Even with the slowdown in the automobile industry and tough market conditions, the second generation compact SUV bagged over 14,000 bookings even before the price announcement, 50 percent of it is for the new BS6 diesel variants. The other half is divided between the two petrol models, which for the first time, includes a turbo petrol unit. The new Creta has 14 models of 5 variants - - E, EX, S, SX, and SX (O) and will be available in 10 color options, including a couple of dual-tone paint schemes. The color options are Lava Orange, Polar White, Typhoon Silver, Red Mulberry, Titan Grey, Deep Forest, Galaxy Blue, Phantom Black, Polar White with Phantom Black and Lava Orange with Phantom Black.

The new Creta comes with two petrol and one diesel engines, the diesel option has the new 1.5-litre U2 CRDi oil burner that is BS6-compliant and tuned to make 113 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic torque converter. The petrol options include a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre unit and a 1.4-litre GDi engine. While the former is tuned to produce 113 bhp and 144 Nm of torque, the turbo-petrol unit makes 138 bhp and 242 Nm of torque. The 1.5 units come with the option of a 6-speed manual and an iVT automatic transmission, the 1.4-litre GDi motor gets a 7-speed DCT as standard.

As predicted, the 2020 Creta looks much- more attractive than the predecessor model. The exterior has been completely refurbished and there are some impressive additions to the cabin. In the exterior there are new 3D cascading grille,  new trio-beam LED headlamps with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs and LED tail lamps. To top it up it also includes roof rails, a twin-tip exhaust, automatic ORVMs, and 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

The interior has also been upgraded with new features like 10.25-inch touch screen infotainment system, 7-inch instrument panel with digital display and a panoramic sunroof.  In addition features like wireless phone charger, front and rear USB charger, TPMS, cooled glove box, LED reading lamps and 2-step reclining rear seat and the Blue Link connectivity technology make the new Creta no less an option than its competition in the Indian market.

The 2020 Hyundai Creta is also a secure SUV as it comes with the standard safety features like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, driver and passenger seatbelt reminder, and emergency stop signal. The higher trims get ESC (electronic stability control), VSM (vehicle stability management), hill start assist, rear camera with steering adaptive parking guidelines and burglar alarm. The top variant of the new Creta is equipped with  six airbags. It will also come with multiple driving modes, traction control with snow, mud and sand options.

Judging the current market conditions Hyundai Motor India launched the much-awaited 2020 Creta in the country for an introductory price of Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The top-spec variant of the new Creta has been priced at Rs 17.20 lakh (ex-showroom, India). (MT)

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Honda Cars India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has unveiled the updated Elevate SUV, featuring styling updates, interior additions and expanded safety technology.

Interestingly, India is the first market to launch the updated vehicle globally, representing the third of six product launches planned by the manufacturer for the current financial year.

The Elevate SUV gets a redesigned mesh grille with gloss black upper moulding, revised position light elements, gloss black trim on the lower bumper and side garnishes and a full-width connected tail lamp setup.

It features 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and retains its vehicle dimensions, measuring 4,312 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height, with 220 mm of ground clearance and a 2,650 mm wheelbase. A new exterior paint finish, Nordic Forest Pearl, has been added to the palette.

The Elevate continues to be powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine generating 89 kW (121 PS) and 145 Nm of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuous variable transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 15.31 kmpl for the manual version and 16.61 kmpl for the automatic. The model is offered across five trim levels – SV, V, VX, ZX and ZX+ – with ex-showroom Delhi prices ranging from INR 1.18 million for the base manual variant to INR 1.84 million for the top-spec automatic.

On the inside, the SUV features a dual-tone ivory and black cabin layout, orange ambient lighting, ventilated front and rear seats, power-adjustable front seats and an electric sunroof.

Technology updates include a 360-degree camera system, front parking sensors, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, an air quality indicator and wireless smartphone integration. The safety suite adds low-speed follow functionality to its camera-based advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) on automatic variants, alongside standard features such as six airbags, vehicle stability assist and electric parking brake.

Toshiyuki Yanagisawa, President & CEO, Honda Cars India, said, "The Honda Elevate has established a strong connection with customers through its confident design, versatility and enjoyable driving experience. With the New Elevate, we are taking this character forward with a much bolder expression and significant enhancements across design, comfort, technology and convenience. Being the lead market for its sales, India is the first country to launch the New Elevate globally. Its bolder, more rugged styling and enhanced premium features are designed to meet the evolving aspirations of today’s SUV buyers. This is the third of our six key launches planned for this financial year. We expect the New Elevate to play a key role in driving our momentum during the ongoing festive season and strengthening our product portfolio offering customers more exciting choices."

