The new year brings with it a line-up of cars, some all-new and some updated, that will be launched in our market as the months roll by. The beginning of the year will see exciting models such as the Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupe, the new Ford Endeavour, the all-new Mahindra KUV100 and the Tata Zica. Here is a list of cars expected to go on sale in 2016.

Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupe (January 12)

Mercedes will be introducing the GLE Coupe in India in its performance 450 AMG guise. However, it is not a pure AMG model, as the GLE 450 AMG coupe is powered by a 362bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 in place of the GLE 63 Coupe's full-blown 550bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8. Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox which offers five driving modes – Comfort, Slippery, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. The 2.2-tonne SUV is capable of being propelled from 0-100kph in 5.7 seconds. The interior is carried over from the standard GLE with the addition of a carbon-fibre trim, a sport steering wheel, sport seats and stainless steel pedals.

Mahindra KUV100 (January 15)

Mahindra's all-new compact SUV, the KUV100, is set to be offered in four variants – K2, K4, K6 and K8 – with a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The powerplants are part of an all-new family of engines with the petrol and diesel units being 1.2-litre three-cylinder motors. All variants of the KUV100 will be equipped with ABS and a bench-style front middle seat, making the compact SUV a legal six-seater.

Ford Endeavour (January 20)

Now in its third generation, the new Endeavour rivals the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Toyota Fortuner. The new Endeavour will be available in two trim levels – Trend and Titanium – along with the choice of a 2.2-litre four-cylinder or a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 2.2-litre motor will be to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox with power sent to either the rear or all-four-wheels. The larger 3.2-litre powerplant will get all-wheel drive and automatic transmission as standard. The all-wheel drive Endeavour will also get Ford’s Terrain Management System, which is similar to JLR's Terrain Response System.

FCA’s off-roading brand Jeep is set to launch its models in India this month. The brand will make its entry with three models, out of which two will be Grand Cherokees. The first of the two is the standard Grand Cherokee diesel SUV powered by a 3.0-litre 237bhp motor paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. To be available in top spec only, the SUV will be equipped with features such as panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, sat-nav, parking sensors, reversing camera, an electric tailgate, bi-xenon adaptive headlamps and 20-inch chrome alloy wheels.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (January)

With the launch of the Grand Cherokee SRT, Jeep will be introducing its performance brand, SRT,  in India. The SRT is set apart from the standard model by darkened styling elements across the front fascia, revised bumpers and darkened SRT alloy wheels. On the inside, it gets many SRT-specific tweaks to the cabin such as bespoke leather, flat-bottomed steering and carbon-fibre inserts. The biggest differentiator is the engine, a massive 6.4-litre 475bhp Hemi V8 capable of taking the SUV from 0-100kph in 5 seconds. The SRT also comes equipped with the standard Grand Cherokee’s all-wheel-drive system.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (January)

Jeep will be introducing the long-wheelbase four-door version of its Wrangler SUV in India. The rugged SUV will be powered by a 197bhp 2.8-litre diesel motor paired to a five-speed automatic gearbox with four-wheel drive. The Wrangler is the most hardcore off-roader model from the brand and will also be the most affordable of the trio.

Jaguar XE (February)

Jagaur is set to launch its all-new BMW 3-series rivalling sedan, the XE, in India at the 2016 Auto Expo. The car is underpinned by a segment-first, all-aluminium chassis and will be powered by a choice of JLR’s new 161bhp 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine or 2.0-litre petrol motor. The two engines may be joined by a V6 powerplant as well. Transmission duties will be handled by an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the Auto Expo, the XE will be on display alongside the new XF and the all-new F-Pace SUV.

Tata Zica (February)

Tata takes a step towards brand reinvention with the Zica, as it is the carmaker's first all-new model since the introduction of the Vista; the Bolt and Zest being heavily re-engineered versions of the Vista. Designed by Tata’s European Technical Centre, the Zica follows the manufacturer's newly introduced  Impact design language. Sharing its platform with the Indica, the car is styled unlike any other Tata.The model will be powered by Tata’s all-new in-house developed 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a new 1.05-litre three-cylinder diesel motor. The car will be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard with an AMT unit expected to be introduced sometime in the future.

