Best High-end Car Launches of 2011

  • Dec 10, 2011
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With the year 2011 coming to an end here is a flashback of all the game changers and exotic cars that made it to our nation

Mercedes Benz G55 AMG

The year 2011 has turned out to be an all time high for the petrolhead in India. Some of the most established and revered car makers have setup shop in India this year. And its not like exotic car makers have brought in cars which are not up to date, they have brought in the latest and the very best cars in their stables onto our shores. This confidence in their move to enter our market with the very best they have to offer shows that India is a major new car market in the world for all types of vehicles. Without any further ado lets take a look back at the best high-end cars that have hit the market in 2011.

Premium Sedan

Volkswagen Jetta

Let’s start with the premium sedan from Volkswagen, the new Jetta. The 2011 VW Jetta (Read : Launch Report) wears the new and rather nice Volkswagen family look. Considering that the base model of the Jetta is priced at Rs. 14.12 lakhs (Ex-Showroom) New Delhi it is a very attractive buy as the car looks much more grown up than its rivals. Even the price of the top variant which comes loaded with all sorts of gizmos and safety features is very attractive as it is cheaper than its immediate rivals. 

Luxury Sedans

Volvo S60

In the entry level luxury sedan market the Volvo S60 (Read : Launch Report) caused quite a bit of a stir with its well priced and well kitted out variants. And the top of the line six cylinder all-wheel drive S60 is one of the best driver’s cars in its class.

Audi A6 2.0 TDI
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The executive luxury sedan market saw the launch of the new Audi A6 2.0 (Read : Launch Report) litre diesel which is significantly lighter, stiffer and surprisingly economical than its predecessor. The A6 makes a strong case for a buyer who wants to buy a diesel executive luxury sedan. 

Audi A8 L W12

At the luxury sedan end of the market the new Audi A8 L W12 Quattro (Read : Launch Report) carved out quite a niche for itself with its massively powerful engines, Quattro all-wheel drive system bolted to a luxury limousine with enough creature comforts and features that one will ever need. 

Uber luxury cars

Rolls Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase

At the uber luxury end of the car market in India this year was a little more calm with only the Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase (Read : Launch Report) being launched. This is so because all the other uber luxury four door sedans were already here in India and it takes these car makers quite some time to better their already perfect products.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost makes a good case for itself as you get RR Phantom levels of leg space at a significantly lesser price tag. Although, we never thought it was exactly cramped at the back of a RR Ghost, in which case the standard Ghost which can rival seat comfort of a first class airliner is quite an attractive entry ticket into the uber Rolls Royce club.

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley too stepped up their game with launch of the new Continental GT Coupe (Read : Launch Report) which comes with the same 6 litre W12 engine but develops more power and torque over the previous car. And of course, as expected the Bentley offers all the latest creature comforts that one can have in a car.

SUVs

Mercedes Benz GL500

The luxury SUV market in India is very well catered for in India as well with all major manufacturers offering the very best of their product range. Audi managed to squeeze in a more economical 2.0 litre diesel Q5 while Mercedes-Benz launched a more powerful version of their enormous GL SUV (Read : Launch Report) with a 5.4 litre V8 petrol engine making it one of the most powerful SUV in its segment. 

Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG

Then there was the launch the Mercedes G Wagon which is an old school go anywhere SUV that does not like to be messed with. It has a huge fan following across the world. Also, the rather excellent G55 AMG from Mercedes-Benz was introduced in our market. The G55 which has been tuned by AMG is every inch a menacing machine. In truth with its low profile tyres and everything the Jeep is more an urban playboy rather than a full bore off-roader, but it can still embarrass many a modern SUV off the road. 

Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover brought in their striking new Range Rover Evoque (Read : Launch Report) into India although deliveries will have not begun yet. 

Sportscars


While all of the above cars have enough firepower under the hood we now come to the sportscar division of 2011 car launches. 

Ariel Atom

While a lot of high profile supercar launches took place this year lets start in ascending order of the amount of heat each of those cars generates. In 2011 the sportscar with the smallest engine to debut in India was the Ariel Atom 3 with a 2.0 litre Honda engine. If you do not already know about the Ariel Atom, the car is a lightweight track focused car with no roof and no doors. It can go from 0-100 km/h in a startling 2.5 seconds. We think you get the point. 

Audi RS5

Audi bought in their tarmac scorching RS5 sports coupe (Read : Launch Report). The two door sports coupe comes with the same 4.2 litre V8 that is in the R8 supercar and is equipped with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. In short, if you want a very fast and stylish performance car for India’s roads the RS5 makes a very good case for itself. 

Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar upped their game with the launch of the XKR-S sports car which is an XKR turned up to 11. With its retuned 5.0 litre supercharged V8 develops 555PS of power and 680Nm of torque, the car also gets reworked aerodynamics and lots of go faster mechanical bits to give the car a top speed of 300 km/h.

Maserati Quattroporte

Then there was Maserati’s entry into India (Read : Launch Report). The exquisite Italian car maker brought in their Quattroporte four-door sportscar and the GranTurismo two-door sports car. Both are available with either a 4.3 litre V8 or a more powerful 4.7 litre V8. While it is true that Masserati’s sportscars are not the end all and the all of performance the sheer aura of one of these is something no other car maker manages to capture. 

Aston Martin

Another iconic car maker to have debuted in India was Aston Martin. Known to make some of the most beautiful cars on earth this British sportscar maker is all set to beautify our streets with their cars. Armed with a wide array of sports cars to appeal to people who may want a powerful grand tourer or a properly powerful sportscar that nudges the hypercar territory Aston Martin have it all.

But that is only natural considering they have also brought in their ultra exclusive One-77 hypercar to our country. Oh, and the One-77 costs a staggering Rs. 20 if you were wondering. 

Convertibles

Mercedes Benz SL350

Even though India is too dusty an environment for convertibles, convertibles are still available. It’s no surprise then that BMW launched the 6 Series Convertible here in India to cater to people who want a top down wind in you hair experience. Mercedes-Benz has not been far behind and have launched their rival SL 350 convertible (Read : Launch Report). 

Ferrari California

At the other end, Ferrari have launched their California convertible supercar for a Ferrari enthusiast who prefers to hear the sound of the glorious Italian V8 even more clearly.

Supercars

Ferrari 458

Finally the legendary Italian Prancing Horse graced our nation with its presence. And it has come aboard with its best supercars. The 458 Italia which is the best of Ferrari’s ability has left us spellbound with its quintessential Ferrari magic. The 599 GTB Fiorano is a monster of a GT car with its 6 litre V12 engine upfront and rear wheel drive at the back this is dare we say the best GT car around.  

Later in the year Ferrari also launched its first ever four-wheel drive car, the FF (Read : Launch Report). With its 6.2 litre V12 churning out 660PS of power this is one of the most powerful Ferraris at the moment. Oh, and the shooting brake design is even more stunning in the flesh. 

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini also bought their new supercar, the Aventador into India (Read : Launch Report). The Aventador is a completely brand new car and you can notice the difference with its all new engine and new pushrod suspension. The Aventador has stepped away from being an only outrageous supercar to becoming an outrageous and hardcore performance car. 

Hypercars

Koenigsegg Agera

It’s still a little hard to imagine the point of launching a car with a top speed of say 300 km/h or so in India where majority of the roads have potholes the size of craters. But car makers have done it anyway and have received very good response from buyers. Hypercar maker Koenigsegg has therefore decided that India is now ready for their 400 km/h Agera. With its 5.0 litre Bi-turbo V8 developing 953Ps of power the Koenigsegg Agera (Read : Launch Report) is right up there with the blistering Bugatti Veyron.

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