The Indian car market is set to receive a variety of new models in the month of June 2023. These models range from performance cars like the rear-wheel drive BMW M2 to off-road capable Maruti Suzuki Jimny to the convertible Mercedes SL55. We take you through all the launches that are lined up for this month.
BMW M2 India launch on June 1
The BMW M2 made its debut globally last year, however, its India launch and price announcement will take place on June 1. The new-gen M2 (G87) will take over from the F87 M2 that went on sale from 2015-2021. Powering this new car is an inline, 6-cylinder engine that develops 460hp and 550Nm of torque delivered to only the rear wheels.
What makes the M2 more appealing to enthusiasts are the gearbox options as the car is available with an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard and a 6-speed manual gearbox for an additional premium. The M2 that is heading to India is manufactured in Mexico and will be available as a full import, so we can expect prices to be a bit higher than in other markets.
Honda Elevate global debut in India on June 6
Honda’s new SUV will make its global debut in India on June 6, and prices are likely to be announced sometime in August. Christened the Elevate, the SUV will share the same platform as the current generation Honda City, which implies that it gets the same 1.5-litre powertrain with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
This will be Honda’s first SUV in India since the CR-V was discontinued due to BS6 regulations. While the Elevate will not get a diesel engine, it is likely to get the hybrid system from the City later. The Elevate will rival the Creta, Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder and we recently covered how the Elevate misses out on a panoramic sunroof, which is available on its rivals.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny India launch on June 7
The highly anticipated Maruti Suzuki Jimny is set to be launched on June 7. The SUV has already garnered 30,000 since bookings commenced in January 2023 and, according to sources, the bookings are split evenly between the manual and automatic variants.
The Jimny is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 105hp and 134Nm of torque, which can either be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission. All Jimnys will be available in a 4x4 version and Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that there will be no entry-level 4x2 version like Mahindra did on the Thar. You can read our review of the Jimny by clicking here.
Mercedes-AMG SL55 India launch on June 22
The new seventh generation of the Iconic Mercedes SL roadster is making a comeback to the Indian market after over a decade, last available as the 5th generation SL in 2012. Mercedes has decided to bring back the SL as the SL55 and not the SL63 that is available globally. Mercedes claims that the 469hp, 700Nm, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 along with the nine-speed torque-converter gearbox will power the SL55 from 0-100kph in 3.9 seconds.
The SL55 is equipped with 4-wheel drive and even gets 4-wheel steering to make manoeuvring the 4.7-metre sportscar easier in traffic. What’s more, this car is a 4-seater and gets a fabric roof, which the company claims is 21kg lighter than the metal roof used in previous generations. Our sister publication Autocar UK confirmed that a hybrid version of the SL is in the works too, and with the hybrid GT 63 S E Performance recently launched in India, we could expect the Hybrid SL to hit our shores too, but for now, it’s just the SL55.
Volkswagen Virtus GT 1.5 TSI Manual: June launch
Volkswagen recently unveiled a new version of its popular sedan, the Virtus. Known for its great dynamics and build quality, Volkswagen issued updates to keep the Virtus line-up fresh and more appealing. The Virtus powered by the 1.5 TSI engine produce 150hp and 250Nm and was available exclusively in a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, however, Volkswagen announced that they would be launching a 6-speed manual variant with this engine in June.
Apart from just an additional gearbox option, the GT line-up will also get new colours like ‘Deep Black Pearl’ and ‘Lava Blue’. June 2023 will mark the first anniversary of the Virtus launch in India and these updates come at a time when Hyundai has launched the new Verna with a 160hp and a 6-speed manual transmission. The introduction of a manual gearbox on the Virtus GT will also make it more affordable than the DSG model and Volkswagen could see a spike in sales for the Virtus.
Volkswagen Taigun sport, trail and GT manual: June launch
Apart from the Virtus, Volkswagen also issued updates to its popular Taigun SUV. The company has given it new updates to keep the product fresh. The Taigun is available in two engine options, a base 1-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol. Volkswagen offered the 7-speed DSG in the top-spec 'GT Plus' variant and the 6-speed manual in the lower 'GT' variant of the 1.5-litre engine. But with the updates, both gearbox options will be available with either trim choice.
Volkswagen has also introduced two new editions aimed to make the SUV more appealing to a wider range of customers. The ‘Trail Concept’ gets rugged decals on the rear three-fourths of the SUV and also gets alloys and a roof rack finished in black. The ‘Sport Concept’ receives chequered flag-inspired decals on the bottom half of the doors and rear fender, and a TSI sticker on the rear doors.
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