During the year 2013, the Indian car market witnessed the launch of a number of hatchbacks. One of the major changes seen in the hatchback segment in 2013 was the entry of luxury car makers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, something that excited car enthusiasts. Several hatchbacks have been introduced in India in the first three quarters of 2013. Some of these cars include models like Maruti Suzuki Stingray, Hyundai Grand i10, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series.
This leading passenger car maker of India recently launched the Stingray model, which is only available in a petrol version at present. The car has received a good response from critics due to its high number of features, styling and aggressive pricing strategy. Maruti Suzuki Stingray is equipped with the same 1.0-litre petrol engine that is present in the current generation WagonR, which is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The new model is capable of producing a peak output of 67 bhp while generating a maximum torque of 90 Nm. In terms of features, Stingray stands out with its projector headlamps functionality, something which is not found on any other hatchback. Priced aggressively, the Stingray is available within a range of Rs.4.09 lakh to Rs.4.67 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
In competition to the Maruti Suzuki Stingray, Hyundai recently introduced the Grand i10, which has been slotted between the current generation i10 and i20. The car is longer and wider than current version of i10 and also has several added features. Hyundai Grand i10 comes in both petrol and diesel engine variants. The petrol variant of this hatchback is provided with a 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT engine that gives away peak output of 81 bhp of power along with 113 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the diesel variant comes with 1.1-litre U2 CRDi engine, which generates 70 bhp of power reaches maximum torque of 159 Nm. The engines of both the variants are mated to a five-speed manual transmission system, which transmits the power to rear wheels. The base variant of this hatchback from Hyundai comes at a price of Rs. 4.29 lakh while top-end version costs around Rs. 6.41 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
In the first half of 2013, the Indian car buyers were surprised when Mercedes-Benz announced the launch of its premium A-Class hatchback. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is based on the firm's Modular Front Architecture (MFA) platform, which is being used in most upcoming models from the firm. Launched in petrol and diesel versions, the car has received an overwhelming response till now. The petrol variant of Mercedes-Benz A-Class is equipped with 1.6-litre 5-speed automatic transmission engine that produces 122 bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. On the other hand the diesel variant of the A-Class hatchback is fitted with a 2.2-litre motor churning out 109 bhp while reaching a torque of 250 Nm. Presently, the hatchback of Mercedes-Benz is available from Rs. 21.93 lakh to 24.09 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).
The launch of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class triggered a response from rivals BMW and Audi, who sensed the need to introduce low cost models for surviving tough market conditions. BMW, on the 3rd of September, launched the 1 Series hatchback in India. The appearance of the 1 Series is quite similar to most of the other BMW cars. The highlights of the 1 Series are its innovative set of features and the powerful engine. BMW 1 Series is provided with an all new feature of electric roof and passenger seats with a pre-set functionality so as to save the position where the driver wants. Industry experts have praised the efficiency of the 1.6-litre petrol engine that is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. On the other hand, the diesel version is equipped with a four-cylinder 2-litre engine and has a top speed of 212 kmph. The price of 1 Series starts from Rs. 20.94 lakh (base version) and goes up till Rs. 29.9 lakh for the top-end variant (ex-showroom Delhi).
