3 Hot SUV Launches Of This Week

Snapshot – The next one week will see no less than 3 SUVs being launched in India. Of these, two will be all-new models while one would be a major refresh. These SUVs will target a diverse set of buyers, from the off road enthusiast to the compact SUV buyer, and then of course the well heeled luxury SUV buyer. Here’s what’s coming up.

Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta compact SUV is on its way. 21st of July will be when the first Hyundai compact SUV for India will be launched. Said to be based on the modified Elantra platform, the Creta features Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy, and looks like a mini Santa Fe. Going by the interest this SUV has been garnering, it seems that the looks have hit bulls eye.

Leaked prices are doing the rounds of the interweb, and the feature list has been announced. Like every other Hyundai car launched in the last half a decade, the Creta promises to be loaded to the gills with safety equipment and creature comforts. Here’s what the compact SUV will bring to the table. Meanwhile, the Creta will be offered with 3 engines and 2 transmission options. The 1.6 Creta Diesel could even set a performance benchmark.

Also See – CarToq’s First Drive Of The Hyundai Creta

Also See – On How the Hyundai Creta Could Disrupt The Compoact SUV Segment in India

Mahindra Thar Facelift

The Mahindra Thar made is debut in 2010, and instantly won over the off roader community. What the Thar also did was, it appealed to the lifestyle SUV buyer. In the Thar, people who wanted Jeeps since childhood now had the most refined iteration of the Jeep ever built in India. Sales emanating from this lifestyle segment of buyers has made a Thar a brilliant return on investment, as far as Mahindra is concerned. The time’s now ripe for a facelift.

Also See – More spyshots of the facelifted Mahindra Thar 

Mahindra will deliver just that in the form of the refreshed Thar, which will receive its most comprehensive makeover yet. A front bumper that combines steel and plastic, wider wheel well mouldings and a sloping canvas top will make for the visual changes. On the inside, the Bolero’s innards will be transplanted, making the Thar look a little less bare basic.

In terms of changes under the hood, an Eaton mechanical locking differential could be added. The 2.5 liter CRDe turbo diesel motor with 105 Bhp-247 Nm, the 5 speed manual gearbox and the Borg Warner 4X4 transfer case are likely to carry on unchanged. A slight price bump up could also be on the anvil considering the sweeping changes on the interiors front.

BMW X6

 

The second generation BMW X6 luxury crossover will make its India debut on the 23rd of July. The new X6 looks a little different from the outgoing model but the overall coupe-ish profile remains the same. This gives the crossover a very distinct appeal. BMW will launch the X6 Diesel on Thursday, and the high performance X6 M variant will follow later in the year. Both models will be completely built units (CBU).

A 3 liter, straight six turbo diesel motor will propel the X6, and will make for scintillating performance. 313 Bhp and 630 Nm means that the X6 will do the 0-100 Kph sprint in 5.4 seconds while top speed is 240 Kph. The X6 M will be even more visceral. A 4.4 liter twin turbo V8 petrol motor with 575 Bhp and 750 Nm will give the X6 M enough poke to challenge the likes of the Mercedes Benz G63 AMG and the Range Rover Sport SUVs.