Best Cars for First-Time Buyers in India (2026 Edition)

For first-time car buyers in India, the ideal car should offer reliability, safety, low maintenance costs, good fuel efficiency, and strong resale value. The Indian market offers excellent options across every budget range, from practical city hatchbacks to premium SUVs and EVs.

Buying your first car is an exciting milestone. However, choosing the right vehicle can be overwhelming with so many options available. The best first car should be easy to drive, economical to maintain, fuel-efficient, safe, and backed by a strong service network.

Here are the best cars for first-time buyers in India across different budget segments.

1. Best Cars Under ₹6 Lakhs

1. Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Why Consider It?

• Excellent fuel efficiency
• Spacious cabin despite compact size
• Low maintenance costs
• Strong resale value
• Ideal for city driving

2. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Why Consider It?

• One of the most affordable cars in India
• Easy to maneuver in traffic
• Highly fuel efficient
• Reliable ownership experience

3. Renault Kwid

Why Consider It?

• SUV-inspired styling
• Good ground clearance
• Feature-rich for the price
• Suitable for urban and semi-urban roads

4. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Why Consider It?

• Tall seating position
• Excellent visibility
• Fuel-efficient engine
• Affordable running costs

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2. Best Cars Between ₹6–12 Lakhs

1. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Why Consider It?

• Premium hatchback feel
• Spacious interior
• Efficient petrol engine
• Extensive service network

2. Hyundai Venue

Why Consider It?

• Compact SUV styling
• Modern features and technology
• Comfortable ride quality
• Good safety package

3. Tata Nexon

Why Consider It?

• Strong safety credentials
• Robust build quality
• Available in petrol, diesel and EV variants
• Suitable for both city and highway use

4. Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Why Consider It?

• Reliable ownership experience
• Excellent resale value
• Practical family SUV
• Strong after-sales support

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3. Best Cars Between ₹12–20 Lakhs

1. Hyundai Creta

Why Consider It?

• Segment benchmark SUV
• Premium cabin and features
• Comfortable for long journeys
• Multiple engine options

2. Kia Seltos

Why Consider It?

• Stylish design
• Feature-loaded interior
• Strong performance options
• Excellent highway manners

3. Honda Elevate

Why Consider It?

• Refined petrol engine
• Spacious cabin
• Excellent visibility
• Honda reliability and durability

4. Mahindra XUV700

Why Consider It?

• Premium features
• Advanced safety technologies
• Powerful engines
• Outstanding value for money

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4. Best Cars Above ₹20 Lakhs

1. Toyota Fortuner

Why Consider It?

• Legendary reliability
• Excellent resale value
• Strong road presence
• Proven long-term ownership experience

2. Toyota Innova Hycross

Why Consider It?

• Exceptional family vehicle
• Hybrid efficiency
• Comfortable and spacious cabin
• Low maintenance for its size

3. BMW X1

Why Consider It?

• Premium brand ownership
• Easy-to-drive luxury SUV
• Excellent build quality
• Ideal entry-level luxury vehicle

4. Hyundai Ioniq 5

Why Consider It?

• Advanced electric vehicle technology
• Long driving range
• Premium design and features
• Future-ready ownership experience

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Final Recommendation

If budget is the primary concern, the WagonR remains one of the smartest first-car purchases in India.

For buyers seeking the best overall balance of features, safety, and value, the Tata Nexon and Hyundai Creta are standout choices.

Those entering the premium segment should consider the Toyota Innova Hycross for family use and the BMW X1 for luxury ownership.

The ideal first car is not necessarily the most expensive one—it is the car that best matches your daily needs, budget, and long-term ownership expectations.

Quick Winners by Category

Budget	Best Overall Choice
Up to ₹6 Lakhs	Maruti Suzuki WagonR
₹6–12 Lakhs	Tata Nexon
₹12–20 Lakhs	Hyundai Creta
₹20 Lakhs+	Toyota Innova Hycross
Best EV for First-Time Buyer	Hyundai Ioniq 5
Best Resale Value	Toyota Fortuner
Lowest Ownership Cost	Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Tip: For most first-time buyers in India, the ₹8–15 lakh segment currently offers the best combination of safety, technology, comfort, and long-term value. The Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Brezza, Creta, and Honda Elevate are among the most well-rounded choices available today.

The above view is solely my view and the reader should consider it for general information purposes only. It should not be relied upon as professional advice, and readers should consult a qualified expert before making any decisions.

Which is the best car for the first-time buyers in India?

