Two much-awaited upcoming cars are about to change Indian motoring perspectives. The cars – Honda Vezel and Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha is set for showcase during the upcoming 2014 Auto Expo in Delhi, India.
Fresh off the Honda hook for the Indian market, the Honda Vezel has been coined as a compact urban SUV, at the 2013 Detroit motor show. This new crossover SUV is based on the similar Jazz platform. The 2013 Tokyo motor show marked Honda Vezel's entry into rapidly expanding and highly competitive compact crossover market. The car is powered by a 1.5 litre i-VTECH petrol engine that efficiently produces approx 116 Bhp power and 164 Nm of torque. The diesel version borrows the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine from the Amaze sedan and this engine engine produces raw power of up-to 98 bhp and 200Nm of torque. Both the petrol and diesel engine variants in the Honda Vezel are mated with 5-speed manual and five-speed automatic. Rear door handles are also hidden and is similar in fashion to the existing Chevrolet Beat, this pattern is the first to be used in its Honda line. The designing is unique with smooth curves flowing from the roof to its boot door. The sides feature aerodynamic lines with horizontal tail lamps which extend from the sides into the door much like the Ford EcoSport model.
Its the first time that Maruti Suzuki has ventured into the compact SUV segment with the upcoming XA Alpha. The car is positioned in straight line of competition with Ford, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. As per sources, the car shall be powered by a 1.5 litre diesel engine. It is also said that the diesel engine has been developed by Suzuki and the current line featuring Fiat's Multijet technology may be put to rest. For now, the car shall be available in diesel version, but a petrol version can be expected down the line. Reports also state that Suzuki is also developing a variety of engines, namely 0.8-litre, 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre, to provide wider options to the buyers. It is anticipated that similar engines may be used for WagonR, Ritz, Swift and Ertiga models.
From design perspectives Honda Vezel looks dynamical and more refreshing as compared to other existing line of compact SUV's. Whereas, Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha looks sturdy and is believed to carry all the necessary features required to make it a competitive model in its respective segment. Both the cars are loaded with features and also does not lack interesting designing concepts, hence it is worth a watch as to who scores better than whom during the Auto Expo event.
