All the three cars are powered by BS-VI compliant Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) engines. The Rapid will have the new 1.0 TSI petrol engine with a power output of 110 PS (81 kW) and a fuel efficiency of 18.97 kmpl. The Superb range, Laurin & Klement and SportLine, get the new 190 PS (140 kW) 2.0 TSI petrol engine that accelerates from a standstill to a 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 239 km/h. The all-new Karoq is powered by 150 PS (110 kW) 1.5 TSI petrol engine mated with an automatic seven-speed DSG gearbox delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 16.95 kmpl (high phase WLTP) and a top speed of 202 km/h.

The company set the precedence in the contactless automotive purchase ecosystem with the market introduction of the Octavia RS 245 over its centralized booking platform early this year. The overwhelming response from automobile enthusiasts and brand loyalists from across the nation prompted the Czech marque, celebrating 125 years of its rich history and heritage, to broaden the scope of its digital endeavours. Under the 'India 2.0' project, the company will expand its geographical presence in the subcontinent, from 80 dealership facilities across 65 cities, today, to over 200 touchpoints across 150 cities, by 2025.

Talking about the unique features of the cars Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said TSI technology offers blistering power delivery without compromising on fuel efficiency and reduction of harmful CO2 emissions in line with BS-VI norms. It manages to straddle these extremes by combining direct petrol injection with turbocharging, an elegant, ingenious solution that satisfies not just technical and legal requirements, but driving thrill and fuel efficiency expectations.

There are five main elements that come together to create the magic known as TSI. Turbo charging increases the density of air pumped into the chamber. This ensures that combustion is particularly efficient, while at the same time helps raise the power output of TSI engines substantially as compared to conventional, naturally aspirated engines. It is designed to deliver maximum torque from engine speeds as low as 1500 or 1,750 revs per minute, delivering responsiveness and drivability. Acceleration is virtually instantaneous across gear ratios, allowing for safe, overtaking smoother climbs uphill. And, of course, to get the adrenaline pumping.

The Intercooler, working in tandem with the Turbo, lowers the temperature of the air that is fed into the engine. This more dense, oxygen-rich air helps improve the combustion, while also increasing reliability and reducing the possibility of detonation or engine knocking.

Compact construction; in the past, it used to be said that there was no replacement for displacement. It is not anymore as the TSI engine features a cast aluminum alloy block and dye forged steel crankshaft for strength. Of course, turbocharging helps in extracting more power from a smaller engine. While fewer moving parts translate to a significant reduction in power loss caused by friction, the compact construction also means a lighter weight for the vehicle to shift, on the move.

Fuel stratified injection is a direct outcome of development in a high position technology and material sciences in the TSI range of engines. Fuel is injected into the combustion chamber directly. The new state-of-the-art injector, with six valves for electronic direct injection, has been designed to further optimize an efficient distribution of fuel mixture or automisation. It is the leaner fuel mixture that helps the TSI engine offer exceptional fuel economy. At the same time, power delivery is much more linear and there are no unpleasant bumps or peaks in the middle of the red band.

Finally, an active cylinder management helped the company to move ahead in its quest for offering better fuel economy, depending on the power requirement.

The new Karoq comes with 1.5 TSI petrol engine, mated with an automatic seven-speed DSG gearbox, delivering 150 PS of power and a peak torque output of 250 Nm, while delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 16.95 kmpl (high phase WLTP) and a top speed of 202 km/h. With Active Cylinder Technology, to further boost the fuel economy, two of the four cylinders in the TSI powertrain are deactivated, in view of the power requirement.

The new version of Superb comes in two trim options - the Sportline and L&K variants. It gets a 2-litre, four-cylinder TSI petrol motor with a seven-speed DSG gearbox delivering 190 PS of power and a peak torque output of 320 Nm while delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 15.10 kmpl. It accelerates from a standstill to a 100 km/h in mere 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 239 km/h.

