Upcoming Car Launches: Here is what’s coming to India this October

The month of October will see some long awaited products being launched in the country. From premium hatchbacks to performance SUVs, we have at least six products heading to the Indian market this month. We compile a list of upcoming car launches in India.

At the front of the list of vehicles to be launched in India is the new BMW X5M and X6M. BMW’s latest-generation performance spec X5M and X6M, which made their first appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014, would make their entry on the Indian soil on October 15. Both models are powered by a new 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine with two TwinScroll turbochargers which delivers 575 hp of power and 750 Nm of torque.

Fiat Abarth Punto

Following the Bavarian SUVs will be Fiat India who will launch the much talked about hot-hatch, the Abarth Punto in India on October 19. With 145 bhp on tap, this Italian stinger, on launched, will be India’s most powerful hatchback.

Maruti Baleno

The all-new Maruti Baleno premium hatchback will share the space with the S-Cross at the Indian car maker’s “premium” Nexa showroom from October 26 onwards. Bookings for the new Baleno have commenced, with the token amount being INR 25,000. Under the hood of the new Baleno hatchback will be a 1.2 litre VVT petrol engine that would deliver 84PS of power and 115 Nm of torque. Accompanying the petrol powered motor will be the tried and tested 1.3-litre diesel engine that would deliver 75PS of power and 190 Nm of torque. Both the motors will come mated to a 5 speed manual transmission.

Maruti Ertiga facelift

The 2015 Suzuki Ertiga, or the Maruti Ertiga facelift that was unveiled in Indonesia in August this year will arrive in India in October. While Maruti has not confirmed the launch date, with the festive season right around the corner, we expect to see the facelift Ertiga in Indian showrooms very soon. Visually, not much has changed, but the face-lift gives the timid looking Ertiga a major confidence boost with a bolder front fascia.

Chevrolet Trailblazer

Chevrolet officially unveiled the Trailblazer SUV and Spin MPV in India in July 2015. As reported before, the Chevrolet SUV will be launched in October 2015, while the Spin MPV will hit Indian shores in 2017. The Chevrolet Trailblazer will be powered by an all-new 2.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel, in-line 4 cylinder engine that develops 200 hp of power and 500 Nm of torque. An earlier report suggested that initially, Chevrolet will be launching the Trailblazer with only a 2WD variant paired to an automatic transmission.

Mercedes GLE

The Mercedes GLE will also make way into the Indian soil in October 2015. According to Mercedes-Benz’s new nomenclature, the current ML Class, in its next iteration will turn into the GLE Class, to better reflect its positioning in the E-Class range of cars. Mercedes-Benz will introduce the V6 equipped GLE 350d variant that will deliver 255 bhp from its 3.0 litre power plant. Also on offer will be the GLE 250d variant that will be powered by a 2.1 litre diesel engine putting up 203 bhp of power. The GLE will also be blessed with a AMG Sport model.

We would be covering all the launch events so stay tuned for all the latest updates. Do share your views about these upcoming launched through the comments section below.

The McLaren 570S Coupé is the first – and highest powered – model launched

The McLaren 570S Coupé is the first – and highest powered – model launched in the recently announced Sports Series

Overall performance for the 570S Coupé is class-leading with the 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint taking 3.2 seconds, while 200 km/h is reached in just 9.5 seconds. Top speed is 328 km/h (204 mph).


Following its global debut at the New York International Auto Show in April 2015, the new model range marks the entry of McLaren into the luxury sports car market, introducing race-derived technologies and supercar performance in a package which is very much a pure McLaren. Lightweight construction, including the use of a carbon fibre chassis, recognisable design values and a comprehensive specification list ensures a class-leading offering, and as uncompromised as is expected from a McLaren. With pricing starting at £143,250, the 570S Coupé is available to order now with deliveries depending on market starting before the end of 2015 - the 540C Coupé, which retails from £126,000, follows in Q2 2016. 

The latest addition to the range completes the three tier model strategy for McLaren alongside the Super Series and Ultimate Series. The Sports Series is the most usable and attainable model to wear a McLaren badge to date, but it retains the core design and dynamic focus that ensures it is still worthy of the iconic name. 


Weighing as little as 1,313kg (2,895lbs), thanks in part to the unique lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis, the Sports Series is almost 150kg lighter than its closest rival. Power is provided by an evolution of the 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine with 30 percent new components. This ensures electrifying performance, with the 570S boasting a class-leading power-to-weight figure of 434PS.  At the same time, the interior is more tailored around day-to-day usability, with optimised access, greater levels of stowage space and more refinement.