That depends on your budget.
If you don’t have a budget then let me give you a simple technique to find your budget.

If you love cars and driving is your passion, then the monthly EMI on the car loan shouldn’t be more than 25% of your monthly income.

If you want a car just for transport, then monthly EMI on the car loan shouldn’t cross 15%–20%.

You can find your monthly EMI amount on any car using any web portal allowing car price comparisons.

Use this information to set a budget.

Now, if your budget allows you to get a car with AMT transmission, get it. You don’t have to change gears or press clutch. It makes driving in city much more effortless. 

Ford launches new EcoSport starting from Rs 6.79 lakh onwards

Ford India, launched the new version of its popular compact sports utility vehicle EcoSport, priced between Rs. 6.79 lakh and Rs.10.44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 

Ford India has readied the new version of the EcoSport to wrest leadership from Hyundai's newly launched Creta and counter Mahindra's new TUV 300. Hyundai Motor India, which launched the Creta in July, has already got more than 54,000 bookings for the SUV and is making on an average 7,000 units a month.

Visual changes are negligible, apart from signature light guides in the headlamps, which will now also feature daytime running lights/fog lamps. The interiors benefit from chrome treatment on inner door handles, cluster ring and cluster appliqué, window regulator switches and air register tabs, while the steering wheel and handbrake lever are now trimmed in leather.

"Ahead of the festive season, we have made our clever, compact SUV even more stylish with a host of smart features and enhanced power to delight consumers," Ford India president and managing director Nigel Harris said in a statement. 

The new EcoSport comes in three engine options. The petrol variant powered by 1.5 litre engine is priced between Rs 6.79 lakh and Rs 9.93 lakh, while the other petrol option powered by Ford's 1 litre EcoBoost engine is available at a range of Rs 8.53 lakh and Rs 9.89 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The diesel variant powered by 1.5 litre engine with improved power is tagged at Rs 7.98 lakh to Rs 10.44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 

In the new face-lifted avatar of EcoSport, Ecoboost petrol engine will also be available on the mid-variant Trend+. 

Here’s the complete variant-wise list of the additional features that will be offered with updated Ford EcoSport:

• Ambiente: 12V Power socket and rear folding seats
• Trend: ABS+EBD
• Trend+ (New Variant): IN addition to the features offered on the Trend trim, this will get dual front airbags, auto aicon, distance to empty, outside temp display, econometer, average speed, avg fuel efficiency, fog lamps, chrome grille, roof rails, signature light guide for the headlamps.
• Titanium: Smart Key, Keyless entry, Push button start
• Titanium+: Auto wipers, auto headlamps, daytime running lights, interior chrome pack, leather-wrapped handbrake.

Ford India said among other features, the new EcoSport is equipped with rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and electrochromic mirror that automatically deflects a beam of light from trailing vehicles to minimise obstruction to drivers.

The new version of the EcoSport, along with a new Figo hatchback and the Aspire compact sedan, will improve Ford's position in the Indian market. 

Maruti Suzuki likely to Launch Facelift Ertiga by October 10.

After its launch in April 2012, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga hasn't received any face-lift. With the rising competition in the compact MPV space, it has become necessary for the Indo-Japanese car-maker to refresh it. 

The updated Maruti Suzuki Ertiga which is rumored to be in showrooms by October 10, 2015. The leaked pamphlet suggests that the new Maruti Ertiga will come with a seat belt reminder buzzer and driver airbag as standard. New L(O) and Z+ variants is also part of the lineup which includes LXi/LDi, VXi/VDi and ZXi/ZDi.

The updated version of the seven-seater MUV gets tweaks both to the exterior and interior and its diesel engine will also get the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) micro-hybrid system that was recently launched with the Ciaz hybrid. The SHVS will help the Ertiga face-lift return better fuel efficiency than the present models.

The most noteworthy changes given to the 2015 Ertiga face-lift are up front. The front of the vehicle looks slightly bolder with a new triple-slat chrome grille with revised air dam, revamped radiator grille, new bumper, fog lamp enclosures with chrome bezels, etc. Other styling elements are - 10-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, revised tail-lamp cluster with new reflector elements, new bumper and a thick chrome garnish on the license plate.

The company has updated the vehicle's cabin too with dual-tone finished dashboard, brown seat fabric, steering wheel with silver inserts, etc. The 2015 Ertiga also features electrically-adjustable outside rear-view mirrors (ORVMs), third row seats with 50:50 split, driver & front passenger airbags, one push power up driver-side window, etc.

