2009 The Year of the nano?

With Euro 4 emission standards, a promised mileage of 20 km per litre and a price tag of just Rs 1 lakh (at least before taxes etc) dealers have been itching to sell the Nano, but feel it may be unlikely that the car sees the light of day before March or April.
Market behemoth Maruti Suzuki will be back in 2009 with the Splash, the latest in their long line of endlessly reliable hatchbacks.

The interiors will strongly resemble the Sx4 and the Swift and the car should come with 1.2L petrol and the award-winning 1.3L multi-jet diesel engines. Given the current state of the market, Maruti is being extremely coy about when it will be launched, but it may be safe to expect it in the first quarter of 2009 for between Rs 4.5 and 5 lakh.

On the heels of the success of the i10, in 2009, Hyundai will roll out the i20 hatchback with the 1.2 litre Kappa engine that can also be found in the new i10s.
With this car, Hyundai hopes to become a serious competitor in the premium hatchback segment, something the Getz failed to do for them. One can expect customarily aggressive Hyundai pricing when the car is launched on December 29 this year.

Having come to the fairly safe conclusion that the only way to be a major player in the Indian market is to be in the hatchback segment, Honda will, in June, bring its Jazz to the country. Expected to be powered by a specially-developed 1200cc engine and priced between Rs 6 and 8 lakh, the car has certainly been generating a lot of buzz on the road.

The Fiat Grande Punto is the car that resuscitated the otherwise flailing Fiat brand and company. Arriving in India late in 2009, at between Rs 5 and 7 lakh, will be the third generation model of the car. Fiat is likely to offer a choice of engines—the 65 horse power A 1.2L, the 77 horse power 1.4L petrol and the now famous 1.3L multi-jet diesel.

Fiat India plans to roll out four new cars in 2009 in an attempt to re-establish itself in one of the world’s fastest growing markets. After the failure of the Siena and Petra, September will see Fiat back in the sedan segment with the Linea. Priced at Rs 7 to 9 lakh, the Linea promises an uncluttered, elegant and all-round comfortably reliable ride.

The Chevrolet Cruze, which debuted at the 2008 Paris Auto Show will be here too. Priced at around Rs 12 lakh, it will be a bigger car than the Optra and boast a new 1.4 litre turbocharged engine.

Somewhere between the Corolla and the Camry, 2009 will see the arrival of the Toyota Prius. With its expensive hybrid engine, that promises to be both environment friendly and easy on the pocket in these trying times, the Prius represents the arrival of the new wave in engine technology in the country.

2008 was also the year that saw the arrival of a host of luxury car companies. In the past, the premium and luxury segments were the stronghold of Mercedes Benz and BMW and Audi to a lesser extent.

In 2009, chances are that competition will finally heat up in this segment with the arrival of the Skoda’s New Superb followed by the Volkswagen’s Phaeton.

The Superb priced at Rs 20-25 lakh is part of Skoda’s strategy to launch at least one car in India every year. The Phaeton, along with the Jetta, is part of Volkwagen’s plans to sell at least 1,10,000 cars in India by 2010 and

expand its brand and dealership network.

Having spent nearly six years in the country hibernating, Porsche have finally woken up, set up a strategic team, that has looked at the Indian market and come up with the Panamera. While the specifications of this coupe are a closely guarded secret of the walls of their factory in Stuttgart, speculation suggests that it is supposed to be a four-door, four-seat, rear wheel drive sedan, powered by a modified version of the 4.5L V8 engine found in the Cayenne. However, just because the car isn’t a sports model doesn’t mean mortals can own it. It is conveniently priced at around Rs 90,00,000.

But all’s not lost. In 2009, Indians will finally have the chance to own the longest-running and most-produced automobile of arguably one of the world’s most recognisable design, the original people’s car—the Beetle. With its colourful history dating back to the Third Reich, the much-loved and equally reviled Bug will be trotting into the country amid what one is certain will be much enthusiasm.

Finally, a look at what many suggest could soon be a defunct segment given the advent of hybrid and eco-friendly cars. While many may just hate their gas guzzling ways, there are those who swear by the SUV and the auto companies are still listening.

Hyundai returns sometime late in 2009 with the Santa Fe, hopeful that this will be the car that will finally establish them as the makers of capable and desirable SUVs. Hyundai plans to import the Santa Fe in India and will offer a 2.2-litre, 148bhp diesel motor which would better suit Indian fuel quality. It is reportedly not too much of an off-roader, which may work against them with the ever-increasing demands of off-road junkies and at Rs 23-26 lakh, Hyundai’s pricing may be a bit steeper than the market would like.

Toyota brings to those without the means to own the Land Cruiser, the Fortuner which with its smart exteriors and cruiser mimicking interiors will probably, at Rs 16-18 lakh, prove to be a winner.
Carrying the highly trusted and regarded mantle of being a Toyota and complete with added options for off-roaders, it would be a fine addition to this burgeoning segment.

Audi also plans to get into the act with the Q5. With the persona, sportiness and luxury of the Q-series, this 5-seater SUV is targeted at a section below the Q7 and is priced at around Rs 45 lakh.
While things may look grim at the moment, one should at least attempt to approach the New Year with mild optimism. Auto companies are clearly planning to keep the year as exciting and competitive as possible. And then there is always the promise and allure of stimulus packages.