MINI India has launched the all-new MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI Convertible and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch in India. The new MINIs will only be available as Completely Built-up Units (CBUs) in their petrol guise.

MINI 3-Door Hatch and MINI Convertible:

The exterior of the new MINIs has been simplified and modernised with a new characteristic hexagonal radiator grille and the round hallmark MINI LED headlights with integrated fog lights. The car's side view is dominated by the striking new contours of the wheel arch surrounds and the redesigned side scuttles with integrated LED side indicators.

At the rear, the car continues to carry the British flag-inspired rear light graphics along with a new narrow LED rear fog light integrated into the rear apron.

The MINI 3-Door Hatch and the Convertible will be available in rooftop Grey metallic, Island Blue metallic, Enigmatic Black and Zesty Yellow (only for MINI Convertible) colour options. Users can also opt for a piano black exterior package that gets the door handles, side scuttles, fuel cap, MINI logos on the bonnet and luggage compartment lid, the model lettering and tailpipes of the exhaust system finished in high-gloss black.

Along with the standard colour options, customers can also choose Jet Black, Aspen White, Melting Silver paintwork (for MINI 3-Door Hatch and Convertible) and a unique colour gradient from San Marino Blue through Pearly Aqua to Jet Blackcontrasting roof colour.

MINI has renewed the 17-inch light-alloy wheels with options for Roulette Spoke-Two-Tone, Tentacle Spoke-Black and Rail Spoke-Two-Tone.

On the inside, the MINIs offers two packages:

1. MINI Interior Surfaces Silver Chequered features sporty style wherein the instrument panel surface and the elliptical ring in the door are finished in chequered design.
2. MINI Interior Surfaces Aluminium features opposing diagonal lines representing a modern, visually impactful evolution of the classical herringbone design.

MINI offers two new standard upholstery options: Cloth-leatherette combination in Black Pearl Light Chequered and Black Pearl Carbon Black. In addition, customers can spec their upholstery using the MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Carbon Black, Leather Cross Punch in Carbon Black, Leather Chester in Satellite Grey and Malt Brown.

MINI has given the car a new multifunction steering wheel design integrating more functions into fewer control surfaces. The audio control unit and the function buttons for hazard warning lights and driver assistance systems are integrated into the central 8.8-inch central colour touchscreen system. MINI also offers the circular touchscreen system, touch-sensitive buttons and piano black finishes as standard on the new cars.

Customers also can add a 5-inch multifunctional instrument display on the steering column to improve the cockpit feeling. Other additions include MINI Wired Package (adds navigation system, wireless charging, enhanced Bluetooth mobile preparation), MINI Excitement Pack (adds LED interior and ambient lighting that illuminates the cockpit with a choice of selectable colours as well as a projection of the MINI logo from the exterior mirror on the driver's side when opening and closing the car door) and an upgrade to Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system.

In terms of performance, the MINIs are powered by the latest 2.0 l MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology mated to a 7-Speed Double Clutch Steptronic Transmission. The twin-turbo engine makes 192 hp of power and a torque of 280 Nm sufficient to propel the car from 0-100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds for the 3-Door Hatch and 7.1 seconds for the Convertible.

In terms of safety, MINI has equipped all three models with front passenger airbags, Brake Assist, 3-Point Seat Belts, Dynamic Stability Control, Crash Sensor, Anti-lock Braking System, Cornering Brake Control, Run-flat tyres and Rear-View Camera as standard along with Rollover Protection System for the Convertible.

MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Hatch:

The changes on the new JCW Hatch include a new hexagonal front grille with a honeycomb pattern and a cross member at the bottom edge finished in red. The JCW Hatch also features the exclusive John Cooper Works bonnet stripes that provide a distinct race-inspired look to the car,

In terms of the exterior and interiors options, the JCW Hatch gets all the standard options from the 3-Door Hatch and the Convertible and some more, including the exclusive Chilli Red paint colour, the upgraded JCW sports seats in dinamica.

In terms of the mechanicals, the car gets the same 2.0l MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology engine mated to an 8-Speed Steptronic Sports Transmission. The JCW MINI produces 231 hp of power with 320 Nm torque helping it complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.1 sec.

The CBU MINIs cost:

3-Door Hatch: INR 38 lakh (ex-showroom)
Convertible: INR 44 lakh (ex-showroom)
JCW Hatch: INR 45.5 lakh (ex-showroom) (MT)

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Nissan is placing its design heritage and a focus on premium ruggedness at the core of its strategy for the Indian market, with the upcoming Tekton C-SUV positioned to spearhead its product expansion. The new model, which takes its name from the Greek word for 'craftsman' or 'architect,' is intended to be a ‘segment disruptor’ and is heavily inspired by the brand’s flagship, the Nissan Patrol.

