NEW DELHI :

It is the new year. Let us find out what 2022 holds for us. Here's a closer look at the upcoming sedans including one of the most successful nameplates in Indian automotive history, a crossover that will add a quirky twist to its segment and the country’s leading manufacturer’s refreshed premium hatchback. So sit back and read about these upcoming vegicles to see what catches your fancy.

 Honda City Hybrid

India’s favourite sedan, the Honda City, will go the hybrid way in the next financial year. The City e:HEV made its global debut in Thailand at the end of last year. Based on the fuel economy figures claimed by Honda in Malaysia and Thailand, 27.7 kmpl and 27.8 kmpl respectively, the hybrid variant will be the most efficient vehicle in its segment, bettering even its diesel sibling which returns a mileage of 24.1 kmpl. It will be powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that’s available here in India but it will churn out 97hp and 127Nm of torque with the additional electric motors that pump out an impressive 107hp and torque of 253Nm. With a total output of 204bhp of total power, the hybrid City is a lot more powerful than its 118bhp gasoline sibling. The hybrid is mated to CVT automatic transmission. With additional hybrid equipment along with a battery, this increases the vehicle’s curb weight by around 110 kg and the boot capacity is reduced from 506 litres to 410 litres. The e:HEV version will come with new features like a deceleration selector pedal that automatically reduces the sedan’s speed when it enters a turn or while going downhill. With class-leading torque, it gets rear disc brakes and an electric parking brake. With the top-of-the-line City ZX CVT petrol priced just under INR 15 lakhs, (Ex-Showroom Delhi), the hybrid version could be slotted around INR 2-3 lakhs higher than the current variant. 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The sixth-generation C-Class design is more of an evolution from the current generation and will continue to be a rear-wheel-drive sedan. This is the first time the entire C-Class engine range including both petrol, diesel and the AMG trim will have an integrated 48v starter-generator which will assist the powertrains at low speeds as a mild hybrid for better power delivery. The 48v also generates an additional 20bhp. As expected, the C-Class comes with a plethora of engine options, but India will get the C200 with 201bhp 1.5-litre turbo petrol and torque of 250Nm and 220d with a 2-litre turbo diesel with an output of 197bhp with 440Nm of torque. All the engines are mated to a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Mercedes-Benz has focused a lot on comfort by increasing the wheelbase by 25mm to 2,865mm, which ensures more space for both front and rear passengers. The dramatic makeover can be seen in the cabin, which is clearly inspired by the S-Class as it gets a similarly designed steering wheel, the portrait shaped 11.9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital cockpit and rich wooden panels with aluminium accents. The new C-Class could make its debut in India in the latter half of 2022. 

 Volkswagen Virtus

After an innings of 11 years, Volkswagen has finally decided to retire the Vento with the all-new Virtus. Like the Taigun SUV launched this year, the new sedan is also based on the same MQB A0 IN platform and will only be available in two turbo petrol engines. The entry-level will be powered by a 133bhp 1-litre three-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed torque converter automatic. While the top variants will get the more powerful 1.5-litre with class-leading 148bhp and 250Nm of torque. This powertrain will come with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Virtus is 92mm longer at 4,482mm, 52mm wider at 1,751mm and 5mm taller at 1,472mm than the outgoing Vento. At 2,651mm, the new sedan’s wheelbase is longer by 98mm. The Virtus will be packed with many features like an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with apps like Booking.com, Gaana, Audiobooks Sygic navigation, wireless phone charger and car connect options. The new saloon is expected to make its debut in the early part of 2022 and will go up against the likes of Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the upcoming Skoda Slavia. 

 Citroen C3

Citroen has showcased one of the three sub-4-metre vehicles it will launch in India starting with the compact crossover, the C3. It retains the typical quirky French design as seen in the C5 Aircross, which gives it a distinctive look in this crowded and competitive segment. It will offer funky and youthful exterior dual-tone paint schemes like Orange-White, Orange-Black, Blue-White and Grey-Black. Based on the Common Modular Platform (CMP), the new vehicle boasts almost 90 per cent of localized components and this underpinning also gives Citroen the option to roll out an EV version of C3. Going by its dimensions, 3.98 metres in length and a wheelbase of 2,540mm, according to Citroen, the C3 is a compact vehicle with the best in the segment cabin space and has a ground clearance of 180mm. Moving on to the cabin, it sports a fresh dual-tone interior with a floating 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility, digital instrument cluster and steering mounted controls. It also comes with a phone holder for the front passenger placed beside the air condition vents. The C3 get the segment-best 1-litre glove box and 315 litres of boot space. It will come with only one engine option — a 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit which includes a 5-speed manual and 7-speed automatic transmission options. Like most of its competitors, Citroen has no plans on taking out a diesel engine. The C3 will predominantly face off against the Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the new Tata Punch. The C3 will make its debut in the first half of 2022.

 Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The 2022 Baleno will be an updated version, but it will receive major refurbishment in both exteriors design and the cabin. Based on the several leaked images, the Hyundai i20 rival will sport new L-shaped LED DLRs along with LED headlights or projector lamps based on the variant. It gets a brand-new front facia that has a stretched and a larger happy face grille with new smiley air ducts in the bumper along with bigger fog lamps. With most of the body panels being redesigned, the updated Baleno looks wider than the current model. While the side profile remains more or less the same, but the roofline appears to be flatter. Coming to the rear and the taillights are completely new and now elongate to the boot. The 2022 Baleno will get freshly designed alloy wheels. The interiors are also revamped with a redesigned dashboard that houses new air condition vents, a bigger touchscreen display compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, new steering wheel and switches. The Baleno will continue to be the entry-level vehicle to Maruti Suzuki’s premium Nexa lineup and will retain its two 1.2-litre engine trims — 82bhp and 113Nm of torque and the 88.5bhp and 113Nm with a 12V mild-hybrid technology. The former comes in two transmissions — a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic while the latter only gets a 5-speed manual. The current Baleno’s price range starts from INR 5.99 lakhs to INR 9.45 lakhs, (Ex-Showroom Delhi). As it’s an update, we expect the 2022 Baleno to receive a nominal price hike.