New Ford Figo Launched in India

Ford India is launched the much-awaited new Ford Figo 2015 in India.  The American carmaker Ford rolled out the car at a starting price of Rs. 4.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The new Figo is lot more spacious, feature rich and premium than the previous generation model.

Sharing most of its design elements, features, and engine options with the Aspire, the new-gen Figo definitely looks more upmarket than before. With the first-in-class 6 airbags, dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the most powerful engine lineup, the Figo is also the most feature-loaded car in its league. Like the Ford Figo Aspire compact sedan, the new Figo will be manufactured at the company's Sanand, Gujarat facility. 

The new Ford Figo directly rival against the likes of the Hyundai Grand i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Honda Brio and Chevrolet Beat. 

The new Figo is available in three engine options- 1.2-litre Ti-VCT petrol, 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol and a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel. While the entry-level petrol engine is good for 88 PS of power and 112Nm of torque, the 1.5L Ti-VCT motor is capable of producing 112 PS of power. The oil burner is good for 100 PS of power at 4,000rpm and 215Nm of torque. Transmission options include a five-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox (Petrol). 

The new Ford Figo gets segment first six airbags (driver and co-passenger airbags, side and curtain airbags), Perimeter Alarm, Hill Launch Assist, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic BrakeForce Distribution), reverse parking sensors and engine immobilizer. 

The new Figo is available in three trim levels- Ambiente, Trend and Titanium. Dual airbags come as standard on all variants. The base model is equipped with rear fog lamps, fabric upholstery, guid-me-home-lamps, tilt adjustable steering wheel, front power windows with one-touch up-down driver window, electric boot release and remote locking. The mid-level Trend variant gets all the features that are accessible in base trim. Adding to it, this variant gets front fog lamps, rear centre armrest, boot lamp, steering-mounted controls, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, all power windows, AM/FM Radio with AUX input, USB and Bluetooth. 

The range-topping variant gets rear defogger, driver seat height adjustment, climate control, ABS with EBD, ESP, alloy wheels, 4.2 MFD screen for the infotainment system, Ford MyKey and Emergency Assistance, SYNC with voice control and AppLink system, leather upholstered seats and 6 airbags (dual front, side and curtain).

The new Ford Figo hatchback comes in six exterior paint jobs- Orange/Gold, White, Grey, Black, Blue and Red.

New Ford Figo 2015 Segment First features include- six airbags (driver and co-driver airbags, side and curtain airbags), Hill Launch Assist, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), SYNC with Voice Control and AppLink system, leather upholstery for seats, 4.2 MFD screen for the infotainment system, Ford MyKey and Emergency Assistance.

The new Figo shares the engine lineup with the Figo Aspire compact sedan. While the diesel version of the hatchback is expected to return about 25.83kmpl, the petrol engine could deliver about 18kmpl. The powerful 1.5L Ti-VCT motor offers about 17kmpl of fuel efficiency.

Renault launches Kwid with price starting at Rs 2.57 lakh

French auto major Renault on Thursday launched one of the most awaited cars of this year 'Kwid' in India with introductory price starting at Rs 2.57 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The hatchback, which would come in four variants and two options, is priced between Rs 2.57 lakh and Rs 3.53 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The vehicle is equipped with various segment leading features and is also the country's most fuel efficient petrol car. 

The small car directly rival against the likes of the already established brands including Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon, Maruti Celerio, Datsun Go and Maruti Suzuki WagonR. The small car comes in four trim levels- Standard, RxE, RxL and RxT. Dimensionally, the Kwid measures 3,679mm in length, 1,579mm in width, 1,471mm in height, and it comes with a wheelbase of 2422mm. The vehicle has a segment leading ground clearance of 180mm, which ensures hassle free driving even on rough roads. The Kwid offers an excellent boot space of 300-litres, which can be further extended up to 115-litres by folding the rear seats. 

Renault Kwid will draw power from 799cc 3-cylinder petrol motor, which is tuned to churn out 54PS and a peak torque of 72Nm. The model is expected to offer the best-in class mileage at 25.17kmpl. As for transmissions, Kwid is likely to include both manual and automated manual transmission (AMT) options. The Kwid is also rumoured to include a1.0-litre petrol engine in its engine line-up later this year.

Renault Kwid, a small hatch designed like an SUV is expected to be launched infour variants -- Standard, RxE, RxL and RxT. From what we hear, the new small car in the Indian market will be available in five exterior body shades of Fiery Red, Ice Cool White, Planet Grey, Moonlight Silver and Outback Bronze.