The Tekton will be the first of Nissan's new product offensive, with the production model expected on Indian roads by the second quarter of calendar year 2026, as confirmed by Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director of Nissan Motor India.

Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice-President of Global Design at Nissan Motor Corporation, highlighted the influence of the iconic Patrol, saying the goal was to create a ‘compact or baby Patrol’. The new C-SUV incorporates several design cues from its larger sibling, including the V-strut grille and the distinctive C-shaped signature headlamp design seen in the last two generations of the Patrol.

The design team, which worked on both the new Patrol and the successful Magnite compact SUV, aimed to make the Tekton's ‘character larger than its actual footprint.’

Ken Lee, Senior Design Director at Nissan Motor Corporation, explained that the car’s rugged aesthetic is essential for the Indian market. "Learning from Magnite SUV, which was a very big hit, the sense of protection, high centre of gravity, driving positions, are very in-tune with the region," he noted.

This focus translates into a design that delivers ‘a sense of premiumness inside the ruggedness and is one notch above the segment.’

Specific design elements include:

• Double C-shaped accents on the side, incorporating an abstract design inspired by the Himalayas.
• A focus on consistency across the front, side, and rear views, reinforced by the C-shaped lighting signatures.
• An interior designed to offer ‘a sense of tranquillity’ through improved touch surfaces and premiumness.

Technology Meets Tactile Control

Addressing the shift in consumer preferences, Lee noted that while chrome used to signify premium, ‘now technology is premium.’ However, the company is careful not to over-rely on digital controls.

Designers globally are currently debating the mix of digital and physical controls. "We are living in a moment which is software and physical demand," Lee stated, acknowledging that after a decade of fascination with purely digital interfaces, customer feedback is now strongly pushing back in favour of tactile controls for essential functions.

The Tekton, developed through collaborative efforts between Nissan’s global design centre in Japan, the London studio (which worked on the Magnite), and engineers in Chennai, sits ‘right in the centre of the C-SUV segment,’ aiming for a more premium positioning than the outgoing Terrano.

Vatsa confirmed that the production-ready design is already undergoing testing, with pre-production vehicles being showcased to the dealer network ahead of the official 2026 launch.

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India's automobile retail sector has entered a ‘golden festive phase,’ according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), which detailed vehicle registrations for September and the Navratri festival period in 2025.

The data reveals overall September retail sales came at 1.82 million vehicles, up 5.22 percent YoY, but the highlight was the unprecedented 34 percent surge in vehicle retail sales during the Navratri festival, which FADA dubbed a ‘Bachat Utsav’ (Savings Festival). Interestingly, compared to August 2025, the retail sales dropped by 6.98 percent.

On the other hand, the Navratri period delivered a historic high for the sector, with overall retail sales soaring by 34 percent YoY. Every major segment registered strong double-digit growth, except for Construction Equipment (CE), which declined due to heavy rains slowing activities.

• Two-wheelers led the charge with a 36 percent increase, driven by improved affordability and festive offers.
• Passenger vehicles saw a robust 34.8 percent rise, as new buyers and upgraders took advantage of lower prices.
• Commercial Vehicles (CV) grew by 14.8 percent, reflecting optimism in infrastructure and easier financing.

The remarkable festive growth is being attributed to the 'GST 2.0' tax reforms, which lowered Goods and Services Tax rates on vehicles, effectively boosting affordability for consumers.

September 2025 proved to be an unusual month, with sales remaining muted for the first three weeks. However, demand dramatically revived after 22nd September, coinciding with the implementation of the new GST rates and the start of Navratri.

Sai Giridhar, Vice-President, FADA, said, "September 2025 was an exceptionally unique month for India’s automobile retail industry. The first three weeks were largely muted, with customers holding back in anticipation of the GST 2.0 reforms. However, the dynamics changed dramatically in the final week as Navratri festivities coincided with the implementation of lower GST rates, reviving customer sentiment and accelerating deliveries across most vehicle categories."

Passenger Vehicle (PV) dealers also used the final surge to replenish stock, pushing inventory levels up to approximately 60 days in preparation for the upcoming peak sales season of Dhanteras and Deepawali.

Giridhar hailed the performance, said, "Navratri 2025 will go down as one of the most memorable chapters in India’s automobile retail journey — a true ‘Bachat Utsav’ unleashed by the visionary GST 2.0 reform. For the first time ever, dealerships across the nation witnessed record-breaking footfalls and deliveries."

Robust Outlook

FADA is highly optimistic about the near-term outlook, predicting that India is on track for its best-ever festive season. The combination of favourable factors – including an above-normal monsoon, a strong harvest, stable policy rates and the transformational impact of GST 2.0 – is set to boost consumer purchasing power across rural and urban markets.

