State-of-art concept cars glisten at Auto Expo

The Auto Expo is grabbing many eyeballs with its state-of-the-art new models. Automobile giants like Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki and Renault are showcasing their 'out-of-the-box' concept cars to the world's sixth largest car market country.

The interiors of the expo venue shimmered over the weekend, as celebrities and models posed with the most advanced, designer and efficient 'futuristic' cars.

German luxury carmaker, Audi, displayed its coupe concept car-the Sport Quattro - which with a front fascia and exposed LED headlights looks stunning. The concept is powered by hybrid powertrain, and can run up to 50 kilometers solely on electricity.

BMW unveiled its lavish electric concept car, BMW i8 - first seen in Hollywood super-hit 'Mission Impossible 4'. Designed to look like a car straight from the space-age, the BMW i8 has powerful electric and petrol engines.

BMW India also showcased three other cars, including BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, X5, M6 Gran Coup, designed with an aim to stay head of the times.

"This circle of sheer driving pleasure can only be completed by introducing innovative products, building world-class steer ships, maintaining state-of-the-art equipment, motivating and training a work-force that engages specifically with our...(sic)and delivering service standards ahead of the times," said President of the BMW Group India, Phillipp Von Sahr.

Where on the one hand, the automotive giants unveiled their rich and elegant looking cars, Renault presented to India its playful, flamboyant and glitzy concept car, 'KWID'. The small-sized imaginative vehicle is a power pack of advanced features. The car has been designed keeping in mind the young generation.

France based Renault also rolled out the updated and sportier version of Fluence with a new bumper revised front grille and new metal.

Small cars are top sellers in a country where most people prefer to drive cheaper, fuel-efficient compact cars as roads are clogged with traffic and parking in big cities is hard to come by.

Maruti Suzuki, the nation's biggest car maker, unveiled its two concept models, Ciaz sedan and the crossover SX4 S-Cross, in a bid to improve its sales in the country at a time when the sector is going through a slump.

"These models communicate our intent to expand our range of products in the future. Ladies and gentlemen, I am aware India automobile market is in slowdown. In this scenario, our effort is to achieve the...(sic)of last year."said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Kenichi Ayukawa.

India's largest car manufacturer Tata Motors unveiled their sports utility vehicle (SUV) Nexon and also the ConnectNext - a concept car aiming at recapturing their lost market share in the passenger car markets - after a hiatus of four years.

Under the company's Horizonext programme, the Nexon and ConnectNext feature amongst the 18 other cars in the passenger as well as commercial vehicles.

Car sales in India are set to fall in the fiscal year to March, in what will be the second straight annual decline as slower economic growth and inflation keeps buyers at bay.