Auto Expo 2023 Day 2 Wrap-up: All Three Major Unveils

Truth be told, unlike last time, Day 2 of Auto Expo 2023 was more on the serene side of things, with a markedly smaller number of unveils. All of the frenzy that we’ve come to expect from Auto Expo was unleashed on day 1, which you can read here. Without any further ado, let’s jump straight into a quick read of the highlights of day 2 of this year’s Auto Expo:

The Jimny!

The one SUV that has been actively evading the Indian market has finally decided to show up and this time it is here to stay. Bookings for the Jimny have commenced and it comes in a 5-door guise (Yes, that was a global unveil). Under the hood is the K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine that puts out 104PS and 134Nm to all four wheels, coupled with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox. There are two variants on offer, Zeta and Alpha, in five monotone and two dual-tone colour palettes. The Jimny will be sold through Maruti’s premium Nexa chain of dealerships and we expect prices between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom).

Fronx aka Baleno In a Suede Suit

The Jimny is not the only new car that is going to be retailed through Nexa. The Fronx, an SUV-coupe based on the Baleno, is Maruti Suzuki’s next big thing at the Auto Expo 2023. We are pleased to see the 100PS 1.0-litre BoosterJet engine making a comeback and it will be sold alongside the 90PS 1.2-litre NA petrol engine. There are five trims on offer in eight colour options including dual-tone finishes. The Fronx does pack a punch and comes with interesting features such as a nine-inch touchscreen, heads-up display, 360-degree camera, Arkamys audio system, and up to six airbags. 

MG Euniq 7

The third unveil from today was rather interesting and, ahem… euniq. Y’know, because it makes use of a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. So this big MPV runs on electricity generated by the hydrogen fuel cell. MG is keeping details close to its chest but it is claimed to do a range of up to 605km! The carmaker also claims it can refuel the hydrogen tank in three minutes tops. Apart from this rather unorthodox powertrain setup, the MPV has loads of presence on its side thanks to a huge grille and boxy looks. We have no clue if it will ever make it to India but it is safe to not expect it since we don’t have the infrastructure to support an FCEV right now.

Also Read: Tata’s Iconic Sierra Will Make A Comeback Looking Like This

With this, the media days of the largest automotive event in India have come to an end. It will now be open to the general public from January 13th till January 15th, where you can catch all these special cars and concepts in the flesh and metal. The first day was packed with quite an interesting number of unveils and launches whereas day 2 was more relaxed despite us finally getting a glimpse of the Jimny. Thanks to the Auto Expo, we now know what all cars are headed our way in the future and it sure is exciting, to say the least.