After a tumultuous 2020, which saw the world grind to a brief halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, carmakers are ready to come out all guns blazing in 2021. For a prospective car buyer, there will be no shortage of choice next year, with a barrage of new sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, MPVs and performance cars in the pipeline, along with a battery of EVs (pun intended). Here’s a look at what 2021 has in store for us.
Audi e-tron
Set to be the first all-electric Audi in India, the e-tron has a 95kWh battery pack and two electric motors, which can produce a combined 408hp, giving it the ability to clock a 0-100kph time of 5.7sec.
COMING Early-2021
CLAIMED RANGE 440km
PRICE Rs 1.2 crore
Audi e-tron GT
The sister model to the Porsche Taycan, the Audi e-tron GT is set to be offered in regular, S and RS trims. The concept featured a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive electric powertrain producing 590hp and 813Nm of torque, with a 96kWh battery providing a claimed range of 400km.
COMING Late-2021
CLAIMED RANGE 400km
PRICE Rs 1.6 crore
Jaguar I-Pace
Crowned world car of the Year in 2019, the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace was all set to make its India entry in 2020, but will now arrive in 2021. Headline figures for the I-Pace include a 90kWh lithium-ion battery, a dual-motor setup producing a combined 400hp and a claimed range of up to 470km on the WLTP cycle. It will be offered in three trim levels – S, SE and HSE – and the list of equipment will include four-zone climate control, an ionising air purifier with PM2.5 filtration, a digital rear-view mirror and adaptive air suspension. Buyers will get a complimentary five-year service package and five years of roadside assistance, in addition to the standard eight-year/1,60,000km battery warranty. Jaguar has partnered with Tata Power to set up home and office charging for I-Pace customers.
COMING March 2021
CLAIMED RANGE 470km
PRICE Rs 1–1.2 crore
Mahindra eXUV300
Tata demonstrated the potential for an electric compact SUV in India with the Nexon EV, and it’ll soon have to compete with another homegrown rival. Mahindra is readying the all-electric version of the XUV300, named the eXUV300. Showcased at Auto Expo 2020 in concept form, the eXUV300 will be built on the Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture (MESMA) platform, which will also underpin other Mahindra EVs in the future. While the production version won’t have the show car wheels and funky headlights of the concept, it will retain the sealed grille and bright accents to highlight its EV credentials. The eXUV300 is expected to be offered with a 350V powertrain, with a more powerful 380V variant expected to join the line-up going forward. Mahindra is also set to offer two battery pack options for the eXUV300 – a smaller, more affordable battery (with a range of 200km) will help Mahindra price the eXUV300 close to the Nexon EV, while the long-range version – with a bigger battery providing range of up to 375km – could be positioned as a more attainable alternative to the Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV.
COMING Late-2021
CLAIMED RANGE: 200-375km
PRICE: Rs 13–17 lakh
Volvo XC40 Recharge
The first all-electric model from Volvo is the XC40 Recharge, which made its global debut in 2019. Based on the firm’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), the XC40 Recharge features a 78kWh battery, two 204hp electric motors – one for each axle – producing a combined 408hp and 660Nm of torque. 0-100kph takes a claimed 4.9sec, and Volvo says the Recharge has a range of over 400km on the WLTP cycle. Apart from mild styling tweaks on the outside, it also features a new infotainment system powered by Google’s Android operating system, which comes with Volvo On Call connected car tech and is also capable of receiving over-the-air updates. Volvo has previously revealed it’s keen on assembling the electric XC40 in India, which could result in a relatively competitive price.
COMING Mid-2021
CLAIMED RANGE 400km
PRICE Rs 65 lakh
Porsche Taycan
Porsche's first crack at building an all-electric four-door sportscar resulted in the birth of the Taycan. Set to be offered in our market in 4S, Turbo and Turbo S forms, the Taycan also stands out for being the first car to use an 800V electrical system, enabling charging at 350kW, which can provide 100km of range in a mere five minutes, and rapid-charging from 5 percent to 80 percent in roughly 20 minutes. Its two electric motors produce a combined 625hp and 850Nm in the Turbo, resulting in a 0-100kph time of 3.2sec. In range-topping Turbo S form, the Taycan’s motors make a colossal 761hp and 1,050Nm with an overboost function, which helps it go from 0-100kph in just 2.8sec.
COMING Early-2021
CLAIMED RANGE 383-463km
PRICE Rs 2–2.5 crore
All prices are estimated, ex-showroom
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