The festive season will bring with it a lot of new car launches, here’s what you can expect in the next month
Mercedes-Benz C-Class facelift: 20th September
Mercedes-Benz will bring in the face-lifted C-Class on 20th September. The refreshed C-Class will come in two variants to start with – a C200 petrol with mild hybrid tech and a C300d diesel. The latter will replace the less powerful 250d. In this mid-life update, the C-Class has over 6,500 new components. This includes a new 1.5-litre petrol motor that produces 181bhp and a 48 volt mild-hybrid system that adds another 13bhp. In the global market, the C-Class face-lift comes fitted with air-suspension, but it remains to be seen if Mercedes offers the same in India. Other changes include a new electronic architecture that has been borrowed from the flagship S-Class. Expect the new C-Class to demand a premium over the model it will replace in light of the added tech. We got our hands on the face-lifted C-Class earlier this year; follow the link to get a detailed review.
Ferrari Portofino: 28th September
Replacing the California, Ferrari will be bringing the Portofino as their new entry-level model in India. The model made its global debut at the 70th anniversary celebration of the brand. The Italian supercar maker has managed to reduce the weight of the Portofino by 80 kilos at the same time making it stiffer by 35 percent. Providing firepower to the Portofino is the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 that can do the 0-100km/h dash in just 3.5 seconds. The acceleration is courtesy of the 591bhp and 760Nm that the motor makes.
Ford Aspire face-lift: 4th October
It has been a while since the launch of the Aspire, and the company hadn’t given it a major update. That, however, is about to change as the company is set to launch the mid-life face-lift of the Aspire. Unlike most face-lifts, the Aspire will get a lot of changes – not just in terms of design but also with regards to the engine on offer. The Aspire will come with Ford’s new 1.2-litre Dragon petrol motor that we have already experienced on the Freestyle. This engine is good for 95bhp and 120Nm, and comes paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Just like the model it replaces, the Aspire will also have another 1.5-litre petrol motor on offer. It will now come with a six-speed torque converter in place of the DCT. Just like the EcoSport, this motor will make 121bhp and 150Nm. The diesel motor of the refreshed Aspire will remain unchanged. Apart from the changes to the engine, the Aspire will also get a lot of changes to the exterior and interior.
Honda CR-V: 9th October
Honda is finally getting the fifth-generation CR-V ready for launch in India. This new SUV not only has an all new design and interior, but has also been plonked with new petrol and diesel motors. The petrol mill displaces 1,997cc and churns out 154bhp. Max torque produced by this petrol is 189Nm. This engine comes paired with a CVT – there is no manual transmission on offer. In fact, even in the diesel trim, Honda doesn’t have a manual transmission on offer. At the heart of the Diesel CR-V is a 1.6-litre mill that only makes 118bhp. Torque rating, however, is a reasonable 300Nm. All of this power is sent to all-four-wheels via a 9-speed torque converter. As far as design goes, the CR-V follows Honda’s new design philosophy and gets a bold chrome grille up front. From the profile to the rear, the CR-V gets a much sharper design. The interior has also seen a substantial improvement. It gets a new dash with nice wooden accents, a new infotainment and of course a larger cabin that now accommodates 7 seats.
Hyundai AH2 Santro: Oct 2nd week
Just a few weeks back, Hyundai released the first sketch of the new Santro, codenamed AH2. The Korean car maker is expected to showcase their upcoming small car on 9th October with the launch scheduled for later in the month. Although details of the car are still sketchy, we know it will continue with the tall-boy design of its predecessor with Hyundai’s Fluidic Design philosophy. At the heart, the new Santro is likely to come with an updated 1.1-litre petrol motor that worked on the Santro Xing. The company will bring it in manual as well as AMT variants.
Tata Tiago JTP: Late-October
Although the official date is not out yet, at the Tiago NRG launch, Tata confirmed that the Tiago JTP will be launched in a month’s time. Tata first showcased the Tiago JTP at the Auto Expo 2018 earlier this year. The Tiago JTP has been developed in association with Coimbatore-based Jayem Auto. The performance-centric version of the Tiago will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged motor that develops 110bhp and 150Nm. The gearbox will also be optimised to suit the nature of the turbocharged motor. Of course, being a performance focused car, the Tiago JTP will have sporty design elements. The Tiago JTP will get unique front and rear bumpers, diamond cut allow wheels, contrast ORVM casings and more. The interior will get premium leather finish on the steering wheel and the seats, a touchscreen infotainment borrowed from the NRG and more. Expect the Tiago JTP to demand roughly a lakh of rupees over the standard model.
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