Santa's bag is full and there are at least 40 new cars bursting out of it for next year. Here is a pick of the top 5 that promises to make owning a car more special than before.
Toyota Innova
If you cribbed about the Qualis, look out. In March, Toyota will launch Innova mini van which is two generations ahead of Qualis. The exterior is tough but not exciting; the interior is stylish and well-built enough to grace even a Corolla. It comes with a superb diesel engine and can seat 8. Given such credentials none would bet against it. Expected price: around Rs.7-9 lakh.
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Suzuki Swift
It's all-new, not just another face-lift or middle-age rhinoplasty and the most exciting offering from Maruti in 20 years. So new, it isn't even on the sale yet. It's far more contemporary, stylish, and bigger than any other Maruti hatchback. Targetted squarely at cars like the Getz, it will be available with Esteem's 1.4 litre engine and Baleno's 1.6 litre motor. Expected price Rs. 4-5 lakh.
New Skoda Octavia
The current model is near perfect, lacking only rear seat space. Imagine one with a huge backseat. On driving the new Octavia it was difficult to criticize but for the bland exterior styling. Sharing its underpinnings with the VW Golf and Audi A3, the Octy offers a far larger cabin. Has excellent ride and handling and is well planted to the road at all speeds. Will be available here in a petrol and state-of- the art 2.0 litre 'pump deuse' engine. Expected price: Rs. 14 lakh.
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Skoda Fabia
The saloon version of one of Europe's most celebrated hatchbacks, Fabia will take Honda City head on. Quality is amazing inside out with a talent for ride and handling far ahead of its competition. Expected with a 1.4 litre petrol engine and a high-tech turbo diesel. Only question mark is the unconventional looks - the sloping nose and stumpy rear may not go down well with Indian buyers. Expected price Rs. 7-8 lakh.
Honda City VTEC
For those who mourned the death of the original City, there's consolation. The new City VTEC promises to bring back much of the lost character and performance and character of the earlier model. Based on the same 1.5 litre engine, it gets a 16-valve head that pushes power to 100bhp. Brakes have been beefed up with ventilated discs in front and sold discs at the rear. Expected price: around Rs. 9 lakh.
Hormazd Sorabjee is the editor of Autocar India, India's leading automobile magazine.
