Top 6 upcoming hatchbacks of 2016: Renault Kwid 1.0 litre, Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS, others [PHOTOS]

The automakers in India are rolling up their sleeves with new car launches in the offing and auto aficionados can certainly be assured of exciting days as we near the festive season in India. While some of the models, which are already on the roads will go under the knife for a makeover, there are also exotic and brand new models shaping up to excite the crowd. As automotive landscape gets ready to welcome the new offering, International Business Times India lists the top hatchbacks that worth waiting for this festive season.

Renault Kwid 1.0litre and AMT

As we have known for some time, the Kwid, the small hatchback with SUV-Stance that has captured imaginations of the auto-lovers in the country, is coming in new avatars this festive season. The French carmaker Renault is expected to roll out the Kwid with more powerful engine during the festive season of this year.

While the current model of the Kwid draws power from a 799cc three-cylinder petrol motor, which can churn out 53.2bhp at 5,678 rpm and a peak torque of 72Nm, the soon-to-be-launched avatar will come equipped with 1000cc mill. The 1000cc avatar of the Kwid is expected to generate a power of something close to 75bhp. The Kwid will also get automated transmission (AMT) in its new avatar. With the new powerful Kwid, Renault is also expected to offer dual airbags and ABS across all Kwid models, starting from the base variant. Renault is currently offering an optional single airbag only in the top-end RxT variant of the Kwid.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS

Maruti Suzuki, the country largest carmaker, is looking to expand its Nexa line-up in India. The company, which currently retails the Baleno premium hatchback and the S-Cross premium crossover, will soon be adding the Baleno RS to its line-up.

The Baleno RS, which made its debut at the Auto Expo 2016, is the first car in India to be powered by the Boosterjet of Suzuki. The 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine would churn out close to 110bhp of power and 170Nm of peak torque. The transmission in the new variants of the Baleno is expected to be taken care of by a six-speed automatic transmission.

The upcoming Baleno RS will take on the likes of Fiat Abarth Punto, Ford Figo 1.5-litre petrol and Volkswagen Polo GT TSI in India. As for features, the Baleno RS will come packed with additional features like side skirts and new diamond cut alloy wheels. Other features expected include reverse camera, automatic climate control and 7-inch touchscreen SmartPlay entertainment system with Apple CarPlay.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

German carmaker Volkswagen has been putting its powerful hatch, the Polo GTI, through testing in the country for quite sometime now. Volkswagen is expected to launch the Polo GTI in India in the second half of 2016 during the festive season. The Polo GTI has made its appearance at Auto Expo 2016 and will be brought to India as completely Built Unit (CBU).

Expected to be priced at around Rs. 20 lakh, the GTI will come powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol mill that can churn out 192bhp of power with seven-speed DSG gearbox. It can attain 0-100 kmph in 6.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 236 kmph.

Hyundai Eon facelift

As the competition in the small car segment is heating up with the arrival of new models like Kwid and redi-Go, it looks like the South Korean auto major Hyundai is revving up to roll out the facelifted avatar of its entry-level hatchback – the Eon.

The Eon facelift is expected to undergo extensive changes both inside and outside. As for engine, the new Eon is likely to carry the same engines of the exiting model. In India, Hyundai Eon is sold in two engine options -- 800 cc petrol and 1.0 litre three-cylinder one. While the small engine (800cc) is tuned to generate 55bhp of power and 74.5 Nm of torque, the latter churns out power of 68bhp and peak torque of 98Nm. Hyundai is likely to offer four-speed automatic transmission in the 1.0 litre variant.

Hyundai i20 N Sport

Besides the facelifted avatar of the Eon, Hyundai is also expected to bring its hot hatch, the i20 N Sport, to India this year. The i20 N Sport, the sport version of the Elite i20 hatchback was unveiled in August 2015. It was developed under Hyundai's N Division -- new high-performance sub-division.

At the heart of Hyundai i20 N Sport is a1.4-litre petrol engine that is tuned to deliver 114bhp and 160Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via six-speed manual transmission. Although the i20 N Sport will look identical to its sibling the Elite i20, Hyundai has given it new 17-inch alloy wheels and side skirt to make it different. Additionally, the i20 N Sport will feature a stiffer spring setup and the brakes have been updated with a set of ventilated discs up front and solid discs in the rear. The car will also come with four-channel ABS and an EBD system for safety.

Volvo V40 facelift

Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars is expected to launch its updated V40 hatchback in India this year. Although the launch of the V40 facelift is yet to announced, it is expected sometimes during the festive season.

The facelifted avatar of the V40 gets 'Thor's Hammer' headlights and new exterior colour options, which include Amazon Blue and Denim Blue. It features new upholstery design christened as City Weave and updated Volvo On Call smartphone app that allows remote access and control over a wide range of in-car features when connected to Microsoft Band 2 wearable device.