Weekly Car News Fix: Maruti Baleno Spied, New SUVs For India And More

Just like you, we’ve spent the last week of the year recounting the most memorable parts of 2021. Carmakers have been relatively quiet, and no new cars were launched in the past few days. But a few announcements were made, and upcoming cars were spied, hinting that 2022 could be a good year for cars in India. Here are the highlights from the past week: 

Kia Seltos spied: 

New spy shots of an upcoming Kia Seltos could get a mid-life facelift this year. It is likely to get new front and rear fascias, alloy wheels, and a longer equipment list. Petrol and diesel powertrain options could remain unchanged, but the 2022 Seltos might get new driver assistance features that the MG Astor and Mahindra XUV700 have introduced in the segment. 

BMW X3 Facelift launching in Jan: 

It seems that BMW could soon launch the facelifted X3 SUV in India. A new nose and head and tail lamps aside, it’ll also get a posher dashboard similar to the 4 Series sedan. The engine options could be the same 2-litre petrol and diesel mills, but the X3 is likely to come with a standard mild-hybrid system for better performance and efficiency. 

Audi Q7 variants and features revealed:

In an exclusive story, we reported the upcoming facelifted Audi Q7’s variants and features at each of its trim levels. The luxury full-sizer is powered by a 340PS 3-litre petrol engine paired with a standard mild hybrid system, and it rivals the Mercedes GLE and Volvo XC90. 

Government encourages flex-fuel cars:

In a tweet, the Minister for Transport has asked carmakers to come up with flex-fuel options for their vehicles by mid-2022. These vehicles will be engineered to run on bio-ethanol and other blends, and the tech can even be used in ICE-electric hybrid cars. An affirmative response from carmakers is awaited.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno spied undisguised: 

A camo-free Maruti Baleno hatchback was spied during a TVC shoot, and we could clearly spot its revised LED taillamps and some other exterior features. It’ll also get a revised dashboard with a floating touchscreen, and the same 1.2-litre petrol engines as the existing car. We expect the 2022 Baleno to launch in early 2022, better equipped to handle the competition from the Hyundai i20 and Tata Altroz. 

Skoda Kodiaq launch announced:

This month, Skoda will launch its family full-size SUV over a year after its predecessor was discontinued during the BS6 transition in April 2020. It comes with a fresh face, a 2-litre petrol engine and new features including an updated 10-speaker Canton sound system. It’ll be locally assembled in the country, so prices are expected to start at a more reasonable Rs 35 lakh. 

Toyota readying the Hilux for launch: 

A new spy shot tells us that the Toyota Hilux is reaching dealerships ahead of its launch. The pickup truck is likely to draw power from a 2.4- or 2.8-litre diesel engine and could offer 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options. It’ll rival the Isuzu V-Cross when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2022.

Kia Carens to open official bookings: 

Kia has announced that you can officially book the Carens people carrier starting 14 Jan. The three-row MPV could get similar powertrains as the Seltos SUV, and it also has similar features such as a single-pane sunroof, 10.25 inch infotainment screen, and 8-speaker Bose audio system.