The mid-size sedan Skoda Rapid is the economical one of all three of them. The diesel variants of the Rapid have been discontinued and the new one comes with a 1-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor that puts out 110 PS of power at 5,000 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. Mated with the six-speed manual transmission it offers 18.97 kmpl under standard test conditions. When compared with the outgoing 1.6 MPI engine, the new car offers a five percent upsurge in power and a 14 percent rise in torque output. At the same time it offers a 23% increase in fuel efficiency against the previous motor.

“2020 is a special year for us; it’s our 125th anniversary and Skoda will leave no stone unturned for the success of these three new vehicles. We are already receiving encouraging numbers of bookings for the three new models and Skoda is also accepting online booking as the portal integrates 80 dealerships online. The entire contact less experience will make sure that our customer is safe. We are offering 100 percent ex-showroom funding plus you can buy a car now and pay only somewhere near Diwali. We have low EMI and also offer​​ loyalty benefits too,” Hollis said. (MT)

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced that cumulative sales of the Innova HyCross in India have surpassed 200,000 units. The milestone was achieved within 41 months of the model's launch in November 2022. The Innova HyCross is priced from INR 1.95 million (ex-showroom).

The Innova HyCross is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The flagship powertrain features a 5th Generation Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric System, which combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an e-drive sequential shift.

The hybrid tech has a claimed power output of 137 kW (186 PS), which allows the vehicle to operate in electric (EV) mode for approximately 60 percent of the time during typical driving cycles. A 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine option is also available, delivering 129 kW (174 PS).

The Innova HyCross scored a 5-Star safety rating in the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).

It comes equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which includes active safety technologies to assist driver awareness. Interior features include powered Ottoman second-row seating, ventilated front seats, and over 65 connected vehicle functions.

Toyota provides an 8-year warranty on the hybrid battery for select variants. Ownership is supported by the T CARE ecosystem, a service framework covering the vehicle lifecycle from pre-sales to repurchase, including roadside assistance and periodic maintenance packages.

The achievement of this sales volume reinforces the model's position in the premium MPV segment and supports Toyota’s ‘multi-pathway’ strategy for carbon reduction through hybrid technology.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are proud to celebrate a significant achievement of over 2 lakh Innova HyCross sales, highlighting the model’s strong legacy and enduring appeal among customers. This milestone also reflects growing customer trust in Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology, along with the brand’s commitment to design, performance, comfort, and reliability. It further motivates us to continue delivering market-relevant products, advanced technologies, and a seamless ownership experience aligned with evolving customer expectations. We extend our sincere gratitude to our customers and remain confident that the Innova HyCross will continue to inspire confidence and set new benchmarks in the mobility ecosystem.”

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Mercedes-Benz India, one of the leading luxury carmakers in the country, has recorded its highest-ever fiscal sales, retailing 19,363 units during the April 2025 to March 2026 period.

The company marked an uptick of 7 percent in the Q1 2026, where the company delivered 5,131 units compared to 4,775 in Q1 2025.

The German luxury brand’s growth was primarily driven by the Top-End Luxury segment, which grew by 16 percent in FY2026 and now accounts for 27 percent of total sales. This category includes the S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach and the AMG range. Demand for certain models, such as the AMG G 63 and Maybach S-Class, has resulted in waiting periods of up to 12 months.

In contrast, the Entry Luxury segment saw an 18 percent decline. The company stated it would maintain a ‘value over volume’ strategy, prioritising feature-rich content and brand desirability over price-led volume incentives.

For Mercedes-Benz India, the Long Wheelbase (LWB) E-Class remains the highest-selling luxury car in the country. It continued to see robust demand for the C-Class, GLC and GLE SUVs.

Furthermore, contribution of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) now comprise 20 percent of all Top-End models sold. Within the luxury BEV segment (priced above INR 14 million), the company recorded 85 percent growth. The EQS SUV has emerged as the highest-selling luxury electric model for the brand. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the electric CLA on 24 April 2026 as its first ‘software-defined’ electric vehicle.

