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‘What’s when?’ is the most common question asked us at Autocar India. We get a huge number of mails everyday from readers wanting to know what’s coming in the near and not-too-distant future, and that’s understandable. In our ever-changing market, you really need to be on top of model upgrades and new car launches, especially if you are about to sign a considerable amount of your savings on an all-new car.
The last thing you want is to see a new and superior model out on the roads, soon after you’ve spent your hard-earned money on a car that could be quickly outdated. So, to keep you in the know, straight from our confidential files, an almost complete list of new cars manufacturers are planning to put on sale in India this year.
Audi A7 (Mid-2011)
The A7 will certainly be Audi’s most attractive model in 2011. Revealed at Munich in July, this is Audi’s take on a low-slung and better-looking A6, which in essence is what the car is. Huge alloys and a roof that is 4cm lower than the A8, give this ground-hugging ‘four-door coupé’ a fantastic stance. The range-topping 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol that churns out 295bhp and a 241bhp diesel unit could be the ideal motors for India. For those looking for style more than outright performance, lower output engines starting from 201bhp will also be available. Expect it to be priced somewhere in between the A6 and A8.
See Audi A7 Sportback images here
New Audi A8 (January 10, 2011)
If you plan on traveling business class without a ticket, Audi’s new A8 is the car for you. Audi needs to crack the super-luxury market and so has upped the ante with the new A8 with an endless list of technical ‘one-ups’ to pamper the uber-rich. The new A8’s well-chiseled looks give it the corporate elegance one would expect from a car of this class and design looks as unfussy as ever. On the inside, the A8 gets Audi’s new MMI system, large and almost throne-like seats that massage, and acres of high-quality chrome and wood. India will get the long wheelbase version since most of these cars will be chauffeur-driven, and you can expect top-of-the-line motors too. The 6.3-litre W12 petrol puts out a creamy 500bhp and a 4134cc eight-cylinder turbo-diesel produces 346bhp. The diesel will be the most sought after; it can pull this two-tonne car to the 100kph mark in five seconds flat.
See new Audi A8 images here
Audi TT diesel (Mid-2011)
Audi knows a thing or two about making diesel sports cars; check out the list of winners at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. In this car, the frugal yet torquey 2.0-litre TDi has been massaged to produce a considerable 168bhp. However, performance will also come from the fact that this car makes a very impressive 35.6kgm of torque, enough to somewhat negate the weight of this coupé. Of course, power and torque will go to all four wheels via the quattro system to keep surges of torque well at bay and while straightline performance, especially from rest, won’t be as impressive as the petrol V6 already on sale here, performance once on the move is more than sufficient. You can also expect this car to be cheaper than the current car by around Rs 5 lakh, a nice sweetener.
See Audi TT TDI images here
New Bentley Continental GT (Mid-2011)
It may look very similar to the current model but that’s been done on purpose. The Continental GT has been so successful for Bentley that it wants to change as little as possible to keep the identity of the new car intact. However, every panel is new and the lines sharper with tighter skinning. This Continental gets new headlight detailing and a more prominent grille, as well as sharper lines to accentuate the voluptuous curves of the old car. The new GT, like the earlier one, gets a W12 heart but power is up an extra 14bhp and torque is up to 71.38kgm from 66.2kgm. The car will be launched around March 2011. Late next year, Bentley is also likely to come out with a cleaner, lower carbon dioxide-emitting twin-turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed automatic, and this could come to India as well.
See Bentley Continental GT images here
New BMW X3 (End-2011)
Set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this month, the new X3 has been thoroughly re-engineered inside and out. It gets significantly larger rear doors for easier access, improved gearboxes, updated engine options as well as thoroughly re-worked interiors. The X3 looked long in the tooth even three years ago, so the new interiors will be a welcome change. The entry-level 2.0-litre manual X3 xDrive20d produces 184bhp; there will also be a 302bhp, 3.0-litre, turbocharged straight six petrol in the luxurious xDrive35i range-topper. BMW claims that the second-generation X3 will be among the most economical and efficient midsized off-roaders on sale.
