The 2020 Auto Expo saw quite some crazy concept cars in the from of the Tata Sierra EV, the Mahindra Funster and even the Kia Sonet. Here’s our pick of the best concept cars from the Auto Expo.
One of the most alluring things about motor shows have to be the many crazy concept cars that manufacturers come out flaunting. The 2020 Auto Expo also had its fair share of concept cars, some of which were as crazy as concepts get and some which previewed things to come in the not-too-distant future. So here’s pick of all the important concept cars from the 2020 Auto Expo.
Tata HBX Concept
Tata had the funky looking HBX concept at their stands at the 2020 Auto Expo. Now, we have seen the HBX concept before but this micro-SUV from Tata was shown in close-to-production form at the Auto Expo. The display car was dressed up as a rugged off-roader replete with a roof carriage, knobby off-road tyres and beefy bumpers. While all this will not come on the production car, the HBX reveals a fair few production-spec details too. The split-headlamp design, the large wheel arches, most of the body panels, all of it will make it into production. This little Tata has quite a rugged stance and roomy interiors and Tata might as well have a winner on their hands already.
Tata Sierra EV
Tata revived the iconic Sierra nameplate with an electric SUV concept at the Auto Expo. The Tata Sierra EV concept has a very modern design and yet it is beautifully reminiscent of the original Sierra with the iconic viewing-room-like rear windows and the overall stance of the SUV. The face is also pretty handsome with chunky bumpers and unique headlamp design. Sure, the single-sided sliding rear doors and swivel seats for the cabin are too concept-like, but this SUV did manage to strike the right heart strings. There is no word of this SUV making it to production but considering the fact that its built on the ALFA platform, it means that this isn’t a theoretical impossibility.
Kia Sonet Concept
The Kia Sonet Concept is a very important car for Kia as it previews the Kia sub-compact SUV that will take on the likes of the Hyundai Venue and the Tata Nexon. In fact, the Kia Sonet will be sharing its underpinnings and powertrains with that of Hyundai Venue. That aside, there’s nothing that quite links the two cars. The Sonet boasts of a very attractive design and yes, the production-spec car will look largely similar to the concept here. The LED headlamps, chunky bumpers, the tiger-nose grille, an upright stance with a floating roof effect, all work very well. Kia didn’t show the Sonet’s interior but a class-leading 10.25-inch touchscreen can be expected on the final product, which comes in August 2020.
Maruti Futuro-E Concept
One of the most striking concepts at the 2020 Auto Expo was at Maruti Suzuki’s stand. The Maruti Suzuki Futuro-E concept is an electric concept and essentially a design study. And it looks nothing like any other Maruti we have seen before. The fluidic lines with sharp creases and contours all over and the sloping coupe-like roofline sure makes for a very attractive design. Maruti insiders tell us the sloping roofline could be retained for production, though there was no word on when the brand plans to launch an SUV derived from the Futuro-e.
Mahindra Funster
The Mahindra Funster was yet another crazy concept at the Auto Expo by another Indian manufacturer. The Funster is essentially a hard-top electric roadster SUV. And its even got scissor doors. Seems like Mahindra can’t get enough of their SUVs. While a roadster and an SUV may be quite polarising, the Funster has quite some interesting numbers. It is powered by a 59.2kWh battery pack which provides a claimed range of 520km. It has dual motors (one on each axle) for a combined output of 313hp. Mahindra claims a 0-100kph time of under 5sec. In fact, details like the headlights and the grille could also make it into the next-gen XUV500. The Funster also previews the possibilities of MESMA – the Mahindra Electric Scalable Modular Architecture.
Skoda Vision IN
Skoda Auto India finally took the wraps off the Vision IN Concept at its world premiere in the run up to the Auto Expo. The Skoda Vision IN is a rather important car for the Volkswagen group and it will also be the first car to be launched under the Group’s India 2.0 Project. The Vision IN will also be the first car to be built on the company’s brand-new, tailored-for-India, MQB A0 IN platform. It will be Skoda’s take on the mid-size SUV segment to take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos. The SUV is due in 2021 and will be powered by a 150hp, 1.5-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine. The concept boasted off some pretty flashy bits with illuminated logo and griile, chunky bumpers and wheels and even interiors made of recycled materials.
Also Read : Mahindra XUV300 EV Unveiled At Auto Expo 2020; Launch By H2 2021
Haval Concept H
Great Wall Motors made their debut in India at the 2020 Auto Expo and sure with a concept car as well. Among the host of other SUVs from their lineup, what really was stealing eyeballs as the Concept H SUV. Making its global debut at the 2020 Auto Expo, the Haval Concept H previews a future midsize SUV from Great Wall Motor and stands out for its extroverted styling. The screen-rich interior is big on wow factor too. Great Wall Motors will start their India operations from 2021.
Also Read : 2020 Hyundai i20 Design Sketches Released; Launch Expected By June
MG Marvel X EV
The MG Marvel X EV is a rather interesting car as it is deemed to be the first mass-production electric car to come with Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities. The MG Marvel X is meant to showcase the brand’s focus on products that are electric-powered, self-driven and connected. The MG Marvel X gets a 52.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack that sends power to three electric motors, giving it all-wheel-drive capability. Combined, the three motors make 302hp and 665Nm of torque. While MG has not officially said it’ll be bringing the Marvel X to a showroom in India, the eSUV could serve as an option for those who’d like an SUV that’s larger than the ZS EV, and is as green.
