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Part-4 - Sedans to be launched in 2012

Though car makers have been putting in efforts to leverage on the growing opportunities in the hatchback and small cars space, the charm of the sedans don’t fail to impress. The demand for the entry level to high end and upmarket sedans are growing by the day, spurred by increasing income levels and interest amongst the Indians. Car makers are cleverly designing their cars to make the best use of the low excise duty levied on the cars measuring less than four meters. The capacity of the petrol engines are kept below 1.2 litres while the diesel engines are designed with a capacity of less than 1.5 litres. The controls help in keeping the prices under check, with an excise duty of 10% as compared to longer cars which are burdened with an excise duty of a whooping 22%. 2012 is witnessing the emergence of a new class of CS or compact sedans and SUVs. Let’s take a look at some of the likely trailblazers for the year.

Mitsubishi Lancer (Next Gen)

The next generation Lancer has been included in the SE AWC range, positioned in between the DE, SE and GT models and the Ralliart versions. The car is the most successful series of the company with sales of the brand hovering about the 1,500 units per month mark, capturing about eight percent of the market share.

The new Lancer sports a more powerful 2.0 Litre 4-cylinder turbo engine with a maximum output of 295 hp, maximum torque of 300 pound feet and a Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) drive system. The Fuel consumption has been reduced from 7.6 litres per 100 km to 6.8 litres per 100 km in case of the manual transmission and from 8.2 lt/100 km to 7.2 Lt/100 km in case of the CVT variant. Other luxury features in the car include Bluetooth telephone connectivity and steering wheel audio, heated front seats, power drivers seat, privacy glass and phone controls. The exterior appearance has been updated with front corner air dams while reversing camera and sensors come as standard features. The safety features of the car include active stability control, dual front, side and curtain and driver’s knee SRS airbags and ABS braking system with Electronic Brake Force Distribution. The Mitsubishi Lancer range has been rated the highest five-star rating according to the ANCAP safety rating.

Renault Laguna (New)

Though the Laguna has been a good looking car with advanced technology, Renault has been seen struggling to keep the model relevant. The car maker was even forced to take the difficult decision to withdraw the Laguna sedan and coupe from the UK markets in Feb 2011.

Renault has currently upgraded its range of diesel engines with the introduction of the Lagoon Stop and Start Technology, regenerative braking, Energy Smart management and an advanced cooling technology amongst others. The car offers engine options of 1.5 dCi which gives out a power of 110 hp and torque of 240 Nm and a 2.0 dCi version with power of 130 hp and torque of 150 Nm and a 320 hp engine with torque of 340 Nm, all of which are mated to 5-speed manual transmissions. The new engine reduces both the emissions and fuel consumptions to the extent of 15%. Renault hopes to take up the demand for its cars with the launch of the new upgraded Laguna in the Indian markets.

Renault Pulse Sedan (New)

French carmaker Renault exhibited three new models, including the Renault Pulse, Duster and a compact sedan at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo in January 2012 and plans to launch five new products by December 2012. The company is considering launching a diesel engine under the hood and to build the sedan on the Nissan Sunny platform. The car, to accommodate five passengers comfortably, is likely to be launched before the end of 2012.

The new Pulse will be available with the K9K diesel 1.5 dCi engine with maximum power of 64 PS @4000 rpm and a peak torque of 160 Nm @2000 rpm. The expected mileage of the car is 23.08 km per litre. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

Skoda Superb (Facelift)

Skoda plans to debut the facelifted version of the Superb at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012 and to release it for sale shortly after. The car maker has worked on the Superb Sedan to induce some serious changes to the nose and back end of the four-door sedan, to combat with the new generation BMW 3-series cars. The new sedan, to be launched in the D segment in India, is expected to garner huge sales for the company, with its spacious interiors coupled with a splendid engine. The car will feature a new bumper, combining the LED daytime running lights with the regular ones on top. The interiors have got a few changes too though it is not yet clear at the moment if there will be any major mechanical changes in the car. Skoda is however expected to improve on the fuel efficiency for the new model.

The Superb available in the market currently allows a choice between a 1.8 litre 140 BHP TSI petrol engine, a 3.6 litre 260 BHP V6 FSI petrol engine and a 2 litre 140 BHP TDI diesel engine.

Tata Manza CS (Next Gen)

Tata Motors Ltd plans to launch a compact Manza CS Sedan in the sub 4-meters length category to take advantage of the tax breaks available for smaller cars in India. The new car will largely feature the same interiors and is likely to be positioned between the Vista and the Manza. The new Manza will not compromise on the comfort features thanks to the unchanged wheelbase, though the boot volume will be trimmed in the shorter version of the car it replaces.

The next-generation Manza C S will feature the same 1.3 litre Multijet diesel motor while the petrol variant will be a 1.2 litre unit SAFIRE engine adopted from the Indica Xeta, producing a power of only 65 bhp.

Toyota Camry (Facelift)

Toyota has unveiled the facelifted 2012 version of Toyota Camry, its volume king and one of its largest coffer filling models. The new version has been designed to be more powerful and lighter than before, shedding 35 kilos, thereby contributing to a better fuel efficiency. The new car offers a comfortable ride, non-threatening exterior design, 10 standard airbags and low maintenance demands. The extra comforts on the new car include a USB port, Bluetooth and MP3 player. The interiors feature seats covered with a fabric called Fraichir, which comprises a combination of silk protein and synthetic fibers which are gentle on the skin. Vehicle Stability Control with traction control comes as standard with all the models.

The facelifted Camry features an LE four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine which can sprint from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, making it 0.6 second quicker than the 2010 model. The 2.5 litre inline-four has a power of 178 hp and a maximum torque of 170 lb-ft. The engine is mated to a six-speed auto transmission system. The car has a fuel economy of 25 mpg (22 mpg in the outgoing model) on city roads and 35 mpg (32 earlier) on the highways.

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