Independence Day 2025: Hindustan Ambassador To Mahindra Scorpio, 5 Cars That Shaped Indian Automotive Industry

Hindustan Motors Ambassador Classic

The ‘Ambassador’ by Hindustan Motors gained popularity primarily as the Minister’s or Officer’s car in the country. It ruled the Indian car market for 57 years, and it also remained the bestselling car in the country for almost 2 decades. It was often called ‘The Kind Of The Indian Roads’, and the Ambassador was produced from 1957 to 2014. The Hindustan Motors Ambassador Classic was a subcompact sedan, and in all of its 57 years of life, it was offered in different models and variants. The subcompact sedan by Hindustan Motors was offered with options of a 1.5-litre, 2.0-litre, and 1.8-litre engines. The Ambassador is also known as the longest production car in the country.

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Maruti 800

The Maruti 800 was introduced in the year 1983 for the first time, and it became the most prevalent car of its era. The Maruti 800 was inspired by the 1979 Suzuki Alto, and it is the second-longest production car in India after the Hindustan Motors Ambassador. The Maruti 800 took over after the Ambassador and remained the bestselling car in the country till 2004. Maruti 800 was also the first-ever car from Maruti Suzuki, which is currently India’s largest car manufacturer. The Maruti 800 was a 5-door hatchback, and it was available with options of either a 796cc F8B or a 796cc F8D petrol engine.

Honda City

The renowned Japanese brand, Honda, began its journey in India with the Honda City sedan, which has now completed 27 glorious years in the country. The Honda City is currently sold in its fifth-generation model in India, and it is one of the most popular sedan cars in the country. The Honda City in 1998 was available with options of either a 1.3-liter or a 1.5-liter petrol engine. While the 1.3-liter was good for 80 hp, the 1.5-liter would churn out a peak power output of 100 hp. Currently, the City by Honda is available with a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, as well as a Hybrid engine. The fifth generation of Honda City is priced between Rs 11.82 lakh (ex-showroom) and Rs 16.35 lakh (ex-showroom) in the country.

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Mahindra Scorpio

Mahindra and Mahindra, the renowned Indian car manufacturer known for making rugged SUVs, introduced the Scorpio nameplate in 2004. The Scorpio was the first-ever model manufactured by the brand for the global market. The Scorpio has received titles like ‘Car of the Year’, ‘Best SUV of the Year’, and ‘Best car of the year’. Currently, the Scorpio is available in the Scorpio N and Classic models, which are the third generation models of the/ SUV. Ever since the launch of the Scorpio N, the Scorpio has remained in the top 5 best-selling SUVs in the country.

Toyota Innova

The Toyota Innova has gained popularity as one of the most reliable, futuristic, and capable MPVs in the country. It was introduced in the year 2005, and it completely revolutionized the way people used to think of an MPV car. The Innova replaced the Qualis in the brand’s lineup, and it gained popularity for its reliable engine and premium, spacious interiors. The MPV is being sold in the country in its third-generation model, which includes two variants: the Crysta and the Hycross. The Toyota Innova is priced between Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom) to Rs 27.08 lakh (ex-showroom).