7 new cars launching in India this month [IAB Picks]

May 2018 could potentially witness the launch of 7 new products in the Indian market. Here's a list of upcoming car launches in India that will be taking place in May.

2018 Honda Amaze

Honda will launch the second generation Amaze on May 16. The Maruti Dzire rival is based on an all-new platform. It is longer and wider than its predecessor and comes with a healthier list of features. Notable additions include a Digipad 2.0 touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, LED pilot lamps, automatic climate control among others. Honda will offer the Amaze with 1.2 L petrol and 1.5 L diesel engine options. 5-speed manual and CVT choices will be available in both cases. Expect prices to start at around INR 5.60-6.00 lakhs (ex-showroom).

2018 Hyundai Creta (facelift)

Hyundai will roll out the first facelift of the Creta since its launch in the last week of May. The updates will include cosmetic enhancements in the form of a new, bigger front grille, updated front and rear bumper, new 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and updated tail lamp graphics. As spy shots have revealed, the Hyundai Creta will also gain a sunroof. Engine options and specifications are expected to remain unchanged.

Ford EcoSport Titanium S

Ford will add a new variant to the EcoSport range with the introduction of Titanium S. The Ford EcoSport Titanium S is distinguished by features like a darkened front grille and front skid plate, black headlamp bezels, gunmetal finish 17-inch exclusive alloy wheels, black roof, black roof rails and black rear spoiler. Interior changes include orange accents. As per a recent report, the new variant will be powered by a 1.0 L EcoBoost petrol engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. Expect prices to hover around INR 10-11 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Tata Nexon AMT

Unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo, the Tata Nexon AMT will go on sale next month. The transmission will be a 6-speed automatic manual unit paired with either the 1.2 L Revotron petrol or the 1.5 L Revotorq diesel. It will also introduce a new exterior colour option - Etna Orange. The Nexon AMT will be offered in XZA+ grade, which gets the same features as the XZ+. Tata is likely to charge a premium of around INR 50,000-60,000 over the manual variants. Bookings are already underway and units have started arriving at dealerships.

Toyota Yaris

Although the prices, features, and specifications of the Toyota Yaris have already been revealed, official communication from the company states that the sedan will be launched in May. Introductory prices start from INR 8.75 lakhs and go up to INR 14.07 lakhs (ex-showroom India). Bookings are open across Toyota dealerships for an amount of INR 50,000 and deliveries will commence next month. It comes with a 1.5 L petrol engine option good for 109 PS and 140 Nm paired with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. It features several segment first features like electrically adjustable driver’s seat, roof-mounted air vents, gesture control for the infotainment system, seven airbags, front parking sensors, all wheel disc brakes and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

MINI Countryman

BMW India will launch the second generation MINI Countryman on May 3, 2018. It will be available in three variants – Cooper S, Cooper SD, and Cooper S JCW. The Cooper S and Cooper S JCW are powered by a 1,998 cc 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 192 hp and 280 Nm. The Cooper D variant uses a 1,995 cc 4-cylinder diesel engine developing 190 hp and 400 Nm. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard across the range. The crossover will be assembled locally and prices are expected to start under INR 40 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Mercedes-AMG E63 S

MBIL will launch the Mercedes-AMG E63 S on May 4. It packs a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine that sends power to the wheels via the 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT sports transmission. Power and torque outputs stand at 450 kW (612 hp) and 850 Nm respectively. The high-performance variant features the newly engineered AMG Performance 4MATIC+ permanent all-wheel drive system. For the first time, torque distribution is fully variable. In the E 63 S 4MATIC+, there’s even a drift mode, which changes the configuration to rear-wheel drive. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ does 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

[image source - Team-BHP]