Renault Kiger Makes Its Debut In India

Group Renault unveiled their B SUV Kiger in India. This is the company’s third global product after the Kwid and Triber first launched in India, followed by other markets.

With the Kiger, Renault will demonstrate its commitment to ‘Make in India’ displaying its design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Stunning, Smart and Sporty are the core ingredients behind the design philosophy of the Kiger.

The new car carries forward the front facia from the Kwid and the Triber with changes to the headlights and the grille. The upper strip formed by the front grille and the LED daytime running lights gives the car an elevated stance. The bumper has been divided into two areas, each featuring three LED headlights encased in a chrome octagonal unit with PURE VISION and a chrome reflector. At the rear, the vehicle sports an all-new LED taillight with double C-shaped lighting signature and glossy black inserts adding modern and distinctive appeal.

The sculpted bonnet and the black sills, muscular wheel arches and the wings with their pronounced shoulder lines complete the B-SUVs bold look. The high ground clearance (205 mm) and the functional roof bars add to the SUV look.

The Kiger’s large 16-inch wheels on the higher trims have a black diamond-cut finish adding a sporty but stylish look. The wheels on the car have been pushed to the four corners providing increase stability and also a long wheelbase of 2500 mm that offers optimum comfort for each passenger and boot volume of 405 Litres that is the largest in the segment.

The slender windscreen which extends into a floating roof and the steep-sloping rear window give the car a coupe look. The aerodynamic spoiler at the rear and the shark fin antenna and 3D graphic finish to the front grille with honeycomb-shaped chromed effects adds to the sporty character of the Kiger.

Customers also have an opportunity to customise their Kiger with a Mystery Black Roof option available with all trim levels and with all body colours.

The interior of the Kiger is a blend of technology, functionality and roominess. The SUV builds on its CMFA+ platform and offers segment-leading roominess, cabin storage and cargo space.

The clearly defined curves of the interior show the impression of the floating cockpit. The piano-styled control dials, suspended air conditioning controls accentuate the floating cockpit feeling. The SUV features a central an 8-inch touch screen system for infotainment and a 7-inch Multi-Skin Reconfigurable TFT colour display for the driver’s cockpit.

The central touch screen offers wireless smartphone replication for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at higher trim levels. The Multi-Sense setting available at higher trim levels changes colour and widget of the 7-inch TFT display based on the driving mode selected. Audio is taken care by the Auditorium 3D Sound system by Arkamys, with eight onboard speakers that diffuse 3D sound tailor-made to suit the passenger compartment’s materials and shape.

The Kiger offers hands-free door open, close and engine start with the key card. The car also includes a door auto-lock function when drivers walk away from the vehicle adding to the user convenience. Other features on the inside include a radar sensor and reverse camera with guiding lines offering greater visibility and precision when reversing or manoeuvring for parking. Also helping to manoeuvre is the 5.02 meters turning radius. Another feature unique to this SUV is the first segment PM2.5 Clean Air Filter fitted into the ventilation system providing good air quality inside the vehicle.

The car offers a roomier cabin with the best-in-segment distance between the front seats and legroom at the rear. The vehicle also features a host of smart storage spaces including four 1L water bottle holders and 2 cup holders.

The all-new Kiger will come equipped with the tried and tested 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that outputs a 100PS of power and 160Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox for now with an X-TRONIC CVT automatic expected to arrive soon after the vehicles commercial launch.

Another engine option will be the 72PS, 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine available with either a five-speed manual or the EASY-R five-speed AMT gearbox.

In terms of safety, the Kiger comes two front airbags for the driver and passenger and two side airbags. The vehicle also features seatbelt reminder for both the front seats. (MT)

           

Lexus India Launches New RX350h Exquisite Grade At INR 8.99 Million

Lexus RX350h

Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.

The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).

The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.

The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.

The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.

Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”

MG SELECT Crosses 1,000 Sales And 15 Experience Centres

MG Select

JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.

The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.

The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.

The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”

The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating

Maruti e Vitara

Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur

Mahindra Charger

Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.