 

In terms of dimensions, Renault Kwid measures 3679mm long, 1579mm tall and 1471mm wide. It has an impressive wheelbase of 2422mm with class leading ground clearance of 180 mm and a boot capacity of 300 litre.

Renault Kwid will come with the segment's first ever touchscreen Media-Nav Navigation System with a seven-inch display, digital instrument console, alloy wheels, chrome door handles, chrome touched tail lights, roof rails and side body cladding.

 

“Kwid is astutely designed, loaded with class leading features and comes at a compelling price point. No car can be compared to Kwid at this point in time,” Renault India Operations’ country CEO and managing director Sumit Sawhney told reporters in New Delhi.

The company has taken the localization level to 98% in Kwid, the highest ever by an auto manufacturer in India at the onset of launch, he added.

Renault Kwid Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Renault Kwid Std (Base) - Rs. 2.56 lakh

Renault Kwid RxE - Rs.2.88 lakh

Renault Kwid RxE (O) - Rs. 2.94 lakh

Renault Kwid RxL - Rs. 3.11 lakh

Renault Kwid RxT - Rs. 3.44 lakh

Renault Kwid RxT (O)- Rs. 3.53 lakh

Ford launches its first compact sedan Figo Aspire at Rs 4.9 lakhs

Ford India launched its first compact sedan Figo Aspire in India today at a starting price of Rs. 4.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

With several segment-first features such as 6 airbags, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, leather seats, etc, the Ford Figo Aspire takes on the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Tata Zest and others in the sub-4 metre sedan segment. The Ford Figo Aspire has become the first car in its league to offer driver and front-passenger airbags standard across all variants.

It will replace the company's ageing Fiesta Classic sedan in the Indian market, which had seen sluggish sales due to a proliferation of compact sedans like Maruti Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze and Hyundai Xcent in the last three years. Sub-four-metre sedans due to their shorter length get excise duty benefits and are priced significantly less than full sized bigger sedans.

The new sub-compact sedan is offered with three engine options - a 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol (110bhp), a 1.2-litre Ti-VCT petrol (87bhp) and a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel (99bhp). While the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel-engined variants will get a 5-speed manual gearbox, the 1.5-litre petrol model will come equipped with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.

"There are many high end features that we are offering with the Figo aspire like six airbags and leather seats that are not on offer in this category," said Nigel Harris, president and managing director, Ford India. "It will also be exported out of here world over and Sanand will be a world class export hub. This is not a compromised car."

Figo Aspire is powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine that belts out 88 PS power and 112 NM of torque and has a rated fuel economy of 18.2 kpl. The 1.5 litre diesel engine gives 100 PS power and 215 NM of torque with a fuel economy of 25.83 kpl. For a first, Ford is offering dual airbags as a standard feature in the Figo Aspire. The top end variant of the car is also equipped with six airbags - a first in this segment. 

The company will follow up the sedan with a hatchback version in the next few months that will replace the existing Figo small car. Compact cars is the largest segment in the Indian market accounting for 45% of overall sales or almost 1.1 million cars per annum. The segment is expected to grow to around 1.8 million cars per annum by 2018. Globally small cars are expected to account for 60% of overall sales in the near future.

In India, around 350,000 units of compact sedans are sold every year with Maruti Dzire the dominant leader with around 200,000 unit sales annually.

FIAT launches Avventura in India

Fiat Group Automobiles India, the fully owned subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, today launched compact sports utility vehicle Avventura at a price starting from Rs 5.99 lakh.

The new Avventura is a compact crossover model from Fiat India. It is based on the Punto platform and shares majority of its underpinnings and interior with the former. It is the Italian automaker’s entry into the now trending hatchback-based compact crossover segment which has been getting a lot of attention from Indian buyers lately. Other players in this segment at the moment include the Volkswagen Cross Polo and the Toyota Etios Cross.

Fiat is planning to go on the offensive in 2014 for India to turn around its fortunes and the first in the scheme of things will be the Fiat Punto Avventura, which as the name suggests is a ‘tougher’ variant of the Grande Punto.

