7 Car & SUV launches & unveils to watch out for in November & December

Most big car and SUV launches of this year are behind us. With just 2 months to go, and the 2016 Auto Expo looming large, most car makers prefer to wait for the new year to bring in new models. However, there are a few more cars and SUVs that will either be launched or unveiled in the next couple of months. Here’s the wrap.

Range Rover Evoque Facelift

On 19th November, the facelifted Range Rover Evoque will be launched in India. Bookings for this luxury crossover have already commenced. The facelifted Evoque gets mild stylistic tweaks on the outside and more features on the inside. Prominent additions include a new infotainment unit, a heads up display and a surround camera. The vehicle will continue to be CKD assembled at Jaguar-Land Rover’s Chikhali factory. The 2.2 liter turbo diesel engine (187 Bhp-420 Nm), with a 9 speed automatic gearbox, will be staple. Expect a small increase in prices.

Maruti WagonR AMT

Maruti Suzuki will endow the WagonR with an automated manual transmission, making the tall-boy hatchback more attractive than ever to city car buyers. The AMT unit from Magneti Marelli will be paired with the 1 liter-3 cylinder K-Series petrol engine (67 Bhp-90 Nm). The AMT variant of the WagonR is expected to be launched in weeks from now. Expect a price increase to the tune of 40-50 thousand rupees. Apart from the addition of the new transmission option, the WagonR is likely to be unchanged.

Audi Q7

The 2nd generation Audi Q7 will soon be launched in India, and the German luxury car giant has already imported a large number of Q7s into the country. To be CKD assembled at Audi’s Aurangabad factory, this best seller has undergone a big weight loss to the tune of 325 kilograms. The Q7 will continue being offered with the 3.0 V6 TDI turbo diesel engine, with an 8 speed automatic gearbox and Quattro all wheel drive layout. The 7 seat SUV gets more spacious and is likely to get pricier.

Mercedes Benz AMG GT S

Mercedes Benz will launch the AMG GT S sportscar on the 24th of November. The AMG GT S is the flagship sportscar from the German luxury marque, and the S variant comes with a dash of extra performance.The car will use a 4.0 liter V8 twin turbo petrol engine with 520 Bhp-620 Nm on tap. A 7 speed, twin clutch automatic gearbox will transmit torque to the rear wheels. Expect to pay about 2-2.5 crore rupees for this high performance machine, which will be sold through Mercedes Benz’s AMG studio.

Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen India has begun importing the iconic Beetle, and the car will be launched with a 1.4 liter TSI turbo petrol motor. The Beetle will be a CBU, and will be sold as a brand builder. Tipped to take on the Mini Cooper and the Fiat 500 Abarth, the Beetle is likely to command a price tag close to the 30 lakh rupee mark. A launch in the next few weeks is anticipated. The Beetle is making a comeback into India more than two years after the previous generation version was discontinued.

Ford Endeavour

The Ford Endeavour will be here by the end of this year. Replacing the previous generation model, which has been around for over 10 years, the new Endeavour features completely new interiors and mechanicals. 2.2 liter-4 cylinder and 3.2 liter-5 cylinder turbo diesel engines, with boosted power and torque outputs are on offer internationally. For India, Ford could stick with the 2.2 liter diesel motor, with 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions. Both rear wheel drive and four wheel drive layouts are likely to be offered on this 7 seat, ladder frame SUV.

Tata Kite

The Tata Kite is an all-new entry level hatchback, which is likely to be unveiled/previewed later this year. The Kite will be promoted by Tata Motors’ new brand ambassador, footballer Lionel Messi. The car will spawn a compact sedan too. However, the hatchback will be launched first. 1.2 liter-4 cylinder turbo petrol and 1.05 liter-3 cylinder turbo diesel engines are likely for this car. A completely new design, high quality interiors and plenty of features are likely to characterize Tata Motors all-new car.