The first half of this year has seen a whole bunch of car launches and there are many more to go. Well, here are five facelifts to watch out for this year.
Renault Duster
The Renault Duster was the product that set the ball rolling for the compact SUV/crossover segment in India since its launch in 2012 and set Renault found its footing in India thanks to this car. Well, Renault is all set to bring out the facelift of the Duster and it will will sport a new single slate grille instead of the current multi-slat chrome design, new head-lamp cluster, and new alloy wheels along with a slightly updated bumper. The rear-end of the car will also get redesigned tail-lamps. But the biggest change will be the AMT technology that will make its way into the car. The Easy-R gearbox is likely to be offered with the 1.5-litre dCi 110PS variant of the compact SUV.
Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover Evoque
Jaguar Land Rover has imported two units of the 2016 Range Rover Evoque facelift to India for homologation. Two variants - Pure and Dynamic - have made their way here and this can mean only one thing that the launch of the car is around the corner. So, what are the changes? The change in the design at the front is noticeable, thanks to the restyled bumper, bigger air intakes, tweaked grille and full LED adaptive head-lamps.
There's also a new tailgate spoiler, different graphics for the LED tail-lamps, and fresh alloy wheel designs. The changes continue on the inside too; the new Evoque benefits from new door casings, seats, and an updated infotainment system equipped with an 8-inch touch-screen display.
The new Evoque borrows the All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) system from the larger Range Rover, which helps the Evoque maintain a pre-established speed when tackling rough terrain. However, the most significant change is under the hood. The facelift receives the all-aluminum Ingenium TD4 turbodiesel engine, which is 20-30 Kg lighter than its predecessor, and will be offered in two states of tune - 150bhp and 180bhp. There is also the Si4 turbocharged petrol engine with 240bhp that allows the Evoque go from 0-100Km/h in 7.6 seconds before topping out at 217Km/h.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
Maruti Suzuki has already brought in a limited edition version of the Ertiga but there is a bigger update in stored. The updated Suzuki Ertiga receives a bunch of exterior and interior changes, and its diesel engine will also get the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) micro-hybrid system that was recently launched with the Ciaz hybrid. The SHVS will help the Ertiga facelift return better fuel efficiency than before.
The most noteworthy changes given to the 2015 Ertiga facelift are up front. The front fascia of the vehicle looks slightly bolder with a new triple-slat chrome grille with revised air dam, revamped radiator grille, new bumper, fog lamp enclosures with chrome bezels, etc. Other styling elements are - 10-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, revised tail-lamp cluster with new reflector elements, new bumper and a thick chrome garnish on the license plate.
The company has updated the vehicle's cabin too with dual-tone finished dashboard, brown seat fabric, steering wheel with silver inserts, etc. The 2015 Ertiga also features electrically-adjustable outside rear-view mirrors (ORVMs), third row seats with 50:50 split, driver & front passenger airbags, one push power up driver-side window, etc.
Mahindra Quanto
Mahindra Quanto
Mahindra has come out with the sub-compact SUV in the form of the TUV300 and that has left room to develop the Quanto. The company will soon be launching a thorough facelift of the Quanto and introduce it with the option of an AMT. It will feature a new 5-speed automated manual gearbox developed in conjunction with UK-based Ricardo.
The facelift version of the Quanto, codenamed U215 will take design cues from the Scorpio and will be a bit more aggressive to look at. Under the hood, there will be no changes as the 1.5-litre diesel engine will breathe it to life with 100bhp.
However, we hear that Mahindra has worked a lot on the suspension of the Quanto and it will be suited toward making it for a comfortable ride. The Quanto will target everything from the Ford EcoSport, Fiat Avventura among other cross hatches, to the Renault Duster/ Nissan Terrano. It should suffice to say that an AMT in this segment will make a lot of difference.
Skoda Superb
Skoda Superb
The new Superb is bigger, roomier, more proportionate and much better looking than the car it replaces. The 2nd gen Superb was already a very compelling package - ticking most boxes and getting nearly everything right - especially with context to our market.
Also Read: 3rd Generation Skoda Superb Exclusive Review
The new Skoda Superb is built on the Volkswagen Group's MQB or modular platform - on which we also get the Audi A3 and the Superb'a sibling - the Octavia. Under the hood the Superb will most likely come with updated iterations of the existing 1.8 TSI petrol & 2.0 TDI diesel units. Skoda India will likely continue to offer both with manual and DSG (dual clutch automatic) transmissions.