Under its ‘Go to Customer’ strategy, the company plans to open more than 20 luxury outlets in 2026. This expansion involves a INR 4.50 billion investment from franchise partners. New facilities are scheduled for Q2 2026 in emerging markets, including Visakhapatnam, Varanasi and Goa, alongside reinforcements in Mumbai and Pune.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz remains the most desirable luxury brand in India buoyed by strong customer loyalty for both our new and existing products. We are thrilled with the strong demand for our top-end luxury portfolio that set new benchmarks in the luxury segment with exclusivity and personalization. Similarly, a sustained demand for the ‘core’ segment underlines unwavering customer trust for winning products like the C-Class, LWB E-Class sedans and GLC and GLE SUVs.”

“Our product fireworks for 2026 will continue as we introduce two new AMGs for performance enthusiasts. We are enthused by the overwhelming response to new products like GLS Maybach, the V-Class and the CLA BEV, and customers can expect more desirable products planned across segments for the remaining quarters. Mercedes-Benz will maintain a sharp focus on superior product content and customer aspirations, reinforcing our strategy of value-led growth over volume aspirations,” he concluded.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has introduced the Creta Summer Edition, featuring updates to technology and convenience features across several trim levels at prices starting INR 1.2 million upto INR 1.63 million (ex-showroom). The launch follows a fiscal year where Creta sales exceeded 200,000 units, contributing to a cumulative customer base of over 1.4 million since 2015.

The Summer Edition introduces specific hardware and software upgrades intended to increase accessibility to premium features.

• EX and EX(O) Trims: These variants now include smart keys and push-button start. The EX(O) specifically adds quad-beam LED headlamps, LED tail lamps and a rear camera with dynamic guidelines.
• S(O) and SX Trims: A dashcam with multiple recording modes (driving, emergency, and vacation) has been integrated. The SX trim further receives a 26.03 cm (10.25-inch) multi-display digital cluster.
• SX Premium Trim: This top-tier edition is equipped with a Surround View Monitor (SVM), Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) and front parking sensors in addition to the digital cluster and dashcam.

The integrated dashcam allows for video downloads to mobile devices via a dedicated application, supporting on-demand video and photo capture.

The Summer Edition is available with both 1.5l MPi petrol and 1.5l U2 CRDi diesel engines. Transmission options include manual (MT), Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) and automatic (AT).

Sunil Moolchandani, National Sales Head, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The Hyundai Creta is not just a product, it is a legacy that has played a defining role in shaping the SUV market in India. With more than 1.4 million customers and annual sales exceeding 2 lakh units in FY 2025-26, Hyundai Creta continues to reinforce its position as the undisputed No.1 in the mid-size SUV segment since its launch in 2015. The introduction of the Creta Summer Edition variants reflects our commitment to making advanced technology and comfort more accessible, with features such as the 26.03 cm (10.25”) Multi Display Digital Cluster, Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Dashcam among others further enhancing safety, convenience and driving confidence. These meaningful upgrades will continue to strengthen Creta’s leadership and emotional connect with customers across the country.”

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Kia India has announced that more than 100,000 customers have renewed their paid subscriptions for Kia Connect. The automaker has achieved a retention rate exceeding 30 percent following the expiry of the initial three-year complimentary period.

Since its introduction in 2019, the platform has evolved from its original 'UVO' branding to the current Kia Connect 2.0. Globally, the manufacturer reports an enrolment rate of approximately 97 percent. In India, the company has surpassed 500,000 total sales of connected vehicles.

The platform provides over 100 features across five categories – navigation, remote control, safety & security, vehicle management and convenience.

Kia offers three tiers of renewals – Standalone, Basic and Premium – with flexible durations. Prices for a one-year subscription range from INR 1,890 to INR 4,690, while three-year plans range from INR 3,890 to INR 9,090.

The renewal trend is supported by hardware integrations such as the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCNC) and software initiatives like Drive Green, which monitors sustainable driving practices.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Crossing the milestone of one lakh Kia Connect subscription renewals reflects the growing trust customers place in our connected mobility ecosystem. The continued adoption beyond the complimentary period highlights the everyday value we deliver through enhanced convenience, safety, and control. We remain committed to advancing our digital platforms for a smarter, more connected driving experience.”

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