Autocar India

Audi’s big India comeback, Tata Sierra EV first drive: Autocar India August 2026

We also drive the Range Rover Sport EV, Honda ZR-V, Mercedes-AMG E 53 and much more.
3 min read5 Aug '26
Autocar India News DeskAutocar India News Desk
227 views
Autocar India August 2026

Our August 2026 issue has all the exclusive details of Audi India’s most ambitious product offensive in over a decade, with six all-new locally assembled models planned over the next 18 months. We also get behind the wheel of Jaguar’s camouflaged Type 01 prototype and drive the Range Rover Sport EV at Goodwood. Closer to home, we find out if the Tata Sierra EV lives up to its billing as the best Tata on sale, while the Nissan Tekton is put through a 700km-plus real-world test from Chandigarh to Leh. We also break down India’s new most popular fuel in our CNG special, with five models tested back-to-back. On two wheels, the new Norton Atlas is ridden in Iceland, while a special Ducati takes on some of Maharashtra’s tricky trails. All this while a Skoda Kylaq sets off on an epic 19,351km drive from Pune to Prague.

Audi’s Big Comeback: Cover Story

Audi was once India’s bestselling luxury brand. Today, it is a shadow of that. Now, with six all-new locally assembled models planned by end-2027, the four rings are back on the offensive. We have all the details and speak to Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon and Audi AG chairman Gernot Dollner about the upcoming cars. 

Jaguar Type 01: Drive

Jaguar has walked away from 90 years of combustion heritage, cancelled every existing model and started again with a blank sheet of paper. The Type 01 is the result – a five-metre all-electric grand tourer with a 1,000hp three-motor setup, 600km of range and a starting price north of Rs 3 crore. We drive a camouflaged prototype at JLR’s Gaydon test track to find out if the boldest bet in the car industry’s history has legs. 

Range Rover Sport EV: Drive

Under its familiar skin sits an 800V architecture, two Land Rover-developed 326hp motors and a 118.5kWh battery validated over 60,000 hours of testing. The electric Range Rover Sport arrives in India around March 2027 and could set a new luxury benchmark for the brand. We drive a prototype at Goodwood to find out if it lives up to that promise. 

Tata Sierra EV: First Drive

The best Tata in years gets the brand’s smoothest powertrain yet. The Sierra EV comes in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive forms, with the AWD variant making a class-leading 306hp and bringing the first AWD option in this segment. We drive all variants, including a proper off-road test, to see if it lives up to the hype. 

Honda ZR-V: Drive

Honda’s first hybrid SUV in India arrives as a full import from Japan, packing a 184hp strong-hybrid powertrain and a claimed 22.8kpl. We get a brief first taste at the Buddh International Circuit to find out if it delivers on its promise.

Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+: First Drive

The new E 53 pairs a 3.0-litre straight-six with a 28.6kWh battery for 585hp and up to 100km of electric range. It is a PHEV AMG that also does daily commutes without a drop of fuel. But has electrification enhanced the AMG experience, or diluted it? 

CNG Special: Features

CNG now accounts for nearly 20 percent of India’s passenger car market. We explain everything you need to know about the fuel – what it is, how it works and whether an aftermarket conversion makes sense. We also road test five CNG models: the Tata Tiago iCNG, Maruti Wagon R S-CNG, Hyundai Aura CNG, Maruti Brezza Turbo (petrol) and Maruti Victoris S-CNG.

Tata Nexon: Petrol vs Diesel vs Electric vs CNG

The Nexon is one of the few cars in India offered with four distinct powertrain options. We test every variant – turbo-petrol, diesel, CNG and electric – with real-world performance and efficiency figures to find the sweet spot of the range. The result might just surprise you.

Skoda Kylaq: Pune to Prague, Part 1

A made-in-India Skoda Kylaq sets off on a near-20,000km adventure from its birthplace at Skoda’s Chakan plant to Skoda Auto’s headquarters in Prague. Part 1 covers India, Nepal, Tibet and China – including a detour to Mount Everest Base Camp.

