It's the last day of 2017 and we can't thank the Gods enough for all the cars and motorcycles we had the chance to sample over the past 12 months. Cars satiating the needs of the many as well as the few made it to our market, while automakers too were seen bringing some unconventional offerings to our country. Well, the momentum for all things exciting is being carried over in 2018, as carmakers have an interesting line-up of vehicles for the new year. To kick off things with a bang, January 2018 will have a varied choice of offerings to hit the market and we list down all the upcoming cars that will make it to showrooms in the first month of the new year. Here are the upcoming car launches in January 2018.
(The Lamborghini Urus is currently the world's fastest production SUV)
Lamborghini decided to make an SUV and is bringing to India in just 38 days of its global launch. The Lamborghini Urus will be going on sale in the country January 11 and is by far the most practical offering from the exotic Italian carmaker. The Urus draw power from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that churns out 621 bhp and 850 Nm of peak torque. All that power goes to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The performance SUV also gets 4WD system with active torque vectoring and four-wheel steering. The Lamborghini Urus is currently the world's fastest production SUV with a top speed of 305 kmph, and can hit 0-100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds. Expect prices to start around Rs. 3.5 crore, but remember the first batch for India has already been sold out.
(Datsun redi-GO AMT will be offered only on the 1.0-litre version)
Starting off things with something humble, Datsun India will be introducing the redi-GO hatchback in its AMT avatar. The automated manual transmission (AMT) has been on the radar for a while now and will come mated to the 1.0-litre petrol engine of the hatchback that produces 67 bhp and 91 Nm of peak torque. There won't be any design or feature upgrades though on the redi-GO AMT, but do expect a top loaded version to be available with all the bells and whistles. The Datsun red-GO AMT will command a premium of about Rs. 25,000-30,000 over the standard 1.0-litre variant.
(The Lexus LS 500h competes against the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class)
Toyota's luxury arm Lexus forayed into the Indian market earlier this year, and has been actively introducing products and expanding presence ever since. The luxury automaker will be introducing its flagship sedan - Lexus LS 500h in India on January 15 and the model will be rivaling the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-class, BMW 7 Series and the upcoming new gen Audi A8 L in the segment. Unlike its competition though, the LS 500h will be coming to India as a hybrid model with power coming from a 3.5-litre V6 engine with two electric motors tuned to produce a combined 350 bhp. The car comes paired to a 10-speed autobox and is capable of hitting 0-100 kmph in 5.2 seconds. Lexus' flagship sedan offers the best of luxury and creature comforts, while also sporting the best of tech wizardry. The spacious cabin can seat four in comfort, while the overall sporty yet elegant design gives it a futuristic appeal. Expect prices for the Lexus LS 500h to be around Rs. 1.5 crore (ex-showroom), commanding a premium over its German rivals.
(The second gen Audi Q5 competes with the BMW X3, Volvo XC60 and the likes)
Audi's bestselling SUV, the Q5 is all set to move into its second generation on January 18. The luxury offering continues to be extremely popular globally and the new gen model improves on that front with a better design, more features and improved powertrain. The new generation Audi Q5 is based on the versatile MLB Evo platform and has helped made the model lighter by 100 kg. The SUV has also grown in dimensions sporting a longer wheelbase and borrows design cues from the larger Audi family with the single-frame grille and Matrix LED headlamps. Inside, the new Q5 gets a completely new cabin with a digital instrument console, new Audi MMI, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a whole lot more. Engine options will include the updated 2.0-litre Quattro Ultra TDI diesel engine to produce about 163 bhp, while the high-spec version is likely to get the same motor with 190 bhp. The 2.0-litre TFSI petrol is also likely to be offered with 252 bhp of power. The new Audi Q5 will lock horns against the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Jaguar F-Pace and the likes. Prices will start a little over Rs. 50 lakh (ex-showroom).
(The Range Rover Velar gets both petrol and diesel engines)
Jaguar Land Rover will finally commence deliveries of the all-new Range Rover Velar in January The all-new offering from the British carmaker sits below the range-topping Range Rover Sport line-up and packs in a host of luxurious features along with extremely drive-able engines. The Range Rover Velar draws power from the 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, while there is also the 3.0-litre diesel that belts out 296 bhp and 700 Nm of peak torque. All engines will come paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The SUV features a host of tech including the Touch-Pro infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, individual climate control and a whole lot more. Prices for the Range Rover Velar have already been announced and range between Rs. 78.83 lakh going all the way up to Rs. 1.37 crore (ex-showroom). However, owing to the recent change in the GST cess for vehicles, the prices are likely to go higher.