Fiat Avventura price list (ex-showroom Delhi) is as below:

Fiat Avventura Petrol Price In India

Fiat Avventura Active Petrol is priced at Rs. 5.99 Lakhs

Fiat Avventura Dynamic Petrol is priced at Rs. 7.05 Lakhs

Fiat Avventura Diesel Price In India

Fiat Avventura Active Diesel is priced at Rs. 6.89 Lakhs

Fiat Avventura Dynamic Diesel  is priced at Rs. 7.65 Lakhs

Fiat Avventura Emotion Diesel is priced at Rs. 8.17 Lakhs

Honda launches Mobilio in India at a price tag of Rs. 6.49 lakh

Japanese car maker Honda has launched its much awaited seven seater MPV, the Mobilio. The vehicle is available at a price of Rs. 6.49 lakh (Ex-showroom Delhi for petrol base variant) and Rs. 7.89 lakh (Ex-showroom Delhi for the diesel base variant).

The company has made Honda Mobilio available in three exciting trims i.e. the E, the S and the V.

Honda Cars India president and CEO Hironori Kanayama said, “The launch of Honda Mobilio follows the success of Honda Amaze and the new City, which led to our exceptional growth of 83 per cent in the previous financial year.”

Developed at the company’s R&D centres in Bangkok exclusively for the Asian markets, particularly Indonesia and India. During the fiscal 2013-14, Honda Cars India reported 83 per cent increase in sales at 1,34,339 units as against 73,483 units during the previous year. Honda India aims to sell 300,000 units annually by March 2017. 

Mobilio, is competing with Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Enjoy and Nissan Evalia in the MPV Segment.

Mobilio will be offered in both petrol and diesel versions, the 1.5 litre 16Vi.DTEC 4 cylinder petrol engine generates the max power of 119 bhp at 6600 rpm, produces the torque of 145Nm at 4800 rpm. The price of petrol variant starts from INR 6.49 lakhs for the base model Mobilio E, and will go upto 8.76 lakhs for the top end variant which is called Honda Mobilio V.  

The diesel model will be powered by the 1.5 litre 16 Vi. DTEC diesel engine, with max power of 100 bhp at 3600 rpm and a peak torque of 200 Nm at 1750 rpm. 

The 1.5 litre i-DTEC diesel engine of the Mobilio, based on Honda’s latest Earth Dreams Technology, delivers a power of 100 ps@3600 rpm, maximum torque of 200 Nm@1750 rpm and fuel economy of 24.2 kmpl as per test data. The 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine delivers a maximum power of 119 ps@6600 rpm, maximum torque of 145 Nm@4600 rpm and fuel economy of 17.3 kmpl. The price of diesel variant starts from INR 7.89 lakhs for the base model Mobilio E, and will go upto 10.86 lakhs for the top end variant which is called Honda Mobilio RS. 

A fuel efficient Automated Manual Transmission called EZ drive in Celerio from Maruti.

Maruti will debut an Automated Manual Transmission in its latest small car, rumored to be called Celerio, in India next month. It will be the first time for such gearboxes to be used in cars in India and being a pioneer in the car industry with this new gearbox, Maruti expects it to change the face of urban motoring calling it a ‘revolution’.

 

 

The gearbox has been christened ‘EZ Drive’ pronounced as Easy drive. The AMT uses manual shift patterns at the gear lever but without the physical input for the clutch. By automating the clutching mechanism but leaving the gear shifting mechanism to the driver, the gearbox becomes cheaper to manufacture and as a result should find more takers. By relieving the driver from engaging and disengaging the clutch, the stress of driving through stop-start traffic is also reduced considerably.

 

 

Reports in the media reveal that the gearbox will be imported at first but it will soon be localized. YL7 is expected to have the tried and-tested 1.0 litre K-Series engine (also used on the A-Star, WagonR and Alto K10) that delivers a claimed fuel-efficiency of around 20.2 kmpl. "The new technology will allow Maruti to make the drive much more comfortable without any drop in mileage and maintain its tag as the most fuel efficient small carmaker," an analyst tracking the auto industry said. In the technical tests conducted by the company, the AMT for mass-production vehicles delivers a 5 per cent higher fuel economy than automatic transmission for the same models along with some emission gains.  

The company has already ceased production of two hatchbacks - A Star and Estilo - and the new car will be showcased at next month's Auto Expo.

Maruti to launch new Swift, Dzire in 2014

Indian automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki may launch the face lifted versions of the Swift hatchback and Dzire compact sedan in the first quarter of 2014. These new variants are likely to be showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo.

 

 

Swift is Maruti’s largest selling premium hatchback in the country and has been a hot favorite of the masses in this segment since 2005, the year when it was introduced in India.

 

The company has a plan to make the diesel engines in Japan for upcoming Maruti models in India. The future growth of diesel vehicles in India will be going to good and thus Japanese parent Suzuki is becoming a helping hand for the making of engines and though Suzuki is making two in house engines.