Nissan is set to reintroduce the X-Trail in India in its latest iteration. Discontinued in early 2014 due to lack of sales, the new X-trail is based on the company’s CMF platform and gets styling more in line with Nissan’s current generation of international crossovers like the Qashqai and Juke. Unlike the previous model which was offered with a diesel powertrain, the new X-Trail is set to be launched as a petrol-hybrid only. Power will be sourced from a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor. The car will make its way to India as a CBU import only and as per sources, the pricing could be somewhere around the Rs 35 lakh mark.

Ford Mustang

Ford will be bringing the iconic Mustang to our shores shortly with the car set to be showcased at Auto Expo 2016 in February. The current car is the sixth-generation model, unveiled in 2014 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The new-generation model will be lighter and stiffer, with more space in the cabin that benefits from a major quality upgrade. Internationally, the Mustang is available in three engine options – a 306bhp 2.3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, a 296bhp 3.7-litre V6, and a 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 – and two body styles, coupé and convertible. The Mustang headed to India is expected to be the hard-top coupé avatar powered by the 437bhp 5.0-litre V8 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Expect prices to be somewhere around Rs 80 lakh.

Chevrolet Cruze facelift

Prior to the introduction of the all-new model in 2017, Chevrolet is set to give the Cruze a facelift. As part of the facelift, the car is expected to get revised bumpers, new fog lamps, LED daytime running lamps and other minor tweaks to the exterior. Inside, expect to see the introduction of the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system on the higher trim levels. Mechanically, the car will carry on using the 163.7bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

Volkswagen compact sedan

Volkswagen will reveal its Polo-based compact sedan at Auto Expo 2016, with the launch expected to follow later this year. A rival to the Maruti Dzire, Tata Zest and Hyundai Xcent, the compact sedan from VW – codenamed ICS – is expected to sit at the top of the segment when launched and borrow all the mechanicals, such as the 1.2-litre MPI and TSI petrol engines and the 1.5-diesel unit, from its hatchback sibling.

BMW 3-series facelift

Another facelifted BMW heading to India is the 3-series with prototypes already undergoing testing in the country. For international markets, the facelifted car has been given styling tweaks along with a range of new engines. However, for India the engines are expected to remain unchanged.

New Toyota Innova

The next generation of the Innova has already been launched in international markets, and is expected to arrive on Indian shores early this year. Positioned as a more premium model than the previous generation model, the new car is larger than its predecessor. It is powered by a smaller but more powerful 2.4-litre diesel engine developing 147bhp – a power gap of 45bhp from the current model’s 2.5-litre unit that makes 102bhp. Styling is more in line with the new Corolla Altis and Camry with a large front grille, LED daytime running lamps and sculpted bumpers. Inside, there’s a more upmarket dashboard with a touchscreen infotainment system and new materials.

New BMW 7-series

The new 7-series will be making its way to India this year. Having been revealed at the Frankfurt motor show, the new car gets an evolutionary design language with a more prominent grille, new headlamps and fog-lamps, redesigned bumpers and a new interior. Lighter than the older generation, the new 7-series will come to India powered by a 3.0-litre 261bhp straight-six turbo-diesel or a 4.4-litre V8 turbo petrol developing 444bhp. The new car also comes loaded with technology such as optional laser headlamps, the new generation iDrive with touch and gesture control, night vision and fuel-saving technology such as engine start/stop function.

The Cruze hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 153bhp.

Chevrolet has revealed first images and details of its new Cruze hatchback prior to its public reveal at the Detroit auto show.

The hatchback has the same 2,700mm wheelbase as the Cruze sedan, but it has a modified roofline that ends with a spoiler, giving the model a sporty look. The car offers a boot space of 524 litres with the rear seats in position and 1,198 litres with the seats folded down.

