Auto Expo 2020: Day 1 Highlights

The big unveil at the Maruti Suzuki stand was the Futuro-e concept. The SUV concept is being pegged as a design study that previews the styling that future Maruti Suzuki models are likely to employ. The concept shown was all-electric model but can support hybrid powertrains as well.

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Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e concept image gallery

An all-electric version of the Kwid hatchback, the Renault K-ZE made its India debut with a 44hp electric motor and a 26.8kWh battery pack. The K-ZE has a claimed range of 271km (NEDC cycle) and will be launched in India within the next two years. 

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Renault K-ZE image gallery

Renault also revealed the production-spec Triber AMT. It’s powered by the same BS6-compliant 72hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine like the manual; the only mechanical change being the inclusion of the 5-speed AMT gearbox. Slated to launch in Q2 2020, the Triber AMT will be costlier than the manual versions by about Rs 50,000.

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Renault Triber AMT image gallery

Revealed in its close-to-production form, the Tata HBX (earlier known as the H2X concept) is the homegrown carmaker’s all-new micro SUV that will slot in below the Nexon in its SUV line-up. The HBX is Tata’s second model to be underpinned by the brand’s new modular ALFA platform and it will be powered by the 86hp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine borrowed from the Tiago. 

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Tata HBX concept image gallery

The legendary Tata Sierra made a comeback this Auto Expo as an electric vehicle concept. Classic design cues from the original car (like the curved-over rear-side windows) have been carried forward to the Sierra EV concept, which induced some nostalgia. However, Tata is yet to confirm the model’s powertrain and launch details.

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Tata Sierra EV concept image gallery

Hyundai expanded the Grand i10 Nios India line-up by adding a new 100hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol engine option sourced from its Venue compact SUV. Paired with a 5-speed manual as standard, the Nios turbo-petrol gets an all-black interior theme with sporty contrast red stitching and ‘Turbo’ badging on the grille and boot lid to set it apart from the rest of the range. 

Hyundai’s Jeep Compass rival received styling tweaks, more equipment and BS6-compliant engines as part of a mid-cycle facelift. Due to launch in March, the Hyundai Tucson facelift will be available with torque converter automatic gearboxes only. The petrol retains the older model's 6-speed unit and the diesel gains an all-new 8-speed unit. 

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Hyundai Tucson facelift image gallery

MG Motor showcased the striking RC 6 sedan at its Auto Expo stand. Expected to arrive in March 2021, the crossover sedan will rival the Honda Civic in India and be powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine similar to the one seen on the MG Hector SUV. 

Creating quite a buzz at the MG stand was the 360M MPV. The 7-seater is pegged to be a Maruti Ertiga rival, although MG is still evaluating its case for an India launch. The model showcased at the motor show was powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. 

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MG 360M image gallery

Also present at the MG stand was the Marvel X autonomous EV. Touted as the world’s first mass-production model to achieve Level 3 autonomous driving capability, the MG Marvel X showcased the brand’s focus on electric-powered, self-driven and connected products.

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MG Marvel X image gallery

Kia previewed its third model for India with the unveiling of the Sonet compact SUV concept. Scheduled for a market launch in the second half of 2020, the production-spec Kia Sonet will share its underpinnings and engine options with the Hyundai Venue. 

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Kia Sonet compact SUV concept image gallery

Kia Motors announced the prices for the Carnival MPV at the Auto Expo. The model’s range starts from Rs 24.95 lakh for the 7-seat Premium version and goes up till Rs 33.95 lakh for the 7-seat Limousine variant. (ex-showroom, India)

The Mahindra stand saw the launch of India’s most affordable electric car yet, the eKUV100. Priced at Rs 8.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi, including FAME II scheme benefits), the eKUV100 gets a 54.4hp electric motor and a liquid-cooled battery said to provide a claimed 150km range on a single charge.

Mahindra’s Tata Nexon EV rival was shown in concept form at Auto Expo 2020. The Mahindra eXUV300 will be built on the Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture (MESMA) platform and will most likely be offered with two powertrain options when it’s launched in the second half of 2021.