The Sports Series is a showcase of modern craftsmanship, with each model hand-finished at the state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, England. A suite of new optional content and a ‘By McLaren’ designer range of interiors highlight the levels of customisation available.

Creta sets the sales charts on fire

At one level, you cannot help but agree with the Senior Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) of Hyundai Motors India given the resounding reception the SUV has received in the market since its launch in July.

With Creta sales comfortably averaging over 7,500 units each month, Srivasatva has reasons to be pleased with this showing. More importantly, Hyundai would also feel quite triumphant since the vehicle has shown the way in a segment where it was hardly present.

Not only has the Creta zoomed ahead in the SUV rankings game, it has ended up putting pressure on rival products from Mahindra & Mahindra, Renault, Ford and, more recently, Maruti Suzuki. The Bolero is perhaps slightly ahead at this point, but it is not directly comparable to the segment the Creta operates in.

“This is a strong statement from Hyundai in a segment where we were not present. This is even more significant since a brand has succeeded in a poor market,” adds Srivastava.

Today, 20 per cent of Cretas sold are automatics, while petrol accounts for 25 per cent of sales, and this, in a market where diesel dominates the SUV space with a 90 per cent share. According to Srivastava, there is also a growing queue of women looking to buy the product. “Women have expressed tremendous interest in the Creta as it is a stylish SUV that offers ease of driving, with an automatic option and modern day gizmos. The Creta is connected to the modern world,” he declares.

There was, of course, a lot of hard work put into making the SUV a reality. It was a marathon exercise which involved Hyundai’s R&D teams from South Korea and India working in tandem to understand what the SUV customer really wanted. The company was only too aware that this was a challenger brand which would have to take on established leaders like the Scorpio, Duster and EcoSport.

‘Understand needs of buyers’

“Understanding the aspirations and needs of the buyer has really worked for the Creta. In particular, we were aware of the growing evolution of the customer and his priorities,” 

This also explains how previous launches like the Grand i10 and Elite i20 had hit the sweet spot in the market. Research on the making of the Creta suggested that the existing lineup of SUVs in India was essentially what one would term “rough with bare necessities”.

Hyundai believed the need of the hour was an offering with a taller stance and dominating presence which was also capable of handling rough roads. As a result, the rough feature had to be replaced by something strong, bold and beautiful. Bare necessities had to give way to something with a luxury feel, and a premium technology experience. “In a competitive scenario, it was important to focus on the customer’s wants, especially when almost everyone is clued into smartphones and applications. Creta needed to make driving modern,” 

Confident of success

These are still early days for the SUV but Hyundai is confident that it has hit the bull’s-eye with this offering. To that extent, it has the potential to be a disruptive product that can change the dynamics in the auto arena, right from rival SUVs as well as premium sedans. This is also a market where SUVs have been seeing rapid growth and are gradually eating into the conventional car space.

In this backdrop, the sky is the limit for the Creta; though  reiterates that there will be no room for complacency as the team will continue stepping on the gas in its selling efforts. This was the case with the i10 and i20 as well, which are doing over 11,000 units per month each and, with the Creta, have boosted Hyundai’s monthly numbers to well over 40,000 units.

Again, thanks to the Creta’s good showing thus far, the Korean carmaker has revised upwards its original business plan of doing 4.65 lakh units in the Indian market this calendar.

The overall projections, including its international business, are a little over 6.3 lakh units. Exports of the Creta will also have to take a backseat for the moment as the waiting list in the domestic market is already over three months. By the end of the day, it has been a remarkable year for Hyundai and it will be interesting to see how it sustains the momentum in the coming years.

Changing profiles

The company has been around in India for nearly two decades now and had made its intent known even then as the first serious rival to Maruti Suzuki. It launched the Santro to take on the latter’s compact car monopoly and hit pay dirt almost immediately.

Maruti, has not been an easy pushover and is comfortably ahead with monthly sales averaging one lakh plus units. Despite this, Hyundai would have reason to feel optimistic with the heady response to the Creta coupled with the fact that the market is transitioning to SUVs.

The company has been quick to recognise that the profile of the Indian buyer has been changing thanks to technology and higher disposable income levels. The focus on styling and design has paid off and Hyundai will hope to build on this growth.