With the race to electrify mobility gaining momentum, we take a look at upcoming cars to keep an eye on.
Some say that boys never grow up, their toys simply become bigger and more expensive. Of course, that’s not entirely an exaggeration. Call it a midlife crisis, or a massaging of the ego, or simply throwing money at something to get a dopamine hit or earn social brownie points, men have chased the hottest of cars since the dawn of the Model T.
Of course, the automobile has come a long way since then, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) are starting to become increasingly commonplace on the roads. And there’s no sign of that trend abating either, what with governments the world over mandating a switch to electric mobility by a stipulated date. The good old car as we know it isn’t going away anytime soon though, and we’ve rounded up some of the best cars for you to keep an eye out for in 2023.
Mahindra XUV400 EV
Some say that boys never grow up, their toys simply become bigger and more expensive. Of course, that’s not entirely an exaggeration. Call it a midlife crisis, or a massaging of the ego, or simply throwing money at something to get a dopamine hit or earn social brownie points, men have chased the hottest of cars since the dawn of the Model T.
Of course, the automobile has come a long way since then, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) are starting to become increasingly commonplace on the roads. And there’s no sign of that trend abating either, what with governments the world over mandating a switch to electric mobility by a stipulated date. The good old car as we know it isn’t going away anytime soon though, and we’ve rounded up some of the best cars for you to keep an eye out for in 2023.
Maruti Jimny
SUVs are all the rage these days, and while India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has plenty of those on sale, it lacks a proper goanywhere car in their portfolio. That could soon change with the Jimny though, rumoured to launch sometime next year. Speculated to be available at an affordable price point of around 10 lakh, it could be the perfect swiss army knife, value-for-money option for those that want the ability to go anywhere in a compact vehicle. Its boxy design, ladder frame design, short overhangs, and high ground clearance coupled with an Allgrip Pro AWD system could make it the perfect SUV for urban roads or no roads.
Mahindra Thar 5 door
The Mahindra Thar has been a runaway success despite its numerous shortcomings, which simply goes on to prove that sex appeal sells when it comes to cars as well. Essentially a long wheelbase version of the two-door Thar, the five-door variant will sport all the offroading potential of its sibling in a more family friendly form factor. With its raw machismo, undeniably good looks, and infinite modification potential, this could well be the do-it-all car for the dad looking to ferry the kids to school during the week, and then whisk the family away to a remote location on the weekend. It will be sure to set the sales registers ringing, so keep your eye out for this one.
Tata Altroz EV
The Mahindra Thar has been a runaway success despite its numerous shortcomings, which simply goes on to prove that sex appeal sells when it comes to cars as well. Essentially a long wheelbase version of the two-door Thar, the five-door variant will sport all the offroading potential of its sibling in a more family friendly form factor. With its raw machismo, undeniably good looks, and infinite modification potential, this could well be the do-it-all car for the dad looking to ferry the kids to school during the week, and then whisk the family away to a remote location on the weekend. It will be sure to set the sales registers ringing, so keep your eye out for this one.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
After Kia won over customers with its EV6, sibling rivalry means Hyundai is ready to bring the Ioniq 5 to the table. Visually unique, it features a unique mix of 80’s styling with new-age elements and features. As a fast charging SUV, it would already have caught the eye thanks to its 320 HP, all-wheel-drive, dual-motor unit. Even the single-motor, rear-drive model is no slouch, putting out 225 HP. But where the Ioniq 5 scores big is its driving range. The all-singing, all-dancing AWD unit has a range of about 420 kilometres, and while the singlemotor, rear-drive model unit has a range of merely 350 kilometres, the latter also comes in an extended range version capable of close to 480 kilometres. That coupled with its 350-kW DC fast-charging capacity gives it a huge advantage over peers, with this feature normally offered by far more expensive and luxurious EVs such as the Porsche Taycan. Spacious, practical, and futuristic while being old-school, this is one EV we can’t wait to try out.
Citroën C3 EV
French carmaker Citroën, which recently made its introduction with the C5, added the C3 to its portfolio this year. Now, word on the street is that the C3 will get an EV counterpart as well, and it will be kept affordable to rope in early adopters. Potentially unveiled in the first few months of 2023, it is expected to be offered with multiple battery options. If the global specs are anything to go by, one of them could be a 50kWh battery pack with a WLTP-claimed range of over 350 kilometres, which is present in the Peugeot e-208 sharing the same platform. Said to produce 136 bhp and 260Nm of torque, this little EV could pack a range of about 300 kilometres, making it an ideal choice for city commuters. This could well be the car Citroën needs to set the cat among the pigeons.