Volvo, the Swedish carmaker has launched the new XC90 hybrid SUV today. Christened the 'XC90 Excellence T8 Plug-In Hybrid,' yes that is a mouthful, this new model will be the luxury SUV's top-of-the-line variant. The new hybrid XC90 is powered by Volvo's T8 Twin-Engine Plug-in Hybrid Electric powertrain that includes a 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine mated to 9.2kWh Lithium-ion battery. The SUV also comes with a luxurious cabin that is loaded with a host of exquisite features like a Champagne cooler, reclining rear seats and much more.
The new generation Audi A4 is an extremely important product for India which is why the company has taken a lot of effort to convince the folks at Inglostadt to bring in a downsized petrol engine first. The Audi A4 has been launched in India at Rs. 38.10 lakh and will be available in two variants - Premium Plus and Technology.
American SUV maker, Jeep today finally entered the Indian car market with its two popular models - the Grand Cherokee, priced from Rs. 93.64 lakh to Rs. 1.03 Crore and the iconic Wrangler Unlimited for Rs. 71.59 lakh. The carmaker will also launch the performance-spec Grand Cherokee SRT variant priced at Rs.1.12 Crore, which will be the Jeep's flagship model in India (all prices ex-showroom). The Fiat-owned carmaker has already started setting up showrooms in India and will officially commence operations with its first dealerships in Ahmadabad. While the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited will come only come with diesel engines, the Grand Cherokee SRT gets a petrol motor.
Hyundai Elantra, the popular midsize sedan from the South Korean carmaker is finally launched in India. The car has been creating a lot of buzz, both in India and other global markets, and come with a number of new design and cosmetic changes in-line with the automaker's global design philosophy. The sedan has grown in dimensions, while the styling is bolder than ever; whereas the interior features a host of completely new including several segment first features. Hyundai has also reworked upon the existing 1.6-litre diesel engine while petrol power comes from the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor.
Renault Kwid 1.0, the much anticipated small car from the French car manufacturer was launched in India at Rs. 3.82 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). As the name suggests, the car is powered by a bigger 1.0-litre petrol engine that offers more power and torque and comes with some minor style updates. Currently, Renault plans to offer the 1.0-litre engine only with the higher variants RXT and RXT (O) with features similar to what we have seen in the 0.8-litre trim. With the new engine being the only key modification offered in the Kwid 1.0, the price difference between the RXT variants of the two cars is just Rs, 22,000.
Hero MotoCorp is all set to launch the new Splendor iSmart 110 today in India. Powered by an all-new 110cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine as opposed the 100cc engine in the previous iSmart. The bike has already reached some of the showrooms. The new Splendor iSmart is the first product from Hero to be completely developed in-house after the manufacturer's split from erstwhile partner Honda. In terms of pricing, we expect the new Splendor iSmart 110 to come with a price tag of Rs. 55,000.
Mercedes-Benz India today launched its flagship SUV, GLS, in India at Rs. 80.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). Essentially a facelifted version of the GL-Class, the new GLS follows the company's new nomenclature and is touted to be the S-Class of SUVs. As part of Mercedes-Benz India's 12 launches for 2016, Mercedes-Benz GLS will compete with the latest Audi Q7 and Volvo XC-90. As of now the company has only launched the GLS 350d which is already under production at the company's Chakan plan.
The BR-V is the latest offering from Honda Cars India (HCIL) to hit the Indian roads and is the company's first maiden offering in the compact SUV segment. Based on the Brio platform, the BR-V gets a completely redesigned front with more muscular and beefy elements, whereas the rear profile gets a sharp lines and quite an urban appeal. To be available in 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options, the BR-V is a 7-seater and is expected to come with a competitive price tag to take on its rivals.
