New cars, SUVs launching this festive season

Several exciting cars are set to be launched in India by this festive season. Starting July, as many as four new luxury cars are coming from the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Mini. There are plenty mass-market launches, too, including the new Mahindra Thar 5-door, Hyundai Alcazar facelift, Nissan X-Trail among others. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Mercedes-Benz EQA

Set to be launched on July 8, the Mercedes-Benz EQA will be the brand’s fourth EV in India after the 7-seater EQB SUV, EQE SUV and EQS sedan. While Mercedes hasn’t confirmed the battery details or technical specifications for the India-spec EQA, internationally, the SUV comes in four variants – EQA 250, EQA 250+, EQA 300 4Matic and EQA 350 4Matic. Apart from the 250+ variant, which gets a 70.5kWh battery with up to 560km of range, the EQA has a 66.5kWh battery pack providing a maximum range of 528km (WLTP). Prices for the EQA are likely to be slightly lower than the EQB, currently priced at Rs 77.75 lakh. Mercedes’s entry-level e-SUV will compete against the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the BMW iX1

BMW 5 Series LWB

Prices for the new 5 Series sedan, which will be offered in long-wheelbase form for the first time in India, will be announced on July 24. This new-gen 5 Series will not only replace the outgoing model but also the 6 Series GT. Measuring 5,175mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,520mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,105mm, it will be the largest car in its segment, surpassing even the upcoming E-Class LWB set to launch later this year. Initially, the 5 Series will be available only in the 530Li M Sport variant, with exact specs and  technical details yet to be revealed. Given its repositioning, we expect it will be expensive than the current 6 Series GT, which ranges between Rs 73.5 lakh and Rs 78.9 lakh.

Mini Cooper S

Mini will launch the new-gen Cooper S hatchback on July 8 with a petrol powertrain, followed by an all-electric SE version later this year. The new Cooper S builds on Mini’s familiar design themes and its interior design still echoes a retro-cool theme. A standout feature is its unique circular 9.4-inch OLED infotainment screen developed in collaboration with Samsung. It will be powered by the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as its predecessor, now tuned to deliver 204hp and 300Nm of torque—up by 26hp and 20Nm, respectively. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The outgoing Cooper S is priced at Rs 42.70 lakh (ex-showroom), and the new model is expected to be slightly more expensive.

Mini Countryman Electric

The new-generation Countryman Electric shares its underpinnings with the BMW iX1. Compared to the outgoing petrol one, the electric version has grown in size, which has resulted in an extra 130mm of legroom in the back. The design updates are in line with the new Cooper S and the interior is also largely shared between both models. Mini offers the Countryman Electric with two powertrains overseas – a single-motor, front-wheel-drive version with 204hp and 250Nm, and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version with 313hp and 494Nm. It is yet to be seen which of these will be offered here. Both feature a 66.45kWh battery, and the single and dual-motor versions have claimed ranges of 462km and 433km, respectively. The petrol-powered Mini Countryman currently starts at Rs 48.10 lakh (ex-showroom). However, the all-electric variant is expected to carry a higher price tag. It will be launched alongside the new Cooper S on July 8.

Nissan X-Trail

The Nissan X-Trail is a premium executive SUV, available in either 5-seater or 7-seater guises. It’s built on Renault-Nissan’s CMF-C platform and while it is offered with a plethora of petrol and hybrid powertrain options overseas, India will only get a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The X-Trail will, therefore, be available with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 204hp and 305Nm. While a CVT gearbox has been confirmed, it isn't known if it’ll come with 2WD or AWD. The X-Trail is only a stop-gap solution to help maintain consumers' interest in the brand while  it readies a fresh product onslaught from 2025 onwards. Although an exact launch date is not known yet, Nissan recently teased the fourth-gen X-Trail in India, hinting at its launch in the next couple of months.

