What You'll Drive in 2010

Recession? Really? When?

With every automotive manufacturer posting record sales figures, you wouldn't believe that just 12 months ago they were buckling over from the proverbial kick in the gonads. Today they are falling over themselves to add fresh capacities and churn out more cars for the insatiable Indian car buyer. 

The Auto Expo in January will give the clearest indication yet of how big India is set to be on the world's automotive map. In fact, the Auto Expo is set to rival some of the glitziest auto shows for size and scale, dwarfing the likes of the Tokyo Motor Show and setting the tone for 2010: a year that's expected to be the best ever as far as the Indian automotive story is concerned. So what will we be driving in 2010? 

Tata Motors, too, will bring in the IndiCruz. However, before that there will be an upgrade to the breathtakingly underdeveloped Sumo Grande that, hopefully, will address issues of quality and styling. 

Of greater significance is the emergence of the compact-MPV. VW, Toyota and Nissan will follow up on their hatchbacks with not just a sedan based on the same platform but also create a new segment, the C-MPV. Smaller than the Innova, but with three rows of seats, the C-MPV is suited to Indian needs (and families). In fact, the pioneer in this segment, Maruti--forgotten the Omni and Versa?--will also have a replacement for the Versa, with better styling and a diesel engine.

Source:forbes.com