Auto Expo 2020: A Recap

Every other year, the gates of the Indian Auto Expo open up to receive the best of what the Indian automobile market players have to offer. The 2020 edition of the Auto Expo rolled in to Noida on February 7th, 2020, and ended on February 12th, 2020.

As always, some big-ticket names decided to make their entry into the country, such as China’s Great Wall Motor and Haima. The existing players weren’t far behind, with the usual players like Mahindra, Tata and Kia coming up with new-and-improved versions of their vehicles.

This was an auto expo a fair amount of well-known names chose to skip. BMW, Volvo, Land Rover, Toyota and Ford all opted to sit this edition of the Auto expo out. Their absence was more than compensated for by the plethora of innovative concept cars on display. So without any further ado, let’s look at the highlights of the event and all the noteworthy entries at the Expo.

THE BIKES

Let’s start with the two-wheelers. This year’s Auto Expo witnessed rehashes of many familiar models on display. There were also a few eye-catching new entries entering the field, and it remains to be seen how they will be received by the public when released. For the most part, however, the stage belonged to the Italian and Japanese bike makers.

– The Suzuki Katana was a true showstopper at the expo. Modeled off the GSX-S1000, Suzuki has made some under-the-hood changes to ensure this beast is ready for 2020. It comes fitted with the same inline-4 motor as the GSX-S, which pumps out a respectable 150PS. Definitely a classy bike, and it shows! This beast bagged the Best
Two-Wheeler Of Show award at the Expo.

– Aprilia made a strong statement with its SXR-160 on display. This scooter feels more like a proper bike, keeping the ergonomic design aspects of its sibling such as the integrated DRLs. This saw it win the People’s Choice Award for Best Two-Wheeler. It is expected to hit the streets at Q3 2020 in August, in 125cc and 160cc variants.

– Moto Guzzi’s V85 TT was a surprising presence at the Expo. It’s quite the sight, with every design aspect embodying its off-road purpose. It’s built for the job, with an 853cc unit and wide-inch wheels to conquer any slope.

The old favourites were there too, with the Suzuki Access, Suzuki Gixxer, Suzuki Hayabusa and the Aprilia RSV4 1100 all getting performance-improved versions on display by their respective makers.

THE CARS

While there weren’t as many as one would expect, some stellar models from bonafide carmakers made waves at the Auto Expo. We’ll go over them by brand, to make the info easier to take in.

Skoda
Skoda really pulled out all the stops this year, showcasing cars primarily in the SUV segment. The Best Four Wheeler Concept went to Skoda’s Vision IN concept, which is out in 2021. They also had a sedan on display, the Octavia RS245, along with the SUV siblings Rapid, Karoq and Kodiaq 7-seater, all under BS6 standards. Truly a strong contender.

Great Wall Motors
All eyes were on this new entrant from China, at the Auto Expo. Looking to enter the SUV bracket in India, it launched the Concept H along with the bigger H9. They are expected to launch their cars sometime next year. GWM bagged the New Brand Debut Honour at the Auto Expo.

Kia Motors
Kia has been hitting all the right notes right from their launch in the country. Following up on their Seltos success, they have their Seltos X-line concepts in-store. Their Carnival Multipurpose Vehicle and Sonet concept were the cynosure of all eyes, winning the Best Launch and Best of Show.

Tata Motors
Tata chose to unveil their 7-seater SUV concept Gravitas, along with their BS6 Harrier and Hexa models slated for release as well. They also announced their Tata HBX model that has been in the works for a while. They won the Best CV Pavilion Award for their roster.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen shed a little more light on their all-new midsize SUV offering by showcasing the VW Taigun concept. The Tiguan grabbed a lot of eyeballs at the Expo, clinching it the award of Best Global Debut. They also teased their Tiguan AllSpace SUV model, making for a promising show.

Honourable mentions in this lineup go to:

MG Motors: They announced their flagship MG Gloster, along with a new and improved Hector Plus. They also won the Best Pavilion!
Mercedes-Benz: As the only luxe car brand at the Expo, Mercedes chose to showcase their A-class sedans, and their next-generation GLA SUVs were also part of the show.
Maruti Suzuki: This carmaker’s approach was focused on being eco-friendly, as they revealed their Futuro e-concept. As is customary, there were also the standard facelift models, like the Vitara Brezza and Ignis.

Renault’s Triber, Mahindra’s Funster concept, and Force Motors’ Gurkha were notable entries at the Expo as well.

ELECTRIC CORNER
We are in 2020, and the world is looking to more sustainable options when it comes to transport. The Auto Expo had more than its fair share of EVs on display, most of them being presented as concepts. From bikes to cars, there was something for everyone at the show. Here is a handy list of all the noteworthy EVs at the Expo.

– Vespa Elettrica, 4.2 kwh battery
– Peugeot e-Lidux Scooter, 2.500 KW motor
– Hero Electric AE-47 (bike) and AE-29 (scooter)
– Evolet Warrior (Niche Indian electric quad bike)
– Everve EF1 (Prototype)
– Tata Sierra eSUV
– Mahindra’s eKUV100 and eXUV300
– Renault’s K-ZE and Zoe
– VW’s I.D. Crozz (VW’s first Indian EV)

In conclusion, the Auto Expo 2020 was an exhibition with a lot of automotive promise, with familiar and new players entering the Indian vehicle scene. Let’s gear up and watch as the new cars make their way to Indian roads!

52