Mahindra Thar 5-door

The upcoming Mahindra Thar 5-door, which could be called the Thar Armada, has been one of the most highly anticipated launches for 2024. It will have a longer wheelbase than the existing Thar, providing more cabin room and much-needed luggage space that is sorely missed on the Thar 3-door. And just like the Thar 3-door, the 5-door SUV will have a plethora of powertrain options including the 1.5-litre diesel, the 2.0-litre petrol and the 2.2-litre diesel; all powertrain options will have both manual and automatic gearbox options. The 1.5-diesel will be offered in 4x2 configuration, the 2.0-litre petrol will get both 4x2 and 4x4, while the 2.2-litre diesel will come as a 4x4. This will ensure a wide price range, and a variant to meet almost all needs of prospective buyers. Mahindra has already begun series production of the Thar 5-door, and the launch is expected in the next couple of months.

Hyundai Alcazar facelift

Having launched the Creta facelift and Creta N Line, Hyundai is now set to follow up with the Alcazar facelift, prices of which will be announced in September. The styling updates on the Alcazar facelift will be on lines of the updated Creta. However, it is expected to be more differentiated from its 5-seater sibling than the outgoing version. On the inside, along with a new dashboard with two connected digital displays, the Alcazar facelift will also get ADAS, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, etc. The three-row SUV will carry on with the 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol (160hp), and 1.5-litre diesel (115hp) engines, along with their respective manual and automatic gearbox options.

Tata Curvv EV

After the Tata Curvv’s debut at the Bharat Mobility Expo in a close-to-production form, our sources confirmed that the company will launch the EV iteration of the SUV coupe sometime in the second quarter of FY2025 (July-September 2024). It will share its underpinnings with the Nexon and carries forward a similar design language; the electric versions will have some unique EV-specific design elements. The Curvv will be 313mm longer than the Nexon, with the wheelbase going up by 62mm. A lot will be common between the Curvv and the Nexon on the inside as well. While technical details are currently sparse, it is expected to have a 450-500km range. Upon launch, it will take on the likes of the MG ZS EV and upcoming Hyundai Creta EV that’s due early next year.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

The new-generation Maruti Dzire has been spied on test on our roads on multiple occasions now, and the launch is expected in September. Apart from a completely new rear end, spy shots of the Dzire have hinted at a substantially differentiated design from the Swift with its own unique bumpers, alloys wheels and headlamps as well. On the inside, the dashboard is expected to be carried forward from the Swift, but Maruti is expected to equip the Dzire with a few additional features, including a single-pane sunroof. Under the hood, the new Dzire will carry over the new Z Series 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine from the Swift. We expect Maruti to continue with the 5-speed manual and AMT gearboxes.

Kia EV9

The large, squared-out Kia EV9 is about the size of a Range Rover and is company's answer to the likes of the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron SUV. It’s tech-heavy on the inside, with an expansive digital panel housing a trio of screens for use by the driver and passenger. Powered by a 99.8kWh, 800V battery with a WLTP range of up to 563km, the Kia EV9 in India is expected with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive options – the RWD version will get a 203hp, 350Nm motor, while the AWD EV9 gets two 192hp motors on each axle. The three-row SUV is expected to have multiple seating configurations when it arrives in India. As it’ll be brought in as a CBU, prices are expected to be upwards of Rs 1 crore. The launch is expected around August-September.

Next-gen Kia Carnival

The 4th generation Kia Carnival was showcased at Auto Expo 2023, although the model that’s arriving here will be the facelifted MPV that globally debuted in late 2023. The new Carnival sports a more rugged, SUV-inspired design and is overall larger than its predecessor. The interior of the 2024 Carnival is more minimalistic, with two 12.3-inch displays taking centre stage, though it’s got all the features and safety kit. While the MPV is offered in 7, 9 and 11-seat configurations overseas, it remains to be seen which of these will come to India. Expect the 201hp, 2.2-litre diesel engine to continue. This, too, is expected to be launched in August-September. 

Citroen Basalt

Citroen started series production of the Basalt earlier last month and this too is expected to be launched around September. The Basalt has the same underpinnings as the C3 Aircross, but its biggest draw will be its unique design with a coupe-like roofline. And while the interior will also largely be shared with C3 Aircross, it will be better equipped than existing Citroen models with features like automatic climate control, cruise control, wireless charging, push-button start, and keyless entry. The Basalt will come with the same 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine as the C3 Aircross, producing 110hp and 205Nm of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual gearbox and an optional 6-speed torque converter automatic.

Also See:

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MG Cloud EV spied testing ahead of festive season launch