Like the sedan, the Cruze hatchback is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 153bhp at 5,600rpm and 24.47kgm of torque at 2,000rpm. The engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual and gets the option of a six-speed automatic gearbox. 

The car gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, and a number of safety and assistance systems can be ordered as extra.

The next-gen Cruze hatchback will go on sale internationally in late 2016 and will be available in two trim levels along with the option of Chevrolet’s RS performance package.

Courtesy : Autocar

The Bolt is Chevrolet’s first dedicated EV since the EV1; shares battery technology with the new Volt.

Chevrolet has revealed the all-new, all-electric Bolt hatchback at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 in Las Vegas. The car is the company’s first dedicated EV model since the EV1, which went out of production way back in 1999.

The Bolt shares much of its styling with its concept namesake that was revealed in January 2015. The changes in design include a larger grille flanked by more conventional headlamps with LED elements, revised bumpers and tail-gate and blacked out wing mirrors and C-pillars.

The Bolt is based on a new front-wheel-drive platform structure and uses the same lithium-ion battery technology as the second-generation Chevrolet Volt, providing it with a claimed zero-emission range of over 320km.

Inside, the production Bolt gets a dual-tone interior with a dashboard dominated by a centrally located 10.2-inch MyLink infotainment system which as per the company offers a "customisable, widget-based 'flip-board style' operation", a surround view system that allows the driver to get a bird's-eye view of the car's surrounding, a wireless smartphone charger and an EV-specific navigation system with locations of charging stations. The car also comes with a new MyChevrolet mobile app that allows users to remotely control specific functions along with providing services such as OnStar mapping service, vehicle charge status and service scheduling.

"The Bolt EV is capable of using the latest mobile app technology to enable car sharing, advanced GPS routing and gamification, all designed to enhance the ownership experience, now and into the future," said General Motors boss Mary Barra at the car's unveiling.

The American automaker, however, did not reveal specifications of the car's powertrain, but details are expected when the car makes its public debut at the Detroit motor show later this month.
The all-new Bolt will be manufactured at General Motor’s Orion facility near Detroit which is currently being upgraded to handle the model’s production. The Bolt will rival the likes of the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 in international markets when launched.

Courtesy : Autocar

1.    Audi A8
Sure, an automatic gearbox has to deal with the job of just selecting driving modes and basic automatic duties like park, neutral and drive, but when you are in a flagship Audi, it must also feel like the command centre of a luxurious speedboat. So there you go, the A8 comes with a lever that looks like a marine throttle stick. Neat indeed.

2.    Bentley Mulsanne
Whether you are driving a Bentley or being driven in one, the world is at your command. The grip of the shifter has to be solid and chunky then, don’t you think? High quality leather stitched to perfection and a rounded metal top with the Bentley logo to boost your pride seems just about right.

3.    Jaguar XJ
The Brits also like it cool and classy, so where Bentley has its lever much in your face figuratively, Jaguar likes to hide its selector flush with the centre console when not in use. Thumb the starter and a textured metal-finished rotary raises itself to life. Very cool, Jaguar, very cool!

4.    Lamborghini Huracan
The folks at Sant’Agata Bolognese love their supercars like they love airplanes. The theme inside the Huracan is one of toggles and flip switches, pretty similar to what you’d find inside a top-dog fighter plane. While there are buttons to shift you from park to drive, god forbid you accidentally click one to go to reverse. Can’t make such a mistake, can you? So Lamborghini gave the reverse selector a rather lovely lever that tugs to the back to engage.

5.    Volvo XC90
The new XC90 has one of the best luxury SUV cabins on offer around the world. All credit must be given to the interior designers of the luxury SUV for crafting such a heavenly cabin. No detail was overlooked, and that extends even to the shifter. It’s made of crystal and gives the car that extra premium feeling.

Courtesy : Zigwheels