Get ready for car launches in India as a slew of new ones launches are set to hit the roads in 2024. Major car manufacturers are gearing up to unveil their latest models, including electric vehicles (EVs), marking a significant move into the country's burgeoning EV market. As of now, EVs make up less than seven percent of total vehicle sales in India.
Mercedes-Benz India is revving up the excitement with the impending launch of the facelifted GLS, their flagship model. Scheduled for release on January 8, 2024, the SUV flaunts a redesigned front grille, updated headlamps, and a revamped front bumper. Rolling on new 20-inch alloy wheels, the GLS facelift promises an upgraded exterior. Inside, the ambiance gets a lift with Catalana Brown and Bahia Brown interior themes. The dual-screen dashboard equipped with the latest MBUX user interface offers three display options.
Impressive new features include an off-road mode with a 360-degree camera and a "transparent bonnet" display. During the Annual Press Conference, Mercedes-Benz India plans to reveal the prices for the GLS facelift, expected to surpass ₹1 crore (ex-showroom). The conference will also outline the brand's plans for the upcoming year, spanning launches in both Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Vehicle segments.
Hyundai Motors is also gearing up for a big splash by introducing the facelifted version of its immensely popular SUV, the Creta. Anticipated to be unveiled on January 16, 2024, the new Creta is expected to introduce the innovative connected tail light feature, potentially rivalling models like the Tata Harrier and Kia Seltos. Spy shots hint at design elements similar to Hyundai’s global SUV Palisade, with a possible front featuring vertical LED lights and a parametric grille.
The upcoming Creta SUV might showcase redesigned lighting, sequential turn indicators, and a dual-screen setup in the front. Inside, an all-black theme with dual-tone seats is expected, accompanied by new features such as ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and ADAS technology. Powertrain options are likely to include a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.5L turbocharged petrol unit, and a 1.5L diesel engine, with a variety of transmission choices.
Mahindra is in the final stages of preparing the much-awaited 5-door version of its Thar SUV, as seen in recent spy shots making rounds online. The camouflaged test model reveals production-ready alloy wheels sporting a new diamond-cut pattern, LED headlamps, and circular LED DRLs, indicating its advanced stage of development. Positioned as a more practical alternative to the 3-door Thar, the upcoming model boasts user-friendly features like a spacious second row, an electric sunroof, an expanded infotainment system, a central armrest, height-adjustable seatbelts, rear AC vents, and a significantly larger boot space.
To accommodate these enhancements, the SUV will sport an extended wheelbase. Powering options are expected to include the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines, available with manual and automatic transmissions, 4x4 capabilities, and potentially a rear-wheel-drive variant for a more affordable starting price. Competing with models like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the 5-door Force Gurkha, the Mahindra Thar 5-door promises a blend of off-road prowess and practicality, set to hit the market soon.
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