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Mahindra eXUV300 image gallery

Keeping up with traditions from previous Expos, Mahindra unveiled a convertible concept this time too, in the form of the Funster electric SUV. The hard-top convertible Funster packs a 313hp, dual-motor powertrain, enabling the Mahindra e-SUV to do a claimed 0-100kph time of under 5sec and achieve a top speed of 200kph. The 59.2kWh battery pack is said to provide a 520km range.

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Mahindra Funster concept image gallery

China's Great Wall Motor Company made its much-anticipated India debut at Auto Expo this year. The stand-out model at the Chinese carmaker’s stand was the Haval Concept H, which previews a future midsize SUV from the brand. 

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Haval Concept H image gallery

The flagship SUV from Great Wall Motor’s sub-brand, the Haval H9, was also on display. Pegged as a Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner rival, the Haval H9 in China is powered by a 218hp, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine coupled with an 8-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox as standard.

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Haval H9 image gallery

Mercedes-AMG launched the GT 4-Door Coupe at Auto Expo in its full-blown 63 S guise, with prices starting at Rs 2.42 crore (ex-showroom, pan-India). The new model is powered by a 639hp, 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 petrol engine and will be brought to India as a completely built-up unit (CBU). 

The German carmaker also showcased the new-generation GLA SUV ahead of its launch in October this year. The BMW X1 rival will initially be offered with a solitary 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, with prices expected to start at around Rs 43 lakh. (ex-showroom)

Mercedes will be replace the CLA sedan in India with the all-new A-class sedan. Shown at the Expo in its AMG A35 guise, the luxury sedan will rival the Audi A3 and the upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe when it’s introduced in the market, later this year. Expect ex-showroom prices to range in the Rs 32-40 lakh region.

The biggest highlight of the Volkswagen stand was the made-for-India Taigun concept SUV. Showcased in a close-to-production guise, the Taigun will launch in the latter part of 2021 and compete in the tightly-contested midsize SUV segment. 

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Volkswagen Taigun concept image gallery

VW’s SUV offense for India will also see the launch of the fully-imported T-Roc in the coming months. Expected to be priced around Rs 23 lakh, the T-Roc for India will be powered by a 150hp, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that is mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

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2020 Volkswagen T-Roc image gallery

Volkswagen also showcased the Tiguan AllSpace 7-seater which will replace the current 5-seater model. The outgoing Tiguan’s 143hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine will also be replaced by a new BS6 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in the AllSpace. The model will be brought in as a full import with prices expected to be in the region of Rs 35-40 lakh.

A close cousin of the Volkswagen Taigun, the Skoda Vision IN concept SUV will be the first model to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s tailored-for-India, MQB A0 IN platform. Shown in concept form at this Auto Expo, the SUV will launch by mid-2021 to take on the likes of the Kia Seltos and MG Hector in our market.

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Skoda Vision IN concept image gallery

Now in its more powerful 245hp guise, the Skoda Octavia RS makes its return to the Indian market with prices starting at Rs 35.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The Octavia RS 245 will be shipped to India in CBU form, with a limited allocation of just 200 units for the entire country. 

Scheduled to launch by April, the Skoda Karoq SUV will be brought to India via the CBU route. The Jeep Compass rival will be available in a solitary configuration; a 150hp, 1.5-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic. 

At their Auto Expo stall, Force Motors revealed the all-new Gurkha SUV ahead of its May 2020 launch. The Mahindra Thar rival gets a new chassis, a BS6-compliant engine, refreshed styling and more creature comforts. 

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2020 Force Gurkha image gallery

Another Chinese manufacturer making its India debut was Haima. The brand showcased the all-new 8S mid-size SUV which is based on the carmaker’s Haima Global Architecture (HMGA) platform. Although there are no plans of launching it in India yet, Haima is using the 8S to gauge the market’s interest in their products. 

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Haima 8S image gallery