List of new cars to be launched in India later this year

Planning to buy a new car? We have compiled a list of cars which are expected to arrive/launch in India by the end of this year

Audi

2016 Audi A3

Audi revealed a mid-life facelift of its entry level sedan, A3 earlier this year. The changes in the new A3 include a tweak in the headlight design, larger radiator grille, new bumpers along with minor updates to the interior. In addition to the Xenon lights as standard, the new A3 will also feature matrix LED lights as an option. But the main change lies under the hood as the A3 facelift will come with an option of two new petrol engines - 1.0- and 2.0-litre TFSI motors. While the former makes 115PS/200Nm, the latter generates an impressive 190PS/320Nm. The two diesel produce 150PS/340Nm and 184PS/380Nm respectively.

2017 Audi A3 1.0 TFSI first drive review

India-bound 2017 Audi A3 2.0 TDI first drive

2016 Audi A4

Audi showcased the new generation A4 at the 2015 Frankfurt Show followed by its reveal at the 2016 Auto Expo in India. The new generation Audi A4 now sits on the MLB platform and uses a hybrid steel and aluminium chassis. It gets Audi's new design language which has made the lights sleeker, grille larger as well as increased the sharpness of the overall profile. The engine options that will be offered in the new generation A4 when it arrives in India include a 2.0-litre TDI (148PS) and a 1.8-litre TSI motors both mated to the 7-speed DSG gearbox, a first on a Front Wheel Drive Audi.

India-bound 2016 Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro first drive review

Audi SQ7

Audi will be getting its monstrous SQ7 in India later this year. The Audi SQ7 is powered by an all-new 4.0-litre V8 diesel engine with two exhaust-gas turbochargers that makes 435PS of power and 900Nm of torque. The new turbocharging technology is designed to reduce turbo lag.  The engine is mated to an updated eight-speed tiptronic transmission. Audi claims the SQ7 can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 4.8 seconds and attain a top speed of 250kmph. The SQ7 gets a more aggressive design compared to the standard SUV and comes in a sportier paint job as well. In terms of features, there is an option of a 23 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system or a 19 speaker Bose surround sound system.

2016 Audi SQ7 first drive review

Honda

Honda Accord hybrid

Honda showcased the India-bound Accord Hybrid at the 2016 Auto Expo. It is powered by a 2.0-litre engine that makes 143PS / 175Nm. With the electric motor, the hybrid system collectively makes 181PS. Power is transmitted to the front wheels with the help of a E-CVT gearbox. In terms of design, it gets a modern exterior with all-LED headlights, daytime running lamps, fog lamps and rear combination lamp. The interiors get a 7-inch infotainment screen, dual zone climate control and power adjustable driver seat. In terms of safety, the new Accord will get six airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start and vehicle stability assist.

Hyundai

2016 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai India previewed the new Tucson at the 2016 Auto Expo. The third generation of the premium mid-size SUV gets a sleek design language, upmarket and spacious interiors along with new engine options. Internationally, while there are a number of engine options, the version that comes to India will most likely be the 2.0-litre diesel that makes 178PS and is mated to the new 8-speed automatic gearbox. When launched in India, the Hyundai Tucson will primarily compete with the Mahindra XUV500.

Preview: India-bound 2016 Hyundai Tucson

2016 Hyundai Elantra

The new Elantra made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The premium sedan by Hyundai will enter India by the end of this year. The Elantra could be priced between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and competes with the Chevrolet Cruze and the Skoda Octavia in India. Hyundai will offer the new-gen Elantra with new set of engines. The 2.0-liter Nu MPI Atkinson four-cylinder engine produces a peak of 147 PS at 6,200 rpm and 180Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. This engine will be paired with either a standard six-speed manual transmission or a next generation six-speed automatic transmission.

Preview: Will the 2017 Hyundai Elantra be a benchmark for D-segment cars in India?

