Car News Of The Week: 2019 Maruti Wagon R Detailed Specs, Mahindra XUV300, Baleno Facelift Spied And More

For all the petrolheads out there, last week was a pretty exciting one. The new year marked the beginning of plenty of action to come in 2019. Leaks and reveals ruled the headlines last week and we got a complete lowdown of what to expect from the much awaited 2019 Maruti Wagon R. Another Maruti spotted last week was the Baleno facelift which was spied with a redesigned front facia. Meanwhile, interiors of Mahindra’s XUV300 were also spied, suggesting that the Vitara Brezza rival would come loaded with premium features.

In other big news, Nissan finally revealed the launch date for the much anticipated Kicks and Volvo released the first teaser of the all-new electric Polestar 2. Globally, Porsche took the wraps off the gorgeous 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport and Toyota Germany accidentally leaked the official images of the all-new Toyota Supra.

Moving on to launches, 2019 is pegged to be a big one and we have got all the details on the upcoming hatchbacks and sedans that you could expect this year. Additionally, we have got the complete list of EVs coming to India by 2020. So let’s take a look at all the major headlines from last week.

Big News:

2019 Maruti Wagon R Specs Leaked, To Get New 1.2-litre K-Series Engine

UPDATE: We’ve driven the new WagonR! Check out our detailed review by following the link: Maruti Wagon R 2019 Review

In what was the biggest leak for the highly awaited 2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R yet, the detailed specifications and variants of the upcoming car are now out. According to the seemingly official specifications sheet, the all-new Wagon R is all set to come in a total of seven variants with two petrol engine options, including the new 1.2-litre K-Series motor from the Swift and the old 1.0-litre engine from the current-gen model. For detailed specs and features, click here.

Mahindra XUV300 Interior Spied; Gets Cruise Control, Sunroof, Steering Modes

Mahindra’s upcoming XUV300 has created quite a buzz in the market and easily ranks among one of the most anticipated launches of the year. Not only does it have the longest wheelbase in its segment, we now know that it will come packed to the brim with premium features such as cruise control, steering modes from the Ssangyong Tivoli and a sunroof! All details here.

2019 Baleno Facelift Photo Shows New Bumper

It’s not just the new WagonR that Maruti has in store for us. The Baleno, Maruti’s blockbuster premium hatchback, is all set to get a facelift too. Notably, this is the first time that the hatchback is getting an update ever since it was launched way back in 2015. In the latest spy pics, we can spot a redesigned front facia with minor cosmetic upgrades. We expect the Baleno facelift to be powered by the same engines as the current model. Here are all the details.

Nissan Kicks Launch On January 22

Joining the long list of car launches this January is the all-new Nissan Kicks which will be launched on 22 January. Think of the Kicks as Nissan’s take on the Renault Captur - an SUV that’s more upmarket compared to the utilitarian Terrano and yet, just as robust and abuse friendly. It’s underpinned by the same B0 platform (and not the new Micra platform like the global-spec version), and employs the same 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines as the Captur. When launched, the Kicks will look to take on the Hyundai Creta and the Maruti S-Cross. You can read all about what to expect from the Kicks here.

Tata 45X Interior Spied; Gets LCD Screen Like Harrier

Another week, another set of spy photos of Tata’s 45X-based hatchback. This time, it’s the interior that’s in the frame. The couple of pictures that have surfaced on the internet reveal enough to get excited about Tata’s upcoming premium hatchback.

In terms of design, we see similarities in the dashboard of the hatchback and the Harrier. The underlying idea appears to be in sync - restrained use of colours, clean lines and a focus on human-machine interface (HMI). We see a free-standing touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. This is likely to be the 7-inch unit that we’ve recently seen in the Tiago XZ+/Tigor XZ+. Check out the spy pictures here.

DS 7 Crossback Spotted In India; Will Rival BMW X1, Audi Q3

The DS 7 is an all-new luxury SUV from a lesser-known brand in the country called DS Automobiles. DS Automobiles is a luxury brand of PSA Groupe. The DS was originally a popular luxury car that was built by Citroen between 1955 and 1975. DS was later turned into a premium sub-brand of Citroen in 2009 and a standalone marque in 2014. The DS 7 Crossback is a compact luxury crossover which made its public debut back in 2017 as the official car of the French president. It is also the brand's flagship model. DS has now begun testing it on Indian roads and it could be a part of Groupe PSA’s plans to enter India in 2020. Here is what it looks like.  

Upcoming Launches
2018 saw car manufacturers launch over 100 cars, including seven all-new hatchbacks and around 15 facelifts/updated hatchbacks. 2019 will see at least five all-new hatchbacks and eight new sedans this year, with many more receiving updates to comply with upcoming emissions and safety norms. Here’s a quick look at what’s in store.

Upcoming Sedans In India: BMW 3 Series, Audi A6, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and More

SUVs might be making all the noise in the Indian market for now, but the evergreen sedans could make a big comeback in 2019. Here’s a list of the most anticipated ones that will be launched this year.

Upcoming Hatchbacks In 2019 Worth Waiting For

Nothing comes close to hatchbacks if you are in the market for a compact urban car. Here are the ones you should look out for this year.

Top India-bound EVs: Hyundai Kona, Mahindra S210, Tiago EV and More

There is little doubt that the future of mobility is electric. With the whole world transitioning to electric mobility, India is still to see a full-fledged jump onto the electric bandwagon. However, with more emphasis on green mobility and the government also providing impetus to promote electric cars in the country, we are on the cusp of a major influx of EVs in India. Here’s a list of the most awaited electric cars coming to our shores over the next two years.

Global News

New Toyota Supra Official Images Leaked Ahead Of Detroit Debut

Toyota is reincarnating the Supra and thanks to some enthusiastic folks at Toyota Germany, who accidentally leaked the official images of the car, we have the first glimpse of it, ahead of its official reveal at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

Sent by mistake via email to some prospective buyers upon registering by Toyota Germany, here is what the all-new Supra looks like.

All-electric Polestar 2 Teased For The First Time; Will Rival Tesla Model 3

Volvo has tweeted a teaser image of the upcoming Polestar 2 which, unlike the hybrid Polestar 1, will be an all-electric vehicle. Not just that, the Polestar 2 will also be a 'family' vehicle as it will feature a four-door fastback type body. The Polestar 2 will go into production shortly after the Polestar 1, which will enter production later this year. Here are all the details on the upcoming Volvo.

Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Is a Track-tuned, Turbo-less Beast

The Cayman GT4 Clubsport, which was considered by many as Porsche’s best car for the track, has got an all-new successor called the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Available in two versions, ‘Trackday’ and ‘Competition’, the all-new 718 Clubsport is a track focused machine aimed at amateur aspiring racers, and isn’t road legal. Read all about this mean machine here.

So, that sums it up for this week. Stay tuned to ZigWheels for the latest news, views and reviews on everything automotive.

Also Read:

CES 2019 Preview: Future Car Tech From Mercedes, Audi, Hyundai & More

Top 5 Disappointments Of 2018: Harrier 4WD, Renault Duster, Jimny And More