Seven New Car Debuts Likely In January 2022

As two years of the global coronavirus pandemic draw to a close, the automotive market in India is ready for a smorgasbord of more efficient and more environmentally friendly vehicles. Here’s our list of all the new cars and SUVs that will be launched in India in the first month of 2022: 

Facelifted Audi Q7 

Expected price: Rs 75 lakh onwards

Audi’s full-size luxury SUV was unveiled globally in June 2021, and it finally lands in India next month. It gets a new 3-litre 340PS/500Nm petrol engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Head to our exclusive story for the full description of the Q7’s trim level-wise features. 

BMW X3 Facelift

Expected price: Rs 60 lakh onwards

The BMW X3 gets redesigned front and rear fascia and a posher interior than before. It’ll retain the same 2-litre 252PS petrol and 190PS diesel engines that are currently offered, but a new mild-hybrid system is likely to be a standard feature to boost fuel efficiency and performance. Read more in our story about the BMW X3’s launch timeline. 

Tata Tiago and Tigor CNG 

Expected price: Rs 6.5 lakh onwards 

The Tata Tiago hatchback and Tigor sub-4m sedan will get factory-fitted CNG options. They are both offered with a 1.2-litre petrol engine that makes 86PS, and we could see a lower peak power output in CNG mode. The Hyundai Aura is currently the Tigor’s only natural gas-powered rival, but their sub-4m sedan competitors, the Honda Amaze and Maruti Suzuki Dzire, are also expected to get CNG variants soon. 

Skoda Kodiaq 

Expected price: Rs 35 lakh onwards 

The Skoda Kodiaq will arrive with a new face that makes it seem more upright and premium. Its TDI diesel is replaced with an even more enthusiast-friendly 190PS 2-litre TSI petrol engine paired with a standard 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Inside, it gets a digital driver’s display, a 10-speaker Canton sound system, and heated, ventilated and massaging seats made of vegan, recycled materials. Read our Kodiaq variants story for more details. 

Tata Altroz Automatic 

Expected price: Rs 9 lakh onwards 

January 2022 will mark the Altroz’s two-year anniversary, and we expect that it’ll gain a new dual-clutch automatic transmission. The new gearbox is likely to be paired with iTurbo variants powered by the 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, but diesel variants might also get this automatic transmission as an alternative to the standard 5-speed manual. Our last Tata Altroz spy story tells us that apart from the gearbox, major changes to the design or equipment list are unlikely. 

Toyota Hilux 

Expected price: Rs 20 lakh onwards

The Toyota Hilux pickup truck will be locally assembled in India. Fingers crossed, the carmaker might just be able to price it a bit lower than the Fortuner to help it compete with the Isuzu V-Cross. It could get 150PS 2.4-litre and 208PS 2.8-litre diesel engines paired with 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. It’s likely to be offered in multiple rear-drive and 4WD variants, and you can find out more in our Hilux spy story. 

Maruti Suzuki Baleno 

Expected price: Rs 8 lakh onwards 

A recent spy shot of the upcoming Baleno indicates that Maruti Suzuki is prepping for an imminent launch. This could be the most thorough visual update that the Baleno hatchback since it was first launched in India. In addition to the new front and rear fascia, the interior has been revamped with a new layered dashboard and floating touchscreen infotainment screen. Mechanicals are expected to remain unchanged – it’s likely to draw power from a 1.2-litre petrol engine that makes 83PS in the base variant and 90PS in the mild-hybrid higher-spec models. 

Baleno Image Source