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has announced pricing for the updated Slavia sedan, starting at INR 999,900 (ex-showroom) for the base Classic manual variant to INR 1.88 million for the top-spec Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI automatic model.

The Slavia is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform and is available across six trim levels: Classic, Classic+, Signature, Sportline, Prestige and Monte Carlo. The deliveries are set to commence next week, with an additional Cappuccino Beige colour variant scheduled for release in December 2026.

The sedan retains its existing petrol powertrain options, offering a 1.0-litre TSI engine paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. On the other hand, the 1.5-litre TSI engine variant is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and includes rear disc brakes.

Exterior updates include redesigned light units, revised front and rear sections, sequential rear indicators, and new alloy wheel options.

On the inside, the Slavia gets a rear-seat massage function on higher trim levels, alongside a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors and a digital instrument cluster measuring up to 26.03 centimetres.

The 25.6-centimetre infotainment system incorporates a voice assistant powered by Google Cloud's Automotive AI Agent, supporting wireless smartphone integration. Safety equipment includes six airbags and standard electronic assistance systems across the range, maintaining its 5-star rating from Global NCAP testing.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The Slavia has become an important part of Skoda Auto India’s sedan legacy, bringing together the design, driving experience, safety and engineering that customers associate with our brand. The new Slavia builds on that strong foundation with a more striking presence, greater comfort, smarter technology and an all-new eight-speed automatic. That is the essence of Says it All: a sedan that does not ask customers to choose between aspiration and practicality, performance and comfort, or technology and peace of mind. It brings these strengths together in one confident, complete package, making the sedan experience even more relevant and desirable for a new generation of customers.”

The vehicle comes with a four-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty, four years of roadside assistance and four routine labour-free services. Warranty coverage can be extended up to six years.

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German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Mercedes-Maybach S 580e 4MATIC, introducing a plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Maybach range in India at INR 33.5 million. The company has introduced the Maybach S 580e with an initial allocation limited to 30 units. 

It combines a 3.0-litre petrol engine delivering 443 hp and 560 Nm of torque with an electric motor producing 160 hp and 480 Nm. Together, the system generates a total output of 585 hp and 750 Nm of torque via a nine-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

Powered by a 22 kWh usable battery, the saloon provides a WLTP-certified electric range of up to 98 km and reaches 100 kmph in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed limited to 250 kmph. Charging options include up to 11 kW AC and up to 60 kW DC fast charging.  

The interior features a four-seat layout with individual rear seats and a central console. Equipment includes air suspension using navigation data, rear-axle steering up to 10 degrees, 15 airbags, and a 31-speaker sound system. Digital interfaces operate on the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, incorporating a front-passenger display screen and driving assistance functions.

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "The Mercedes-Maybach S 580e perfectly reflects our strategy of offering the most desirable luxury portfolio, while offering customers the freedom to choose the technology that best suits their lifestyle. We are seeing rising demand for Plug-In-Hybrid among our top-end customers, and the Maybach S 580e combines the timeless exclusivity, handcrafted luxury and iconic luxury of a Maybach with the convenience of a plug-in hybrid technology. With ICE, BEV and PHEV models in our portfolio, Mercedes-Benz is uniquely positioned to offer diverse luxury mobility solution, ensuring performance, sustainability and luxury."

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Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo Auto India has appointed Karan Arora as Director of Marketing and PR. He joins the luxury automaker with over 15 years of leadership experience across the luxury automotive and luxury real estate sectors.

Arora previously worked in the luxury automotive industry, spending over six years at Audi India as Head of Marketing Communications and Experiential, where he managed product launches, events and customer engagement initiatives. He also held the role of Regional Business Manager for North India at Jaguar Land Rover.

In addition to his automotive background, Arora has led marketing teams in the real estate and home solutions sectors. His previous roles include managing premium and luxury residential marketing portfolios at Godrej Properties, Central Park and Smartworld Developers, as well as overseeing marketing for GROHE and American Standard at LIXIL India. Most recently, he served as Vice-President of Marketing at Krisumi Corporation.

Arora holds a Master of Business Administration from the International Management Institute, New Delhi and a Bachelor of Technology from Panjab University.

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