The rivalry in the passenger car segment of Indian market is set to stiffen in 2014 as popular brands will be going head-to-head in order to maximise profit levels. The competition is going to be more intense as companies in the country have been struggling to generate sales according to expectations. Till sometime back, the race for top position in this segment was a fight between Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki, which the latter won comfortably. However, another brand has entered this tussle because of its performance in 2013. Japanese car maker Honda will be a force to reckon with in 2014, considering its current momentum and upcoming models. If one puts statistics into perspective and analyses growth of different firms, few would have been able to match the performance of Honda. According to sources, all these brands are going to launch new cars in 2014, which will make their mark among customers. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Honda look set to launch YL1, i30 and next-generation City, respectively.
In the recent past, only a few models have been as hyped as the next generation Honda City. One of the most loved cars in history of Indian market, this sedan has sustained itself for a long time now. Thus, when the next-generation version was unveiled in November, a lot of hype and buzz was created among customers, media and experts. The biggest news that made heads turn was Honda's introduction of a diesel variant, a first time occurrence. This model, according to sources, is going to be launched in January 2014. The Japanese car maker has brought in a number of changes to exteriors, interiors and technological equipment. New City is going to come in an advanced sporty design based on the Exciting H concept, which will give this car a unique look. Features that are going to characterise the appearance of this sedan are solid wing face, well-toned athlete form body and an exterior surface with a finely honed exterior. Other changes made in the design of this car are introductions of sleek cross-motion form and elegant coupé styling.
However, the real highlight of this car is going to be its diesel variant, which will feature the much-acclaimed Earth Dreams technology. New Honda City is going to be the firm's second diesel offering after the Amaze, which has been an incredible success in the country. The new sedan from Honda will be powered by the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, which will be fine-tuned to increase output and torque levels, sources have claimed. Although specifications regarding engine and mileage have not been released by the Japanese car maker, the firm does claim that new City will deliver best-in-class fuel-economy. Considering that Honda Amaze renders an average of 25.8 kmpl (diesel version), experts expect City to give around 20-22 kmpl. This model, according to many, could prove to be a game changer in the mid-sized sedan segment, overtaking Hyundai Verna as the leader.
Talking about South Korean auto maker Hyundai, India's second largest passenger car manufacturer has done reasonably well in 2013. The highlight of Hyundai's operations in Indian in 2013 has been the Grand i10, one of the most successful models of this year. Notably, all cars in the 'i' series from Hyundai, i10, i20 and Grand i10, have been loved by customers in India. With an aim to consolidate this and to close-in on the gap between it and Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai is expected to launch i30 in India in 2014. Some reports in the past have claimed that the South Korean auto maker is going to showcase this model at Auto Expo 2014. Like all vehicles from this firm, i30 is expected to be loaded with technologically advanced features. It is likely to come in two engine options, which includes one diesel and one petrol.
This model has been appreciated by customers in many international markets, where it available for sale. A combination of looks, technology and comfort, i30 is going to give tough competition to the likes of Volkswagen Cross Polo and upcoming Honda Jazz. Although nothing has been confirmed as of now, rumours indicate that this car will be priced in the range of Rs. 7 lakh – Rs. 9 lakh.
Coming to the India's largest passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki is expected to replace the current SX4 mid-sized sedan with the upcoming YL1 model. A lot of talk has been going on regarding the launch of this car and reportedly, the same will take place in the first half of 2014. Maruti Suzuki, according to sources, has given interiors of YL1 a premium look and also included a number of comfort enhancing features, sources have claimed. YL1 is expected to be a stylish model that will compete with new Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid and Renault Scala.
Putting all these facts in a nutshell, the competition is going to be really tough in 2014 as far as the passenger vehicle segment of Indian market is concerned. And with Honda entering the picture, it is going to be a three-way race in terms of growth and sales. Out of these three models, experts feel that Honda City diesel is going to be a definite success, registering excellent sales figures. On the other hand, the performance of Hyundai i30 is going to depend heavily on the pricing strategy adopted by the South Korean auto maker. As far as Maruti Suzuki YL1 sedan is concerned, there are hardly any models from this firm which do not perform well. However, the competition is going to be tough for this upcoming sedan and the firm would have to work hard to carve a niche for the YL1.
