Good things come to those that wait, like these much-awaited rides
Words by Karan Karayi
We live in the age of instant gratification, where we want everything, and we want it yesterday. Next-day delivery gets nixed faster than you finish reading this, gigabit internet is too slow for some, and slow cooking dies a fast death in many eyes.
And yet, some things are worth waiting for. Like these upcoming car launches. Sure, some of them haven’t even hit the assembly line yet, but in a world of ho-humvees, these stand out as something of promise, a shining star on a dull horizon. Wait and watch these emerge.
Thar 5 Door
After the runaway success of the 2-door Thar, the launch of its more family friendly five-door cousin has been much anticipated. But it’s not just a standard Thar with two additional doors. The camouflaged test mules don’t reveal much, but there is a new grille and bumper design on show, plus a hint of the uniquely styled rear door handles.
It will also get some creature comforts, such as the infotainment screen seen on the upcoming XUV300 facelift, and the instrument cluster from the XUV700, while it sits on a similar ladder frame chassis similar to the Scorpio-N.
Speculation is rife that this will launch in mid-2024, and will be one to watch out for.
Kia EV9
Electric mobility seems to have leveled the automotive playing field, and none are enjoying this more than the Koreans. Hyundai-Kia have been on a roll of late when it comes to EVs, first with the excellent Ioniq 5, then the Kia EV6, and the oddly wonderful Ioniq 6. Now, they’re coming for an unlikely segment, seemingly dead; the 3 row family van.
The Carnival didn’t really spark a party for the Korean chaebol, but the EV9 might be an entirely different story. Built on the fantastic E-GMP platform, the spaciousness of the EV9, its strong performance, eye-catching design, rapid charging, and lengthy range makes it a compelling proposition for families. An electrifying option indeed.
Renault Duster
Remember the Duster? Of course you do. This rugged offering from Renault won hearts among Indian consumers for its no-nonsense ways, and with a new generation unveiled internationally, we can expect it to make its way to our shores soon.
Built on Renault-Nissan Alliance’s modular CMF-B platform, this platform is more advanced than the M0 architecture that underpinned the original Duster. But a lot of the macho appeal of the original Duster remains, if refined. Its muscular flanks and 18-inch wheels give it a meaty stance, while the Y-shaped DRLs look modern mirrored by Y-shaped LED tail-lights on the tailgate.
With its updated modern avatar inside and out, this will be one to watch for Indian car buyers that can’t get enough of SUVs, urban or otherwise.
Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe
The CLE Coupe is a strange thing. A sexy thing, but strange indeed. Where Mercedes’ coupe variants once straddled the C, E, and S-class, things have now been rationalised. With the C-class and E-Class coupe rolled into one, we now have the CLE coupe, packed with Mercedes latest and greatest tech and powertrains, wrapped in a sexy, slinky suit.
The CLE-class’s interior will be familiar to anyone that has seen the insides of a C-class and GLC-class, but the front seats are new and specific to the CLE-class, gliding forward for rear-seat access by way of a leather strap that activates the sliding mechanism. Mercedes’ lovely 64-colour ambient lighting is standard, as is the much-loved 17-speaker Burmester sound system. With a hint of AMG GT coupe in the proportions, the CLE coupe borrows from across the Mercedes range to be its own thing, and it’ll be one to watch for discerning buyers.
BMW i5
BMW is the quintessential sedan manufacturer, but even as they transition to making SUVs by the truckload, they’re still capable of making this, the i5. It’s their first electric sedan, and while the design is very polarising (it looks a bit like an angry beaver head-on to us), it should pack enough of BMW’s traditional mix of athleticism and comfort in an executive package.
While not boasting M5 levels of poke, the dual-motor M60 xDrive model isn’t far off, with 590 electric horses on tap and a 60-mph time of nearly 3.3 seconds. The lower-spec i5’s — such as the 335-hp eDrive40 and the 389-hp xDrive40 – don’t have the turn of the speed of the top-spec, but offer more range. And with the suitably luxurious and tech-laden interiors we’ve grown to love, epitomised by the crystal light strip in the dash and the sweeping digital dashboard that so typical of BMW’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment interface, this is a car that will surely have many takers.
Skoda Octavia RS iV
The Octavia RS 230 and 245 were runaway hits when they went on sale, and they still command crazy prices in the aftermarket today, perhaps testament to their enduring appeal.
So what hope does a plug-in hybrid performance sedan with a 1.4 litre engine have when weighed against its predecessors?
Of course, there are the usual RS giveaways, with the subtle badging on the boot, and the lavishing of alcantara and carbon fiber on the inside paired with RS branded seats. And while the engine has been downsized, this 1.4 litre mill puts out an identical 245 HP to its petrol-only ancestor. The engine pumps out 150hp and 250Nm, while the 13kWH battery powers an electric motor beefing up the output. A bridge between the ICE engines of yesterday and the EVs of tomorrow, the RS iV is an interesting counterpoint to going electric, and it remains to be seen if it can fill the weighty shadow left by those that preceded it.
