Upcoming car launches in February 2015

1.) Facelifted Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire: 

Expected Price: Rs 5-8 lakh

With the facelifted Swift already here, Maruti Suzuki will now introduce its compact sedan, the Swift DZire. Like its harchback sibling, the sub 4-metre sedan too isn’t expected to have too many changed on the outside except for a new chrome grille and chrome strips around the fog lamps. In profile, not much has changed except for the new alloy wheels. Expect some minor changes at the rear too. Aside from the changed on the outside, expect the new Swift DZire to have heavily reworked interiors. The 2015 Swift Dzire will come equipped with a push start/stop option, Bluetooth connectivity and electronically adjustable and folding ORVMs. Like the Swift, this one too is expected to get an improvement in the overall efficiency. The engine options will remain unchanged.  

2.) Hyundai Verna facelift: 

Expected Price: Rs 8-13 lakh

Spy shots of the facelifted Verna has been making its rounds on the internet for a while and now Hyundai is all set to introduce the refreshed version of its C-segment sedan. Similar to the Solaris launched in Russia not too long ago, the facelifted Verna will sport a twin-slat grille and a redesigned bumper. The updated Verna will also sport new fog lights with Daytime Running Lamps and LED inserts to the tail-lamp cluster. Changes to the insides will be minimal. Under the hood, the facelifted Verna will continue to be offered in both 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engine options. The refreshed Verna will be priced marginally higher than the current model.

3.) Renault Lodgy: 

Expected Price: Rs 6-9 lakh

Late last year, Renault released the first images of the Lodgy, its upcoming MPV. And recently at the Renault Star Guild Awards they officially unveiled it to the public. The Lodgy is the French manufacturer’s answer to the constant rise in demand for MPVs. At the front the Lodgy sports a large chrome grille similar to the one on the Koleos. Those massive headlights on either side of the grille give the front-end of the Lodgy a bold stance. The plastic housing for the fog lamps is a neat touch. In profile, the Lodgy boasts of large wheel arches, five-spoke alloy wheels and a subtle shoulder line. On the inside, it is expected to share its interiors with the Duster. Needless to say that the Lodgy will go on sale in both petrol and diesel variants. The oil burner will be powered by the 1.5-litre dCi mill and will go on sale in the 85PS as well as the 110PS guise. The petrol though will come with a 1.6-litre unit producing 104PS of power.

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4.) New Volkswagen Jetta:

Expected Price: Rs 14-20 lakh

An un-camouflaged Volkswagen Jetta facelift has already been spotted testing around Mumbai, shedding light on its interior and exterior design. The 2015 VW Jetta sports a grille that is very similar to the Passat. The three-slat chrome grille is flanked by bi-xenon headlamps on either side with new L-shaped Daytime Running Lamps. The bumper has also been redesigned to accommodate larger air-intakes to give the new Jetta a more aggressive stance up front. At the rear it will get new LED tail lamps and the rear bumper has also been remoulded. On the inside, like all other Volkswagen cars the 2015 Jetta too will get the new flat-bottomed steering wheel. There is a visible improvement in equipment too thanks to an updated centre console with a touch screen infotainment system. The engine options for the new Jetta will continue to be the same as the current model.

5.) BMW i8: 

Expected Price: Rs 2 crore 

The BMW i8, set to be sold in India as a CBU, will be launched on February 18. To be offered in limited models, the i8 will be the first of the ‘i’ cars to mark its debut on Indian shores. The i8 is futuristic, no matter what angle you look at it from. It gets a hybrid powertrain with a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that pumps 231 horses and 320Nm. This gasoline unit works in unison with an electric motor that adds another 131PS and 250Nm. Now if you are the environment friendly kind of a person then you can simply work the electric motor, and for those who love that extra surge of power, work them both together. Expected to be priced around the Rs 2 crore mark, the plug-in hybrid has a range of 37km and can reach a top speed of 120km/h in pure electric form before the petrol motor kicks in.