With manufacturers revving up the odds to catch up with the losses incurred due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2022 is going to witness many upgrades and new car releases.
Let us look at 6 most awaited upgrades and new cars in the FY 2022.
1. Next Generation Maruti Baleno.
Maruti Suzuki has been pushing the Baleno brand since 2016. Design-wise, the car will get major changes at the front and at the back. The infotainment system is set to take the centre stage of the dashboard with changes in AC vent placements. We do not expect any changes under the hood. The car currently makes use of the 1.2-litre petrol engine.
Estimated Price: From ₹6 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards.
2. Skoda Slavia.
Slavia is Skoda’s new premium mid-sized sedan. The front grille is bold and is flanked by headlights with crystalline detailing. Chrome is added on the front and back bumpers. Interiors are similar to the Kushaq. The sedan will be available with two engine options (same as Kushaq): 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol. Both engines will have manual and automatic transmission choices.
Estimated Price: From ₹10 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards
3. Next generation Mahindra Scorpio.
The Scorpio has already undergone three facelifts post its first launch in 2002. The fourth facelift is expected with two engine options (both borrowed from Thar): 2.0-L turbo-petrol unit and 2.2-L turbo-diesel unit. The transmission will be both manual and automatic. The car looks familiar to the existing model, but will get new bumpers. More changes are expected in the interior. It will boast a centralized large touch screen infotainment system.
Estimated Price: From ₹10 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards
4. Kia Carens.
Kia has lined-up a good variety of cars in the Indian market, making it the fourth most sold carmaker of India in September 2021. The next car is a new MPV, Carens, set to be launched by early 2022. The vehicle will be powered by a 1.5-L petrol engine and a 1.5-L diesel engine, both already available in Seltos and Sonet. Manual and automatic gearbox options are also anticipated. Bold sharp body lines and LED lights outline the exterior. The MUV is also set to have a fully digital instrument cluster.
Estimated Price: From ₹15 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards
5. Mahindra eKUV100.
With the increase in sales of electric vehicles, Mahindra eKUV100 is already drawing some attention. The car will have a 40 kW electric car connected to a 15.9 kWh battery pack. The driving range will be at a maximum of 150 kms per full charge. At the front the sweptback headlights take prominence. The car will have dashboard mounted gear, below the infotainment screen.
Estimated Price: From ₹8 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards
6. Jeep Meridian.
Jeep is all set to launch the 7-Seater Meridian, the Indian version of the Commander. The car borrows most of cabin styling and design from the Compass, but will have significant exterior styling changes. The car will be slightly bigger than the Compass and will have the 2-L turbo diesel engine and possibly the 1.3-L petrol engine.
Estimated Price: From ₹35 lakhs (ex-showroom) onwards