- The 2023 auto expo comes to an end
- Several concept cars & EVs were shown at the motor show
- Market launch of several cars shown by Tata, Maruti, BYD, MG & Kia is expected in the months & years to come
Despite the absence of many automotive brands, the 2023 auto expo saw a humongous response from the audience as it was held after a gap of 3 years. Previously held in 2020, the 16th edition of the auto expo was originally scheduled for January 2022, but due to covid19, it was rescheduled to January 2023. Though there were very few concept cars showcased at the expo when compared to previous editions, OEMs like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, MG, Kia, and BYD did surprise us by showcasing their concept and upcoming cars for India. Here we present the top 10 cars from the 2023 auto expo that have either been confirmed or have a high probability of Indian launch in the months & years to come.
Tata Harrier EV
Among many cars showcased by Tata Motors at the 2023 auto expo, Harrier EV looked the closest to production. Tata Motors said that the Harrier EV is a near-production concept. There stands a good chance that Harrier EV might get launched by the end of 2023 or in the first half of 2024. When launched, it will get a large battery pack, probably between 60 kWh to 80 kWh capacity, paired with two powerful electric motors on both front and rear axles, thus making it an all-wheel drive-capable electric SUV. Harrier EV will also get Tata's next-generation advanced connected car tech and ADAS features for autonomous level 2 driving.
Also Read: Tata Reveals Electrified Avatar Of Harrier SUV At Auto Expo 2023
Tata Sierra EV
It was the 2020 auto expo when we saw the rebirth of this legendary SUV in its new avatar. Tata showcased a much close to the production version of Sierra EV at the 2023 auto expo. According to Martin Uhlarik, Tata Motors Global Design Head, the design of the Sierra EV concept showcased at the 2023 auto expo has been frozen and finalized by the company. When launched in 2025, the Sierra EV will be placed as a lifestyle electric SUV with features like a long-range battery pack, a wide glass sunroof, customizable interiors, a next-generation infotainment system, and advanced connected car tech from Tata. Also, it will include all-wheel drive and ADAS tech that we saw on Harrier EV.
Also Read: Tata Reveals Near Production Sierra EV Concept At Auto Expo: Details
Tata CURVV Petrol
Tata Motors' third concept car that didn't look like a concept was the CURVV in its ICE avatar. Previously shown as an EV, the CURVV concept showcased at the 2023 auto expo is set to come with a turbo petrol engine when it launches sometime in 2024. The coupe-styled SUV may get tata's new 4-cylinder 1.5-liter turbocharged TGDi petrol engine. This new engine developed by tata was also showcased at the expo. The CURVV ICE will get tata's new 10.25-inch infotainment system along with next-gen IRA-connected car tech and ADAS features.
Also Read: Tata Curvv ICE Showcased At 2023 Auto Expo - Read Details
Tata Altroz Racer
It was the Altroz Racer at the 2023 auto expo that attracted most auto enthusiasts as it seemed like a perfect performance hatch for the Indian market. Tata already has the iTurbo variant of Altroz in the market, but it just doesn't appear as a real competitor to Hyundai's i20 N-Line. To challenge the Korean brand, tata is seriously considering the launch of Altroz Racer. The hot hatch will be powered by Nexon's turbo petrol engine in its higher state of tune, producing 120 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque. When launched, it will also get several new features like a smart voice-controlled sunroof, a 7-inch instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, front ventilated seats, wireless phone charging, and a built-in air purifier.
Also Read: Tata Unveils Powerful Altroz Racer At The Auto Expo 2023. Launch Soon?
Tata Altroz iCNG & Punch iCNG
In an effort to expand its CNG portfolio and give customers more options in the CNG segment, tata showcased the CNG versions of Altroz and Punch at the 2023 auto expo. What's surprising was tata's new twin-cylinder CNG technology in the Altroz and Punch. This first-of-its-kind innovation from tata will solve the boot space issue faced by the buyers of CNG cars, making these cars more spacious, practical, and usable. Also, the Altroz iCNG and the Punch iCNG will get additional features in the form of 6 airbags, a shark fin antenna, and a smart voice-controlled sunroof. Rumors suggest that Tata is planning to launch the two CNG cars in the coming months.
Also Read: Tata Motors Showcases Punch i-CNG and Altroz i-CNG at the Auto Expo
Maruti Suzuki EVX
Maruti Suzuki too created a lot of buzz at the 2023 auto expo with the launch of its long-awaited legendary SUV Jimny and the crossover SUV FRONX. However, what made us excited was the EVX concept showcased by the Japanese automaker. Maruti Suzuki disclosed very few details about this electric SUV concept. Scheduled for launch in 2025, the EVX will most probably get a battery pack of around 60 kWh capacity. According to the company, it will be based on a pure/born EV platform, making its interiors extremely spacious. The EVX will be around 4.3 meters in length and may get a price tag of under Rs 20 lakhs in India.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Showcases eVX Concept Electric SUV at Auto Expo
Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG
Maruti Suzuki also showcased the CNG version of the compact SUV Brezza at the 2023 auto expo. The CNG version of Brezza gets the fuel-switching button on the right side of the steering wheel. The show car had alloy wheels and LED lights, which means that Maruti will offer the CNG in the higher-end trims of the Brezza. According to the rumors, Maruti is planning to launch the Brezza S-CNG very soon.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG Showcased At Auto Expo 2023
MG4 EV
MG showcased a number of its international products at the 2023 auto expo. One of the products unveiled by the SAIC-owned British brand is the MG4 EV. MG is currently analyzing the public response towards the product and it might launch the MG4 EV by the end of 2023 or at the beginning of 2024. If launched, the rear wheel drive EV might come with two battery packs & powertrain options i.e. a 51kWh battery pack with a motor producing 170 bhp of power or a 60+kWh battery pack with a motor producing 200+bhp of power. MG4 EV will be placed above the ZS EV and it will compete with the BYD Atto 3. Also, the MG4 EV will get the next-gen ADAS and iSMART-connected car tech.
Also Read: MG 4 EV Showcased At The 2023 Auto Expo: India Launch?
BYD Seal
The Seal electric sedan from BYD (Build Your Dreams) was showcased at the 2023 auto expo. When launched, the four-door electric sedan will be placed above the Atto 3 in the price range of Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakhs. It might get two battery packs and powertrains option i.e. a 50+kWh battery pack with a single electric motor and a 70+kWh battery pack with a dual motor setup generating a combined power of 500+ bhp. The higher capacity option with the dual motor setup is claimed to achieve the 0-100 km/h speed in under 4 seconds with a maximum range of 700+ km. According to BYD, the India launch of the Seal electric sedan could take place in October month during the festive season.
Also Read: BYD Seal EV Showcased At 2023 Auto Expo - India Launch Confirmed
Kia KA4/Carnival
Kia showcased the new generation of its Carnival MPV at the 2023 auto expo. Code named KA4, Kia could launch this new luxury MPV in India by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. When launched, the KA4 will give tough competition to the newly launched Toyota Innova HyCross and the luxurious Toyota Vellfire. Kia KA4 will be much more luxurious and feature-loaded than the current generation Carnival on sale in India.
Also Read: 2023 Kia Carnival (KA4) Showcased At The 2023 Auto Expo
Verdict: Though the 2023 auto expo saw low participation from car manufacturers, the motor show can still be considered an interesting one because of the above-mentioned cars. It would be interesting to see how many of these showcased cars actually make it to production and launch in the months and years to come.
