Maruti Suzuki is currently dominating the entry-level and hatchback car segment. It currently has a wide range of models including the Alto, WagonR, S-Presso, Ignis, Celerio, Baleno & Swift. The company will introduce the next-gen Alto and the updated Baleno this year. Moreover, Citroen will launch its first locally developed hatchback, C3 in the next few months. Tata Motors will introduce new variants of the Altroz and the Tiago in 2022.
Citroen C3
French automaker, Citroen will launch the locally developed C3 tall-boy hatchback to rival the likes of the Tata Punch and the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. It is basically a hatchback with crossover-like styling elements, such as raised ground clearance, roof rails and high-driving position. It is based on the localised CMP platform that will also underpin the future Citroen cars in India.
Measuring 3.98 meters in length, the new C3 shares styling with bigger Citroen’s including the C4 and the C5. The Citroen C3 has a ground clearance of 180mm, and a boot space of 315-litres along with a segment-largest 1-litre of glove box. It is likely to be offered with a 1.2L naturally-aspirated or a 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine.
Maruti Baleno Facelift
Maruti Suzuki is gearing up for the launch of the Baleno facelift in the first quarter of 2022. In fact, the hatchback was caught during its official TVC shoot. The new model will come with revised exterior; however, big changes will be made inside the cabin. The hatchback will get new front fascia with L-shaped wrap-around design for headlamps & new LED DRLs, a wider air-dam, new fog lamp housing, and new L-shaped tail-lights, new bumper and tailgate.
Inside the cabin, the 2022 Maruti Baleno facelift will come all-new interior with a 9.0-inch free-standing touchscreen infotainment system with connectivity system. The infotainment system will come with an Sim-based connectivity suite that offers features like geofencing, real-time tracking, find your car and others. The system is also expected to get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2022 Maruti Baleno is most likely to retain the 1.2L naturally-aspirated petrol engine and 1.2L dual-jet petrol with SHVS mild hybrid system. While the former is good for 83bhp and 110Nm, the latter offers 89bhp and 110Nm of torque. Both manual and automatic gearbox options will be on offer.
New-gen Maruti Alto
Maruti Suzuki will launch the next generation Alto hatchback during 2021 Diwali season. The hatchback has been spotted testing multiple times, which reveals significant design changes. The new model will retain the original silhouette; however, it will witness significant dimensional changes. It will be longer, wider and taller that the current model. Some of the design changes will be in-line with the new-gen Celerio hatchback.
The new-gen Maruti Alto will ditch the existing platform for the lightweight HEARTECT platform. The new model will come with all-new interior with higher variants to get features like a touchscreen infotainment system, a semi-digital instrument console, keyless entry and dual airbags.
It is expected to be powered by a new K10C Dualjet 1.0L, 3-cylinder petrol engine with idle start/stop system. This motor pushes out 67bhp and 89Nm of torque. It will also receive the existing engine that is a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that’s good enough for 47bhp and 69Nm. Both manual and AMT gearboxes will be on offer.
Tata Altroz Automatic
Tata Motors is testing the automatic version of the Altroz hatchback, which is reportedly to be launched in the next 3-4 months. The automatic gearbox is likely to be offered only with a petrol engine. The diesel Altroz will continue to be offered with manual gearbox option.
It is likely to get the dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which could be a 7-speed DT-1 dual-clutch unit sourced from Punch powertrain. This gearbox is designed for the compact vehicles with torque up to 200Nm. It is relatively more affordable than the conventional dual-clutch or torque convertor units. This gearbox is likely to be offered on the 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine that produces 108bhp and 140Nm of torque.
Tata Tiago CNG
Tata Motors is all set to launch the CNG versions of its popular cars including the Tiago and the Tigor. The Tiago CNG is expected to be launched in January, as dealers have unofficially started accepting pre-orders at INR 11,000. Likely to be based on the mid-spec XT and XZ trims, the Tiago CNG will use the 1.2L, 3-cylinder petrol engine that’s good enough for 86PS and 113Nm. With the CNG kit, the hatchback’s power figures might drop by 15-20 percent.
