6 new luxury cars to be unveiled at the Auto Expo 2016

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Although compact and affordable cars will continue to be in heavy focus over at the Auto Expo 2016, luxury carmakers will come in full force during this year’s edition which will kick off in the next couple of days. This time around, the biennial event will see over 80 new vehicles being unveiled, including several new luxury sedans and crossovers. 

BMW 7 Series 

First unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, the all-new BMW 7 Series will officially arrive in India later this week at the Auto Expo 2016. Now in its sixth generation, the 7 Series gets a host of technologies that we can expect to see in smaller BMWs in the future.  Design wise, the new 7 Series appears more evolutionary rather than a completely new vehicle. In the front, BMW has included a wider kidney grille, sleeker LED headlamps and a wider bumper giving the new 7 Series a stronger stance than ever before. Inside, the overall layout of the cabin is a familiar BMW affair although there are completely new bits such as the steering wheel and the gear stick. In addition to the standard luxury features already available with the car, BMW has fitted a new touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control

The new 7 Series in India is expected to be offered in the 730Ld and 740Ld guise. Both are powered by a 3-litre straight-six engine that produces 258bhp and 300bhp respectively. When launched, the new 7 Series will compete with other flagship luxury sedans like the Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ.

Jaguar XE

The XE arrived in 2014 globally and marked Jaguar’s entry into the entry-level luxury sedan segment. Underpinned by an all-new aluminium architecture and a new engine family called Ingenium which comprises both petrol and diesel engines, the XE promises a lot. In terms of design, the XE is in line with its elder siblings and gets elements like the large chrome grille, swoopy headlamps and of course the famous leaping cat logo. 

The XE will officially go on sale in India post its national debut at the Auto Expo. It is expected to be sold as a fully imported vehicle initially with both petrol and diesel engine options. 

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Mercedes-Benz revealed the GLC during mid-2015. In essence, this new model is the latest generation of the GLK-Class but gets the GLC name thanks to its close association with the C-Class, as per Mercedes’ new naming and model convention. Globally, the GLC is already on sale and is being offered with two diesel and one petrol engine option. The former is available in two units - GLC 220 d and GLC 250 d which produce 166bhp/400Nm and 200bhp/500Nm respectively. The petrol is the GLC 250 which produces 208bhp/350Nm. 

The Indian market, meanwhile, is expected to get the petrol engine and the diesel in the higher 200bhp form. When launched, the new GLC will be slotted between the GLA and the GLE and will compete with similarly sized models from Audi, BMW and Volvo. 

Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard

Mercedes-Benz revived Maybach with the introduction of the ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach S 600. At Rs 2.65 crore ex-showroom, this luxo-barge is anything but affordable, however, come Auto Expo and Mercedes will take things to a whole new level with the S 600 Guard which is a heavily armoured version of the regular model. Mercedes says the new Maybach S 600 Guard will be the most exclusive and a highly customised product in the armoured luxury car segment in India.  

BMW X1

BMW’s X1 is now in its second generation and is underpinned by the same UKL architecture that is used in making the new Mini range. As a result, the X1 is now front-wheel drive and benefits from better interior packaging. In terms of upgrades, the X1 not only looks more rugged and better compared to the old model but also feels more luxurious on the inside thanks to the upgraded feature list and improved trim all around the dash. 

Set to go on sale later this year, the new X1 will compete with the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes GLA in the entry-level luxury crossover segment 

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar finally stepped into the lucrative premium SUV segment with the all-new F-Pace. Earlier shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the F-Pace is already on sale in certain bits of Europe and is expected to launch in India later this year. Developed using lightweight aluminium architecture, the F-Pace combines surface and proportion with the F-type-inspired features such as the strong rear haunches, fender vents and distinctive tail light graphics. Jaguar has confirmed that the wheelbase and track dimensions of the F-Pace are not shared with any other Jaguar models. At 4,731mm long and with a 2,874mm wheelbase, the F-Pace is expected to be fairly practical with its boot space of up to 650litres.

The F-Pace represents a new direction for Jaguar in terms of expanding its market presence. Once launched, it will compete with the Porsche Cayenne and the Macan, the BMW X6 and the Range Rover Sport