The momentum is expected to carry through October, with Dhanteras and Deepawali forecast to deliver all-time high sales figures, ushering the Indian auto retail sector into a new phase of growth.

Lead image: For representational purposes only.

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Mercedes-Benz India has reported its most successful September on record, achieving a significant 36 percent year-on-year growth in sales. This exceptional performance is largely credited to the government's recent GST 2.0 reforms, which stimulated market demand and converted customer interest that had been deferred since mid-August into purchases. This positive momentum was particularly evident during the Navratri festival, where the company retailed 2,500-plus units, marking its highest-ever sales for the festive period.

This record-breaking September also propelled the company to its best-ever second-quarter sales performance for the fiscal year 2025-26, with a total of 5,119 units sold. This quarterly success was anchored by consistent demand across two key vehicle categories. The 'Top-End Luxury' segment, including models such as the GLS, S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach, achieved a 25 percent share of total sales and grew by 12 percent year-on-year. A notable trend within this segment is hyper-personalisation, with the bespoke 'manufaktur' programme contributing to 75 percent of all top-end vehicle sales. Simultaneously, the 'Core Luxury' segment, which includes the Long-Wheelbase E-Class, GLC and GLE, maintained a dominant 60 percent penetration of overall sales and grew by 10 percent. The E-Class sedan, in particular, solidified its position as the highest-selling luxury car in India.

The company’s electric vehicle (BEV) portfolio also saw robust growth, maintaining an eight percent penetration rate and growing by 10 percent, driven by strong demand for models like the EQS SUV. However, the 'Entry Luxury' segment experienced a decline, facing stiff competition from more affordably priced alternatives in the market. Overall, the results underscore a strong market preference for Mercedes-Benz's high-end and electric vehicles, setting a new benchmark for the brand's performance in India.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz clocked its best-ever September sales owing to an overwhelming customer response following the GST 2.0 reforms, culminating the pent-up demand. Our attractive new portfolio combined with innovative financial programmes under the ‘Dream Days’ campaign, resulted in overwhelming demand for Mercedes-Benz cars in the luxury market. We expect this festive buying spirit to continue in October as well, with upcoming festivities including Dhanteras and Diwali, which traditionally witness spirited buying from customers. While there was strong demand across the portfolio, we recorded the highest ever monthly sales for key products like the Long Wheelbase E- Class, GLC, GLE, GLS and G63 AMG SUVs. The reduction in the GST rates has certainly improved customer sentiment with its appropriate timing as car prices are increasing owing to macro-economic challenges like adverse forex movement, rising operational cost etc. We hope this buoyant spirit sustains for the remaining festive season as we continue to observe market trends closely, remaining cautiously optimistic.”

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Mumbai-based automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has introduced the new Bolero range with prices starting INR 799,000 (ex-showroom), with the new top-end B8 variant priced at INR 969,000 (ex-showroom). The new Bolero Neo starts at INR 849,000 (ex-showroom), with the new top-end N11 variant at INR 999,000 (ex-showroom).

With a history of 25 years and over 1.6 million customers, the Bolero remains a versatile SUV, navigating diverse terrains from city streets to rural landscapes, offering adaptability and value.

The new Bolero features a new grille, fog lamps and diamond-cut alloy wheels. Inside, the Bolero offers a new 17.8 cm touchscreen infotainment & music system, steering-mounted controls and leatherette upholstery with better seat comfort. The RideFlo ride and handling tech gives better stability and control, with improved suspension. The Bolero is powered by the mHAWK75 engine delivering power of 55.9 kW and 210 Nm torque, with body-on-frame construction. The company has also introduced a new Stealth Black colour, along with existing colours.

On the other hand, the new Bolero Neo combines toughness with urban style. It features a sleek new grille with horizontal accents and dark metallic grey R16 alloy wheels. Interior theme options are Lunar Grey and Mocha Brown. Comfort features include leatherette upholstery and better seat ergonomics. It has a 22.8 cm infotainment system, a rear-view camera and a USB C-type charging port. The RideFlo tech, along with MTV-CL and Frequency Dependent Damping (FDD), ensure smooth rides. It is powered by the mHAWK100 engine delivering power of 73.5 kW and 260 Nm torque and includes cruise control and Multi-Terrain Technology (MTT) for better traction. New colours include Jeans Blue and Concrete Grey, plus three dual-tone options.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Bolero has stood the test of time, earning its place as one of India’s most versatile and tough SUVs for over 25 years. Building on this enduring legacy, the new Bolero range has been thoughtfully designed to meet the aspirations of a dynamic and rapidly evolving New India. With a perfect blend of toughness, contemporary styling, enhanced comfort, and modern features, the new Bolero and Bolero Neo deliver a powerful SUV experience that shines equally in urban environments and challenging terrains.”

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