See New BMW X3 images here
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The last thing you want is to see a new and superior model out on the roads, soon after you’ve spent your hard-earned money on a car that could be quickly outdated. So, to keep you in the know, straight from our confidential files, an almost complete list of new cars manufacturers are planning to put on sale in India this year.
Audi A7 (Mid-2011)
The A7 will certainly be Audi’s most attractive model in 2011. Revealed at Munich in July, this is Audi’s take on a low-slung and better-looking A6, which in essence is what the car is. Huge alloys and a roof that is 4cm lower than the A8, give this ground-hugging ‘four-door coupé’ a fantastic stance. The range-topping 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol that churns out 295bhp and a 241bhp diesel unit could be the ideal motors for India. For those looking for style more than outright performance, lower output engines starting from 201bhp will also be available. Expect it to be priced somewhere in between the A6 and A8.
See Audi A7 Sportback images here
New Audi A8 (January 10, 2011)
If you plan on traveling business class without a ticket, Audi’s new A8 is the car for you. Audi needs to crack the super-luxury market and so has upped the ante with the new A8 with an endless list of technical ‘one-ups’ to pamper the uber-rich. The new A8’s well-chiseled looks give it the corporate elegance one would expect from a car of this class and design looks as unfussy as ever. On the inside, the A8 gets Audi’s new MMI system, large and almost throne-like seats that massage, and acres of high-quality chrome and wood. India will get the long wheelbase version since most of these cars will be chauffeur-driven, and you can expect top-of-the-line motors too. The 6.3-litre W12 petrol puts out a creamy 500bhp and a 4134cc eight-cylinder turbo-diesel produces 346bhp. The diesel will be the most sought after; it can pull this two-tonne car to the 100kph mark in five seconds flat.
See new Audi A8 images here
Audi TT diesel (Mid-2011)
Audi knows a thing or two about making diesel sports cars; check out the list of winners at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. In this car, the frugal yet torquey 2.0-litre TDi has been massaged to produce a considerable 168bhp. However, performance will also come from the fact that this car makes a very impressive 35.6kgm of torque, enough to somewhat negate the weight of this coupé. Of course, power and torque will go to all four wheels via the quattro system to keep surges of torque well at bay and while straightline performance, especially from rest, won’t be as impressive as the petrol V6 already on sale here, performance once on the move is more than sufficient. You can also expect this car to be cheaper than the current car by around Rs 5 lakh, a nice sweetener.
See Audi TT TDI images here
New Bentley Continental GT (Mid-2011)
It may look very similar to the current model but that’s been done on purpose. The Continental GT has been so successful for Bentley that it wants to change as little as possible to keep the identity of the new car intact. However, every panel is new and the lines sharper with tighter skinning. This Continental gets new headlight detailing and a more prominent grille, as well as sharper lines to accentuate the voluptuous curves of the old car. The new GT, like the earlier one, gets a W12 heart but power is up an extra 14bhp and torque is up to 71.38kgm from 66.2kgm. The car will be launched around March 2011. Late next year, Bentley is also likely to come out with a cleaner, lower carbon dioxide-emitting twin-turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed automatic, and this could come to India as well.
See Bentley Continental GT images here
New BMW X3 (End-2011)
Set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this month, the new X3 has been thoroughly re-engineered inside and out. It gets significantly larger rear doors for easier access, improved gearboxes, updated engine options as well as thoroughly re-worked interiors. The X3 looked long in the tooth even three years ago, so the new interiors will be a welcome change. The entry-level 2.0-litre manual X3 xDrive20d produces 184bhp; there will also be a 302bhp, 3.0-litre, turbocharged straight six petrol in the luxurious xDrive35i range-topper. BMW claims that the second-generation X3 will be among the most economical and efficient midsized off-roaders on sale.
See New BMW X3 images here
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