6 India-Bound Cars From the New York Motor Show of 2015

Snapshot – The New York Motor Show of 2015 is on, and a slew of automobiles have been showcased in all of their show going finery. Of the many cars unveiled and showcased at New York 2015, we’ve rounded up half a dozen automobiles that have a future in the Indian market. Some of these cars will begin arriving here later this year, while others will see 2016 debuts. Here’s the gist.

Mitsubishi Outlander Facelift

The Mitsubishi Outlander will soon be re-launched in India, with the crossover arriving into the country through the completely knocked down (CKD) kit route. In facelifted guise, the Outlander gains a new front end on the outside, while a slew of engineering improvements have been made all around. The crossover headed into India is likely to be turbo diesel powered, with the 2.2 liter-4 cylinder mill that makes 148 Bhp-380 Nm expected to make the cut into the India-spec Outlander. The monocoque bodied Outlander Facelift is expected to be launched later this year, with price and positioning below the Pajero Sport SUV.

Jaguar XF Luxury Saloon

The 2016 Jaguar XF is an all-new car, and one that benefits from the British luxury marque’s thrust on aluminium heavy cars. The 2016 XF features extensive use of aluminium, to end up around 180 kilograms lighter, despite the latest iteration of the car featuring a 51 mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing model. Overall dimensions have been made smaller though. In design terms, changes are subtle. 2 liter-inline 4  and 3 liter-V6 turbocharged petrol and turbo diesel motors are offered, along with 6 speed manual and 8 speed automatic transmission options. The car also gains a cutting edge infotainment package. While a rear wheel drive layout is standard, Jaguar also offers an optional, all wheel drive mechanism on this car. The 2016 Jaguar XF is expected to arrive here by the end of this year, replete with CKD assembly at Chikhali.

Mercedes Benz GLE

The M-Class is now dubbed the GLE, on the back of Mercedes Benz’s new nomenclature. Along with the new name, the SUV gets a refreshed design inside out. The headlamps and LED DRLs are new, and so are the two-slat grille, front bumper and the redesigned bonnet. At the rear, the LED tail lamps and bumper get a once over. The SUV’s insides gain a refresh as well, with the steering being replaced by a new item while the center console gets a refresh. As far as India is concerned, the engines on the SUV are carried over from the older version. Automatic transmissions and the 4MATIC all wheel drive system will continue to be offered on this vehicle. An India launch is on the cards for later this year.

Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 luxury crossover made its debut earlier this year, at the Detroit Motor Show. This flagship Audi is also being showcased at the ongoing New York Motor Show. Gauging by how common the test mules of the 2016 Audi Q7 have become in India, the launch of this crossover seems just around the corner. In India, the 2016 Q7 will be sold with the 3 liter V6 turbo diesel engine. Based on a new iteration of the MLB platform, the 2016 Q7 loses a leviathan 325 kilograms to emerge lighter than before. While the SUV is smaller on the outside, when compared to the version it replaces, internal dimensions have increased.

Audi TT

Audi will launch the 2016 TT sportscar in India on the 23rd of April 2015. The new, third generation version of the car made its debut at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, while the convertible variant graced this year’s New York Motor Show. The TT coupe is what India will receive on the 23rd. The car is based on the MQB platform and features a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged, direct injection petrol motor good for 230 Bhp-370 Nm. A six speed twin clutch automatic gearbox will drive all four wheels of the car by means of the Quattro all wheel drive system. The Audi TT will be a completely built unit. Expect a price tag close to the 60 lakh rupee mark.

Volvo XC90 Hybrid

Volvo will soon launch the 2015 XC90 Luxury SUV in India. At the outset, a turbo diesel engine will power this SUV sold here. Sometime next year, plans are afoot to bring the top-of-the-line Hybrid variant, which combines a turbo petrol engine with an electric motor to make for combined outputs of 400 Bhp-640 Nm. This very version was showcased at this year’s New York Motor Show. The XC90 is a seven seat SUV meant to appeal to luxury car buyers. Based on the Scalable Platform Architecture, the XC90 is one of the most exciting looking Volvo SUVs in recent times, in a marked departure from the very dated looking previous generation model it replaces.