Jaguar

2016 Jaguar XJ L

Jaguar will bring in the refreshed version of its flagship sedan, the XJ L by the end of this year. The updates that the upcoming XJL gets over the present version include full LED headlamps with smart daytime running lamps, as well as new LED tail lamps and oval exhaust tips. The infotainment system is brand new as well and behind that touch screen display is Jaguar's new InControl Touch Pro system that works off a quad core Intel processor and has a 60GB hard drive. Other changes include a new electrically assisted steering system on all rear wheel drive models.

Jaguar F-Pace

The F-Pace is the 3rd car based on Jaguar's new Lightweight Aluminium Architecture following the XF and the XE. While the design clearly draws inspiration from other Jaguars, inside it gets a 12.3-inch, full colour, TFT screen which can be customised completely to display exactly the information you want it to display in four different themes. It also features a four colour lazer head up display. The F-Pace will come powered with a 2.0-litre petrol motor that makes 180PS/430Nm and a 3.0 turbocharged diesel that churns 300PS and 700Nm of torque.

India-bound 2016 Jaguar F-Pace first drive review

Land Rover

Land Rover Evoque convertible

The Land Rover Evoque convertible which is tagged as the world's first luxury SUV convertible is expected to debut in India by this year end. The Evoque convertible looks stylish and sophisticated and the fabric roof certainly does not look out of place. The roof can be raised in 21 seconds and folded away into the boot in a mere 18 seconds, even when on the move. However, that can be done only at speeds up to 48kmph. The Range Rover Evoque convertible gets rollover bars that are stowed in the rear bodywork and deploy in 90 milliseconds in case the vehicle rolls over. The Evoque convertible will share its powertrain options with the standard version.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLC/SLC 43AMG

The SLC is essentially a facelifted SLK but with a new face that is in line with Mercedes' current design language. The Mercedes-Benz SLC gets an all-new face with an angular bonnet and new headlamps. The cabin is quite similar to the old car with new aluminium trim and colour themes and a sleeker gear selector. The display is now 7 inches across as opposed to the old 5.8-inch screen. The base variant is the SLC 180 which gets a 1.6-litre turbo petrol that makes 156PS and 250Nm. Next is the 2.0-litre four cylinder 184PS/300Nm SLC 200 while the SLC 300 uses the same engine but boosted to 245PS and 370Nm. Mercedes also offers a SLC 250d that uses the same 2.2-litre diesel from the C-Class and produces 204PS/500Nm. The motor in the SLC43 AMG produces 367PS and 520Nm and Mercedes-AMG claims a 0-100kmph time of 4.7s and a top speed of 250kmph

Mercedes-AMG SLC43 road test review

Mercedes-Benz CLA facelift

The new CLA series is coming to India in this festive season. It features revised front and rear bumpers, diamond black radiator grille as standard and new, lightweight alloy wheels. The company adds that its has improved upon the design elements of the car. The CLA 45AMG too gets similar exterior and interior updates as the new regular model. In addition, the performance centric CLA45AMG get a more powerful engine that produces 381PS and 475Nm.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet, which was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, is set to arrive on Indian shores by end-2016. Mercedes-Benz has already launched the drop-top version of its C-Class sedan in the UK. The convertible C-Class will get the 1,991cc 4-cylinder petrol engine, shared by the recently launched GLC SUV. The engine puts out 245PS along with 345Nm of torque, which will be mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The convertible will hit the 0-100kmph mark in 6.7 seconds and will max out at 250kmph. The roof of the car features a fabric soft top which is capable of opening and closing in 20 seconds. It's also functional at speeds up to 50kmph.

2016 Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet first drive review

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet

Essentially an S-Coupe with a folding fabric roof the Mercedes-Benz S-Cabriolet in India comes in S500 trim. This means it gets a 4.7-litre twin turbo V8 with 455PS and 700Nm. 0-100kmph takes less than 5 seconds and top speed is limited to 250kmph. A 9-speed automatic is standard. The Mercedes-Benz S-Cabriolet features a beautifully crafted cabin similar to the one in the S-Coupe with a wrap around wood lined dashboard and a large TFT screen that serves as both the infotainment display as well as the driver's instrument console. The soft top system can open in 20s at speeds of up to 60kmph.

