#LookBack2014: Best Car Designs of the Year

Thanks to the 2014 Indian Auto Expo We Got Numerous Launches This Year and still counting! 

The year started with the launch of Honda City and then we had the biggest auto gala in the country - 2014 Indian Auto Expo, which ignited series of launches this year. We compiled few of the best looking four wheelers running across the country for you in our #LookBack2014 series! 

Hyundai Elite i20 

Hyundai ‘Elite’ i20 aka second gen i20 is undoubtedly one of the most important launches this year. Hyundai made the world premier of i20 in the country and we were the first ones to drive the second-gen i20 across the globe! Speaking of the global release, Hyundai made worldwide debut of this car couple of months later after its Indian launch.

Chubby curvaceous i20 is transformed into a dapper, edgier and sexy ‘Elite’ i20   

On the design front, all that meaner stance and flamboyance is courtesy to the adoption of Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design language. The long swept back headlamps, bold and prominent character lines, edgier proportions and wrap around taillamps are signature elements of ‘Fluidic sculpture 2.0’. Moreover, the features which were diluted in the Indian Elite i20 compared to its European counterpart like projector headlamps, daytime running LEDs, LED tail lamps amongst others, are reportedly coming in the ‘Cross’ version of the Elite i20 next year. This will add more bling to i20’s range and indeed to its uber cool sales!

Mercedes Benz S Class 

The ‘Three-Pointed-Star’ manufacturer's flagship is a sheer bliss to watch and is certainly the most desired place to be in while on road. Indeed the new family design which Merc's flaunts nowadays (CLA, GLA, new C Class), debuted with the ‘S’! The 2014 Mercedes Benz S Class offers classic curves yet in a modern avatar.   

Merc’s new mouth watering design language made its debut with the ‘Best Car in the World’ - S Class 

As an added advantage, the new design language has helped reduce the drag coefficient to the lowest yet - 0.24. Moreover, the new S Class gets all-around LED lighting, the headlights are LED featuring DRLs along with LED taillamps. Furthermore, the new 2015 C Class looks like a ‘baby S’ amongst all the recently launched models, CLA (AMG), GLA and even the upcoming ones.

Honda City / Maruti Suzuki Ciaz  

Apart from getting a diesel heart for the very first time, Honda City has evolved radically both inside-out. City also debuted the Honda’s ‘EXCITING H!!!’ design philosophy in the country which was later adopted by Mobilio. The new City looks bigger and premium from its previous model. 

Honda City & Maruti Suzuki Ciaz rivalry is undoubtedly one of the biggest clash this year

Ciaz which was showcased as a concept at the Auto Expo earlier this year and entered late in - October compared to City. The Honda City killer is a strong contender when it comes to best design of the year since it is the finest offering from Maruti Suzuki in mid-size sedan segment till yet, courtesy to features like projector headlamps and the sheer size of the vehicle. Not many will argue that Ciaz is one of the best looking sedan in its space though it is cribbed by few as its rear profile has a striking resemblance with the City!   

Fiat Punto EVO - Avventura 

Though it seems like a facelift but the 2014 Punto adorns a fresh new face while retaining its sexy Italian curves and above all, it finally got the ‘EVO’ badge! The Punto that we are driving right now is not selling in any part of the world. Moreover, Fiat also made the global debut of the Punto EVO based crossover Avventura, which they call it CUV - ‘Contemporary Urban Vehicle’ in India.

No doubt, Fiat Punto EVO and Avventura are the most stylish affordable vehicle on sale in India

The swept back headlamps and LED tail lamps and oodles of chrome has lifted few wrinkles from the Punto’s timeless design. Some people criticize about the new look of the EVO and the amount of chrome Fiat has chipped-in; Don’t know why, even when Indians are crazy about chrome detailing in their cars! Speaking of the Avventura, the mounted spare wheel, all the cladding and the raised ride height, sets it apart from the EVO. And since Avventura comes standard with fatter 16-inch machined alloys, so whichever variant you pick, Avventura looks classy as always! 

Toyota Corolla Altis 

What could be the reason for the extreme sales bump when Toyota launched Corolla in India. And indeed Toyota is selling over 1000 units per month currently making it the highest selling car in its segment despite carrying over same engines? Adding to this, though the engines were potent (diesel being modestly powered) it was the plain jane design of the previous sedan that was hindering the sales.       

The new Corolla Altis finally got the missing key - the flamboyance, which now completes the package! 

The bold contour curves, Bi-xenon headlamps with daytime running LEDs, LED tail lamps adds the missing bling along with the fresh new styling.