Norton Atlas: Ride

TVS’s second Norton – and the brand’s most important – debuts in Iceland. The Atlas is a 585cc parallel-twin adventure tourer with 70hp, a full electronics suite and 19-inch front wheel. We ride 200km of sweeping mountain roads and gravel trails to find out if it can justify the hype and, crucially, a competitive price tag.

Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak: First Ride

The most focused Multistrada money can buy blurs the line between a practical ADV and an out-and-out sport bike. With Ohlins semi-active suspension, a single-sided swingarm and a race-mode, it promises to be two bikes in one. We find out if the price premium is worth it.

Suzuki E-Access: Road Test

Suzuki’s first electric scooter carries a big name and an even bigger price tag. It gets some things right, but in a segment that rewards value, performance and range, does the Access badge alone justify the Rs 1.92 lakh asking price?

Audi India boss confirms 3 new launches by 2027

Q3, A5 and Q9 will be locally assembled at the Skoda Auto Volkswagen India plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
3 min read5 Aug '26
Hormazd SorabjeeHormazd Sorabjee
Audi India boss confirms 3 new launches by 2027

Balbir Singh Dhillon, head of Audi India.

Range Rover SV Ultra launched at Rs 3.8 crore

New range-topping Range Rover variant is available solely with a twin-turbo mild-hybrid petrol V8.
2 min read5 Aug '26
Viraaj BhatnagarViraaj Bhatnagar
Range Rover SV Ultra

Honda Elevate discounts in August 2026 go up to Rs 1.79 lakh

Among the three models in its India line-up, Honda’s Elevate midsize SUV continues to offer steep discounts this month as well.
2 min read5 Aug '26
Suraj ViswanathanSuraj Viswanathan
Honda Elevate in showroom

Image credit: The Car Show (YouTube)

Mahindra Scorpio N facelift launched at Rs 13.69 lakh

The 2026 Scorpio-N gets a panoramic sunroof, 540-degree camera, larger displays and new alloy wheels.
3 min read5 Aug '26
Dhruv DhakaDhruv Dhaka
Mahindra Scorpio N

JSW MG ‘Hector Hawk’ SUV to launch on August 26

Based on the Wuling Starlight 560 sold overseas, the new 7-seater SUV will be offered with EV and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
2 min read5 Aug '26
Dhruv DhakaDhruv Dhaka
MG Hector Hawk

Wuling Starlight. Image used for representative purposes only.

Poll of the month

Which powertrain type makes the most sense for you right now?

Petrol
Diesel
Hybrid
EV
CNG
Flex-fuel
8760 votes5 days remaining

Upcoming Cars

Nissan Terrano
Nissan Terrano

₹40.00 - ₹45.00 Lakhs

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

₹30.00 - ₹35.00 Lakhs

Jeep SUV
Jeep SUV

₹15.00 - ₹20.00 Lakhs

JSW Motors Chery iCAR V23
JSW Motors Chery iCAR V23

₹17.00 - ₹20.00 Lakhs

Tata Avinya
Tata Avinya

₹35.00 - ₹40.00 Lakhs

Trending Cars

Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Maruti Suzuki Brezza

₹7.40 - ₹13.55 Lakhs

Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta

₹10.91 - ₹20.11 Lakhs

Maruti Suzuki Fronx
Maruti Suzuki Fronx

₹6.85 - ₹11.84 Lakhs

Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento

₹30.00 - ₹35.00 Lakhs

Latest Cars

Toyota Hilux
Toyota Hilux

₹31.99 - ₹36.69 Lakhs

Honda ZR-V
Honda ZR-V

₹47.99 Lakhs

Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Maruti Suzuki Brezza

₹7.40 - ₹13.55 Lakhs

Kia Syros EV
Kia Syros EV

₹13.50 - ₹20.00 Lakhs

Ferrari Amalfi Spider
Ferrari Amalfi Spider

₹4.60 Cr