Mercedes-Benz GLE63 AMG

While Mercedes-Benz already sells the GLE coupe in the 450 AMG form, the German automobile manufacturer shall also bring the GLE63 AMG to India. Unlike the semi-AMG that the GLE 450 AMG is, the GLE 63 gets a more enthusiast popular V8 motor that produces a sportscar like 585PS of max power and 760Nm of torque. All this power is transferred via the AMG tuned 7-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. This propels the 63 S to 100kmph in a claimed 4.2 seconds! More details on this will be revealed only closer to the launch date which happens in this festive season.

2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe first drive review

Ssangyong

Ssangyong Tivoli

The Ssangyong Tivoli has always been suspected to arrive in India after a few test mules were spotted in the country. After its official showcase at the 2016 Auto Expo, Mahindra has dropped a strong hint of its probable launch by the end of this year. The SsangYong Tivoli gets seven airbags, along with a dual-zone climate control system and a touchscreen system. Although we might not see all the equipment on the international product, we can expect most of them to make it to the India-spec Tivoli considering the high benchmark that competitors like the Hyundai Creta have set . The 1.6-litre petrol in this SUV delivers 128PS and 160Nm of torque while the diesel puts out 115PS and 300Nm. Both these engines can be optioned with either a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.

Tata Motors

Tata Kite5 sedan

Tata Motors showcased the near- ready for production version of its upcoming compact sedan at the 2016 Auto Expo. Based on the same platform as the Tata Tiago, the front profile of the Kite 5 looks similar to the Zica, however, it is the side profile that gives it a distinct appeal. The sloping coupéish roofline, strong shoulder line and 15-inch sporty alloys makes it look impressive and will be one of its highlights when launched in India. The engine options that will come in the Kite5 include the 1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesel units. The petrol makes 85PS/ 114Nm. It will be mated with an automatic transmission as well. The pricing of the Kite 5 might be lower than the existing Zest sedan. More details will surface at the time of launch of which happens later this year.

Tata Tiago Aktiv

The Tiago Aktiv (renamed from Zica Aktiv) gets the usual additions like matte cladding on the front and rear bumpers with bash plates underneath to give it a crossover look. The matte grille and the bright aluminium finished strip on the bumper makes it look different. The Tata Tiago Aktiv will be powered by the same engines offered in the Tata Tiago. It will primarily compete against the Mahindra KUV100 and the Maruti Suzuki Celerio post its launch in India. Expect Tata Motors to launch it by the end of this year.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Passat GTE

Volkswagen revealed the new Passat GTE to the Indian audience at the 2016 Auto Expo. The upcoming Volkswagen Passat is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that is powered by an 115PS electric motor and a 156PS 1.4-litre turbo-charged petrol engine mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission. The Volkswagen Passat GTE has a combined power output of approximately 218PS and a maximum torque of 400Nm. According to Volkswagen, the Passat GTE, with this plug-in hybrid technology, is capable of conforming to the EU 6 emission norms.

India-bound 2016 Volkswagen Passat GTE first drive review

Volvo

Volvo S90

Volvo is all set to bring in the flagship S90 sedan in India tentatively by September this year. With prices starting at around Rs 57 lakh for the base variant, expect the S90 to compete with the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and other cars in the segment. The S90 is a Volvo's mid-size luxury sedan which will replace the ageing S80. Volvo plans to launch the S90 with a D5 engine and all-wheel drive sometime later in India. Since both the D4 and D5 engines have sub-2,000cc displacements, they are exempt from the diesel ban in the Delhi-NCR

India-bound Volvo S90 first drive review

Volvo XC90 T8 Hybrid

The Volvo XC90 has already been received well by the Indian market. The Swedish car manufacturer will now bring in the T8 Twin engine plug-in hybrid to India. As the name suggests, this variant of the XC90 features a petrol and electric motor. Like the diesel, the engine is a 2.0-litre unit but is a direct-injection supercharged petrol. Since it's a plug-in hybrid, there's also a electric motor. In conjunction, the total power output is 400PS. The hybrid Volvo XC90 will be launched in the Excellence trim. The Volvo XC90 plug-in will be one of its kind when it goes on sale and will also be India's first plug-in hybrid SUV