Top Car Launches of 2016

It has been a busy 2016 in terms of new introductions in the Indian automotive market and it wasn't surprising since we had the Auto Expo at the beginning of the year. From iconic sportscars to mass market hatchbacks and compact SUVs, the country has been offered with a host of new vehicles in various segments. A few such examples are the Ford Mustang, Vitara Brezza, Tata Tiago, Endeavour, Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT, Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta and we have listed down how they gained popularity with the aspirational as well as mass consumers in the country.

Ford Mustang

The first American muscle car was officially introduced in India in July, 2016 at a price tag of Rs 65 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. A long hood with a short rear deck and signature three slat tail lamp, all exude the heritage Carol Shelby and Henry Ford started in 1967, the year the first production Mustang was introduced. The build quality, use of materials and a host of driver aids on board as well as appreciable ground clearance make the Mustang the ideal sportscar for everyday use.

Powering the muscle car is only one engine option for India, a 5.0 litre naturally aspirated V8 engine that pumps out 400 hp of power at 6,500 rpm and 515 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, this combination sends power to the rear wheels. Along with the V8 rumble exiting the tailpipe and a cockpit-inspired cabin, the Mustang checks most boxes for the enthusiast. We recently drove the Mustang GT from Ahmedabad to Surat and found out whether the Pony car makes sense on the Indian roads or not and if it really is more expensive than it ought to be. 

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Compact SUVs have been hugely popular in urban areas due to its commanding driving position and smaller dimensions for easy maneuverability. Ford was the first to take the cake with the introduction of the EcoSport. That said, Maruti Suzuki, despite being a little late in the game, introduced the Vitara Brezza in March, 2016 at an introductory starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. This made Ford reconsider the pricing of the EcoSport which was immediately slashed by almost Rs 1.5 lakh so that the compact SUV from the American carmaker would stay competitive in the price battle. That said, the Vitara Brezza garnered a huge interest and has sold over 83,000 units since its launch along with garnering a huge waiting period.

Powering the Vitara Brezza is a 1.3 litre DDiS diesel engine that has been seen doing duty in other Maruti Suzuki cars like the Baleno, Swift, DZire, Ertiga and other models. This engine generates 89 hp of power at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. Currently the Vitara Brezza is available only with a manual transmission and a diesel engine, however, there have been speculations of a petrol engine and AMT or automatic transmissions in tow for 2017. We would also love to see the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) added to the diesel engine which is a mild-hybrid technology for better fuel efficiency and lesser emissions.

Renault Kwid 1.0 litre AMT

After the introduction of the Renault Duster in the Indian car market, the French car company wanted to introduce the most affordable car from them. The Kwid was introduced with an 800 cc petrol engine, better features list and a starting price tag of Rs 2.65 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, which made it a good proposition. The Renault Kwid was modern in terms of design and the tall stance attracted a lot of potential car buyers. While the Alto 800 sold an impressive 11,660 units in November 2016, the French small car took the second spot as it sold 7,847 units in the same period.

The 1.0 litre Kwid AMT (Available at Rs 4.26 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi) has also been pitted against the Alto K10 AGS variants (Starting at Rs 4.05 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi). Unlike the Alto K10, a touchscreen MediaNav infotainment system offered with the Kwid also added to the attraction for young buyers in cities. Power generated by this motor is 67 hp at 5,500 rpm and 91 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. This engine, mated to an automatic transmission has a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.01 kmpl, which is comparable to the segment competitors.

Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota's earlier generation Fortuner and Innova are among the top two cars that contributed to a major extent in the company's sales. The Innova become a hit amongst fleet owners due to its rock-solid reliability and consistently strong sales since its introduction in 2012, is proof enough for its popularity. In addition, the passenger vehicle became a practical family car for a number of large families. The Fortuner instead became the new choice of those who love to own a car with a dominating road presence.

After a few facelifts on both models, Toyota came up with the Innova Crysta, a premium MPV and the new Fortuner, an SUV designed for the urban environment. The Innova Crysta that was launched in 2016, garnered popularity immediately (The Innova Crysta has sold over 50,000 units since its launch) and premium touches made it the ideal choice for a person who would want a luxurious people carrier. On the other hand, the Fortuner lost its brute design but gained an urban friendly face. Launched on 7th November 2016, the new Fortuner, like its predecessor gained immediate popularity and within a month of its launch, more than 6,200 units were booked.

Both cars are underpinned by the same platform and powered by the same set of engines, a 2.7 litre petrol, a 2.4 litre diesel and a 2.8 litre diesel. The Fortuner, however, missed out on the smaller diesel unit, however, gets a new all-wheel drive system with Limited Slip Differential for the diesel engine powered variants.