Honda City facelift, new Hyundai Verna, Toyota Innova Crysta diesel and Maruti Suzuki Fronx are some of the new launches lined up.
The month of March is right around the corner and there are a slew of new car, SUV launches from brands like Toyota, Honda and Maruti Suzuki lined up. We bring you the list of what to expect in the coming weeks.
1. Honda City facelift – March 2
The fifth-gen City is due for a mid-life refresh and will be the first update to the car since its launch in mid-2020. Price announcement will take place on March 2, 2023, with test drives commencing the next day. The new City will see the addition of ADAS features to the higher trims of the regular petrol engine. Both the strong-hybrid as well as the regular petrol variant will see new entry-level trims.
2. New Hyundai Verna – March 21 global debut
The all-new Verna gets radical styling on the outside and will be a tad larger than the outgoing model. It will come with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the 115hp 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine will be carried over as is. Like the rest of the midsize sedan segment, the new Verna will not get a diesel engine anymore. Bookings for the new Verna are currently open and price announcement could take place in India on the same day as the global debut.
3. Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 turbo-petrol
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The Hyundai Alcazar will also be receiving a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine – the same that will also be available on the new Verna. This new turbo-petrol is good for 160hp and 253Nm, and replaces the ageing 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol that churned out 159hp and 192Nm. Bookings for the updated Alcazar are now open, with the booking amount set at Rs 25,000. Hyundai has also taken the opputunity to slightly tweak the front fascia of the Alcazar.
4. Toyota Innova Crysta diesel
Toyota has reintroduced the Innova Crysta diesel after a short hiatus. Before getting discontinued, the Crysta was only available with the 2.7-litre petrol engine, whereas it will now be available only with the 2.4-litre diesel powertrain. This is also the first time Toyota will sell two Innova models simultaneously. Furthermore, as a part of the update, the Innova Crysta also gets a revised front bumper, grille and fog lamp housing.
5. Lexus RX
Lexus showcased the fifth-gen RX SUV at Auto Expo 2023 and it is expected to be launched in the coming days. It will be available in two trims – RX 350h Luxury and RX 500h F Sport Performance. It gets a choice of a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol, where both get strong-hybrid assist. While the former is paired to a CVT, the latter gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
6. Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG
Once it is launched, the Brezza will become the first CNG-powered vehicle in the country with an automatic gearbox. It will be powered by the 1.5-litre K15C DualJet engine that also does duty in the Ertiga and XL6. In the MPVs, it produces 100hp and 136Nm in petrol mode and 88hp and 121.5Nm in CNG mode. Expect similar outputs in the Brezza. While the Ertiga and XL6 CNG get only a 5-speed manual gearbox, the Brezza will also get a 6-speed torque converter automatic.
7. Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Maruti’s latest compact SUV is the Baleno-based Fronx SUV coupe. It will get two engine options – a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.2-litre petrol. While both are coupled with a 5-speed manual, the turbo-petrol will get a 6-speed automatic and the petrol gets an AMT gearbox. It will be sold via Nexa outlets and will rival the Citroen C3, Tata Punch, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
Also see:
Citroen eC3 launched at Rs 11.50 lakh
