7 Cool Cars That Came To India, But Couldn't Make It Big

The car-verse is huge and deep, but I feel there are only 2 kinds of cars in existence. Firstly, those with inherent traits that just please the masses without any character or element. And secondly, there are cars that are cool, if anything. India has seen its fair share of exciting cars, machines that turned heads, sparked curiosity, and promised something different. Yet, not every cool car translates into commercial success. High pricing, niche appeal, and timing often decide the fate of such models.

Over the years, several cars entered the Indian market with big ambitions but faded away quietly. Here's a look at seven cool cars that came to India but couldn't make it big, despite their style, innovation, or performance.

1. Tata Nano

Back in the day, when the man himself - Ratan Tata, announced making the "People's Car" for just Rs 1 lakh, it made headlines. Of course, the announcement came wrapped with excitement and even criticism. The Tata Nano was undoubtedly a revolutionary set of wheels. The whole idea sounded like a concept initially, but was brought to reality. However, being touted as the cheapest car of the era affected aspirations around it. If that wasn't all, the Singur plant controversy delayed its arrival. Resultantly, the Nano was launched at a slightly higher starting price. With so many odds to deal with, the Tata Nano never received the warmth it was expected to.

2. Maruti Suzuki Baleno Altura

Maruti's attempt at a station wagon based on the Baleno sedan was practical yet ahead of its time. Indian buyers weren't ready for wagons, and the Baleno Altura quietly exited the scene. While the Baleno sedan it was based on did work well for Maruti Suzuki, as sedans were always considered cars of the riches and bureaucrats. The Baleno Altura offered everything that the sedan offered, along with increased practicality due to a larger trunk.

3. Chevrolet SR-V

When the market was just focused on A-segment hatchbacks and C-segment sedans, there came the Chevrolet SR-V. A sporty hatchback with sharp styling and decent performance. Experts say that the SR-V was priced too high for its segment. Lack of brand strength and poor fuel efficiency sealed its fate. It ended up finding very less buyers, but the car was certainly ahead of its time with a styling that attracted all eyeballs on the road.

4. San Storm

India has always been a price-conscious and aspirational market. To encash this, a Goa-based firm attempted to sell a two-door convertible - San Storm. India's first homegrown convertible promised open-top thrills at an affordable price. Sadly, limited safety features, weak build quality, and a poor brand value kept it from gaining traction.

5. Volkswagen Beetle

An icon globally, the Beetle was launched in India as a lifestyle car. Its steep price tag and impracticality for Indian roads meant it remained a rare sight. The 2-door, rear-engined hatch with its cutesy looks could only attract a few buyers in the rich localities of metro cities. Even today, the Beetle is a rare sight on Indian roads.

6. Toyota Sera

Imported in limited numbers, the Sera was futuristic with its butterfly doors and glass-heavy design. But high costs and lack of service support made it a collector's dream, not a mass-market success. In its time, the Sera was nothing less than what the Volkswagen GTI is today. If the performance was poor, the scissor doors amplified the oomph factor for this hatchback.

7. Nissan 370Z

The last one on this list is the Nissan 370Z. A proper sports car with a roaring V6 engine, the 370Z was a performance enthusiast's delight. However, it didn't find many buyers. This 2-door sports car couldn't witness the attraction it has enjoyed in Japan or even European markets. It wasn't even priced too ambitiously either, at a starting price of Rs 53.5 lakh (ex-showroom) in the year 2010. The massive 3.7L V6 petrol motor pushed out 332 horses.