals have. We can also expect the seat cushioning to be made more sumptuous, a constant grouse with current owners. There are minor updates expected on the exteriors as well. A fresh set of head and tail lamps along with a new grille (like in the new Innova), should work to help the car appeal to a wider (and more importantly, younger) set of owners. The updated cars arrive in April next year.

Estimated price - Rs 5.5- Rs 7 lakh (Liva)/Rs 6.5-8.5 lakh (Etios)
Expected launch – April 2013

New Skoda Octavia

The Octavia name disappeared from the Indian market when Skoda pulled the plug on it thanks to tightening emission norms in 2010. But the Czech-giant is all set to bring back the name in late 2013. The car will be bigger than old Octavia. There is a choice of diesels, the base being a 103bhp 1.6, and there will also be a frugal 108bhp Greenline version of the 1.6. Two 2.0-litre TDIs will also be on offer, with 147bhp and 181bhp. However, which of the motor options will be brought to India still remains sketchy. The 1.4-litre petrol with 120bhp which does duty on the Jetta will also make it on the new Octy. The car arrives here towards the latter end of 2013 and will be priced around Rs 14 lakh.

Estimated price - Rs 14-15 lakh
Expected launch – November 2013

Tata Nano Diesel

We’ve all been waiting for this one for a very long time but it seems that the Nano diesel will finally arrive towards the end of 2013. The Tata Nano’s diesel version will get a 800cc-two cylinder diesel engine with around 40bhp of power and 100-110Nm of torque at around 1,500-2,000rpm. Tata engineers are working hard to achieve the internal target of 30kpl for this car. The Nano diesel will start at Rs 2.25 lakh when it hits the road.

Estimated price - Rs 2-2.5 lakh
Expected launch – December 2013

Jeep Wrangler & Cherokee

SUV purists rejoice. The original Jeep brand will finally be here in 2013 courtesy Fiat, which owns a stake in the brand. The first two SUVs will be the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee. Powering the Cherokee for India will be a 3.6-litre common-rail V6 diesel engine with 290bhp. The Cherokee will cater to people looking for creature comforts and daily practicality over out and out 4x4 skills. For outright off-roading, the Wrangler will be your weapon of choice. Powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine with 198bhp. Since both will be sold as full imports, chances are slim that they will be affordable. Still, you can expect the Wrangler to start at around Rs 25 lakh while the Cherokee should retail for around Rs 30 lakh. The Jeeps should start arriving by the end of 2013.

Estimated price - Rs 25-30 lakh
Expected launch – December 2013