7 upcoming sedans: New BYD Seal To Mercedes-Benz S-Class Hybrid
Sedans are often considered by customers who look for a comfortable ride along with a spacious cabin. Sadly, sedans are slowly losing market share to SUVs. However, even today, there are a decent number of buyers who understand the benefits of a good sedan. There are even brands that are still offering sedans in the mid-size, premium, and luxury segments. Here, we have a list of seven such upcoming sedans that are likely to be launched in the Indian market soon.
One of India's largest luxury car manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, is working on a facelift for their flagship sedan, the S-Class. For the first time, this luxury sedan will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain in India. The car is expected to be launched on June 15.
This PHEV version of the luxury limousine will be called the S 450e and will be offered with EQ Hybrid Technology. It is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six engine paired with an electric motor. It generates a combined 435 hp and 680 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 22 kWh battery that is claimed to deliver a 100 km driving range in pure-electric mode.
Skoda will be updating the Slavia sedan after the Kushaq. As part of the facelift, the Slavia will get connected LED DRLs, a revised grille, headlamps, bumpers, and tail lamps, among other updates. The sedan will come with a larger driver display, and it may even get a rear-seat massage function. The sedan will continue to be offered with a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre TSI engine will come with a 7-speed DSG transmission.
Like Skoda, Volkswagen is also working on the Virtus facelift. It is expected to be offered with a revised grille, headlamps, and bumpers. The sedan is also likely to come with new alloy wheels and LED tail lamps connected by an LED light bar.
The Virtus facelift sedan will come with a revised cabin along with a larger driver display, among other features. It will continue to be offered with the same 1.0-litre TSI engine with manual and 8-speed automatic transmission options and a 1.5-litre TSI engine with a 7-speed DSG transmission.
BYD had showcased the next-generation model of its popular sedan, the BYD Seal, internationally. The same is expected to come to India too. The next-generation Seal sedan looks similar to the current model. The front gets sleek and sharp-looking headlamps with integrated LED DRLs. The bumper gets a sporty design with a large trapezoidal-shaped lower air dam and a slim body-coloured lip.
The BYD Seal has always been a premium EV, and the next-generation model is no different. The sedan gets a digital driver display, a floating touchscreen infotainment system, a large electric sunroof, airbags, a 360-degree camera, ABS, LiDAR sensors on the roof, which means it would be offered with advanced driver assistance features and more.
The 61 kWh battery pack available with the current version is expected to be replaced with a new 69.07 kWh battery pack. The new battery pack is expected to offer a claimed range of 705 km. It remains to be seen whether the battery packs offered with the current-generation Seal in India will continue in the future or be replaced with the new ones, which are smaller but more efficient.
The 100 units of the Octavia RS brought to India last year received an overwhelming response from buyers. The performance sedan was sold out even before its official price announcement. It is a proper four-door sedan and comes loaded with premium features such as an electric sunroof, a 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 12-speaker Canton audio system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a gesture-controlled powered tailgate, and more. The Octavia RS comes with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 265 hp and 370 Nm of torque.
Skoda had confirmed last year that it has plans to reintroduce diesel engines in India. The Skoda Superb is one of the sedans expected to receive a diesel engine. The Superb diesel has already been spotted on Indian roads and is expected to launch later this year. The diesel Superb will be expensive as the company plans to sell it as a CBU, and only limited numbers will be brought in.
It will be powered by a 2.0-litre TDI turbocharged diesel engine paired with a DSG transmission. Power will be sent to all four wheels through an all-wheel-drive system.
Honda, during the launch of the City facelift, had confirmed that it has a new strategy for the Indian market, and as part of this strategy, it plans to launch six new products in India. One of them is likely to be the Accord Hybrid. The Honda Accord is a premium four-door sedan, and the car would come with a long list of premium features. It is likely to be offered as a hybrid sedan. Honda is yet to release exact details about this sedan. The Accord Hybrid is expected to be sold as a CBU or a CKD in India