Maruti Suzuki launched the Swift in 2005 and ever since the car has been a runaway success. In late 2011 the all-new Swift was launched which took the game even further. The Japanese carmaker has never rushed in to give their products a facelift, but stiff competition has ensured that no car company can rest on their laurels.

 

The Swift leads the Premium hatchback or B+ segment and the Swift Dzire also leads the compact sedan segment. The Swift and the Dzire will get updated  and seems like Maruti will showcase the face lifted versions at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, if rumors are to be believed the face lifted versions are expected to hit the showrooms by first quarter next year.

Porsche India started bookings of Panamera Turbo S

Porsche India started bookings of Panamera Turbo S prior to debut at Tokyo Motor Show – Price to be more than Rs. 2 crores.

Porsche has added one more model to its portfolio in the Indian market making it clear for the world how the country’s automotive spirit has evolved over few couple of years. The demand for production variants of luxury sports cars has enormously grown in recent years comparatively and there is no doubt that all leading automotive manufacturers of premiere cars are eager to try their luck in India. The bookings for ‘Porsche Panamera Turbo S’ have been started in India now and we could see the unit on roads within few weeks.

The brand new Panamera Turbo S was unveiled for the first time at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show held in the month of April. The model is named the fastest and most powerful variant out of all the models of the manufacturer available currently in the world. Turbo S is the successor for the ‘Turbo’ which has been revealed recently. There may not be much difference in the engine configuration and performance specs of both Turbo and the new Turbo S. The design of both these variants is also same mostly except few modifications.

Under the hood, Porsche has fitted a 4.8 litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine that is capable of generating around 570 bhp of power at the peak along with 750 Nm of torque. The power output and torque of Turbo S is around 50 bhp more than that of Turbo. It is informed that Turbo S is capable of attaining 100 kmph speed from rest within just 3.8 seconds only and the top speed of the model is around 310 kmph which is absolutely impressive. Engine comes mated to a 7 speed automatic transmission gear box. The cosmetic changes among Turbo and Turbo S includes a new front bumper design, new interiors, inclusion of 20 inch full alloy wheels with wider tires and a larger rear window.

Porsche is expected to deliver the booked units to buyers in India after its showcase at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show that will be held within a few days. We may expect the price of the new Panamera Turbo S to be around 24 lakhs costlier than that of Panamera Turbo and the price would be more than Rs. 2 crores as Turbo is being sold for Rs. 1.99 crores currently.

Hyundai to launch Grand i10 next month

Hyundai Motor India, the second-largest car manufacturer in the country, is beefing up its small car portfolio with a slew of new models to take on market leader Maruti Suzuki. 

Hyundai has lined up 8-10 launches in the next three to four years. It will drive in a sub-4 metre sedan in the second half of 2014, followed by a multi-purpose vehicle to take on Maruti's Ertiga and a compact SUV positioned between Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster in 2015-16. It's also exploring the potential to launch its flagship saloon Genesis in India.

The company is planning to launch new Eon 1.1 litre, which will be pitted against Maruti’s Alto K10. 

The company launched Eon in October 2011 and currently offers 814cc gasoline engine. 

In the last financial year, Alto sold roughly around 20,000 units a month, while Eon sales averaged around 7,000-8,000 units a month. 

The company will also launch its small car Grand i10 (referred to as the BA until now) in September this year, which is expected to compete with Maruti’s Swift. Grand i10 is a completely new car and will be positioned between i10 and i20. It will be manufactured at the company’s Chennai plant. 

As far as pricing goes, expect significant pricing overlap with both the i10 and i20. Expect the base petrol to start around the Rs 4.5 lakh mark, with the diesel Grand i10 priced at Rs 5.5 lakh.

“The Grand i10 has been positioned above the existing i10 and is targeted at the emerging compact high-entry segment,” the company said. 

Grand i10 will come with two engine variants -- 1.1 litre U2 diesel and 1.2 litre Kappa petrol. 

Even though the passenger car segment declined 10% this fiscal, experts feel that a new launch will bring excitement in the market. 

“Bringing a new product in the segment definitely creates a pull. In terms of product strategy, Hyundai is good at hitting the right area. They offer what Indians want. They were a bit weak on the diesel engine front, but the company will surely benefit with the new diesel engine offering,” said Puneet Gupta, associate director, IHS Automotive.  

Hyundai India reportedly is planning to launch up to four new models in the next two years, including a compact SUV and compact sedan.