India's biggest auto carnival — the Auto Expo 2016 — may have ended, but automakers will surely not be resting on their laurels after the event became grand success, with some of the best creations ever showcased there.
Surely, with the battle lines drawn in the process, the next thing will be to keep the momentum going. The coming months, therefore, portend good tidings for motor enthusiasts.
We have witnessed a range of exciting models being unveiled at the Auto Expo, and others before it, from auto giants like Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj and Royal Enfield. Some of these models will certainly hit the Indian roads in March this year as two-wheeler and car-makers look to further their fortunes with new offerings in what is turning out to be an intensely competitive industry.
Here, we go beyond the details by listing everything you need to know about the cars and bikes coming this March.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
A lot has been already written about the upcoming compact SUV Vitara Brezza from the house of Maruti Suzuki. Although there is no official word yet on the launch date of the Vitara Brezza in India, general consensus is the compact SUV will arrive in the third week of March. What seems to be good news about the launch is the dealers of Maruti have started accepting bookings for the model.
To be offered in six variants — LDi, LDi (O), VDi, VDi (O), ZDi, and ZDi+ — the Vitara Brezza draws power from a diesel 200 DDis engine, which can churn out 88.5bhp of power at 4,000rpm and 200Nm of peak torque at 1,750rpm, with a five-speed manual gearbox. In India, the Vitara Brezza is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 8.2 lakh.
Renault Duster facelift AMT
The Renault Duster facelift, which made its India debut at the Auto Expo 2016, is also expected come to the Indian market in March. The Duster facelift gets re-styled front and rear fascia and features electrically adjustable OVRMs with turn indicators, LED tail lamps, a new head lamp cluster, roof rails and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Inside the cabin, the new Duster is spruced up with a Crimson-black interior theme for the AWD version and a Cedarwood-black interior for all other variants with a dual-tone dashboard. The most important change is in the form of six-speed Easy-R Automated Transmission (AMT). Powering the Duster facelift is the same 1.5-litre diesel engine.
Royal Enfield Himalayan
The Himalayan adventure tourer, which hopes to target the uncharted territory of adventure motorcycles in India, is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 1.65 lakh to Rs 1.85 lakh.
To be positioned below the Classic 500 and the Continental GT, Royal Enfield Himalayan will be powered by an all-new 411-cc oil-cooled single-cylinder engine that is tuned to dish out 24.5bhp at 6,500 rpm and 32Nm torque at 4,000rpm to 4,500rpm, paired with five-speed transmission.
In terms of dimensions, the Himalayan measures 2,190mm in length, 840mm in width, and 1,360mm in height (fly screen top). It has a wheelbase of 1,465mm and offers a ground clearance of 220mm. The new adventure tourer comes with 41-mm front forks and a monoshock at the rear, and rides on a 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel.
Bajaj V
The much-awaited Bajaj V bike, which was made using metal from the dismantled INS Vikrant, India's first aircraft carrier, is expected to be launched in India mid-March. Bajaj V will be priced in the range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000. The exact number will be revealed a few days before the new bikes are delivered to showrooms.
The V features a new speedometer cluster with a dual-colour LED fuel-level indicator and an LED tail lamp. The fuel tank is where the metal from the INS Vikrant has been used. Built on a double-cradle platform, Bajaj V, which has been styled to give it a neo-classical look, gets a 60-watt headlamp, thunderous exhaust and bold body lines, along with a premium textured seat.
Powering the V is a 149.5cc single-cylinder four-stroke air-cooled DTS-i engine that can churn out a maximum power of 11.8bhp at 7,500rpm and 13Nm of torque at 5,500rpm. The motorcycle measures 2,044mm in length, 780mm in width and 1,070mm in height, with a wheelbase of 1,315mm. The new bike comes with a ground clearance of 165mm and kerb weight of 135.5 kg. The V will be available in two colours — Ebony Black and Pearl White.
