Top India-bound cars spotted testing in June

The testing season is underway with manufacturing taking full advantage of the European summer. Our spy sleuths even spotted cars taking on the Swiss Alps, hauling huge weight when undergoing towage testing. This testing is essential since European car buyers love going for outdoor activities with their caravans. Here are a few important cars that were spotted testing last month which will make their way to India soon.

Range Rover Evoque

The Evoque will enter into its second generation taking its inspiration from the all-new Velar. The styling will be similar to the new avant-garde SUV. The cabin images of the Evoque’s test mule revealed a dashboard with multiple screens directly borrowed from the Velar. The new Evoque is expected to be revealed later this year before going on sale sometime in 2019.

Hyundai Sonata

The eight generation Hyundai Sonata will come as an MY 2020 with an evolutionary look. The heavily cladded test mule was spotted in the company of the Camry, the Accord and the Malibu, so we expect Hyundai to undergo a significant improvement over the previous model. An official debut will likely take place sometime in early 2019, with an on-sale date later in the year.

Skoda Octavia

The new-gen Octavia has already begun testing. The fourth-gen of the sedan (and the estate) will grow in size owing to the new platform of the VW Golf. Even the engines will be shared with the German hatchback. The 1.8 TSI will be replaced by the 2.0 TSI unit used by the Kodiaq, while a diesel is also on the cards. Also, a plug-in hybrid looks likely, as both the Superb and Kodiaq will receive one. 

Volkswagen Passat

The current generation Passat is due for a mid-life update this year since it has been around since 2014. The facelifted Passat is expected to feature a refreshed front-end inspired by that of the Volkswagen Arteon. It will have a larger grille, reshaped headlamps with LED DRLs integrating with the radiator grille’s chrome slats, and a sleeker bumper. At the rear, changes may include tweaked tail lamps and a restyled bumper.

Mini Clubman 

The Clubman will receive a minor blink-and-miss update to keep the current generation fresh for another couple of years. The test mule featured modified inner graphics at front and rear lamp units and tweaked bumpers and grille. We expect more updates on the inside with latest safety and infotainment systems. The overall update will be similar to the Cooper 3-door and 5-door which were recently launched in the Indian market.