Top Car News Of The Week: New Hyundai Aura, BMW X1 Launched; Maruti’s EV Plans Revealed And More

The past week brought us a handful of launches as well as some insight into what carmakers are planning for their upcoming models in the country. For example, Toyota brought back a much-loved workhorse, and we spotted a brutish new Kushaq in the works. 

For all that and more from last week you might have missed, here’s our weekly round-up of car news: 

Facelifted Hyundai Aura Launched 

The new Aura was launched with a fresh face and a bunch of safety updates. It’s now the only sedan in its segment to offer six airbags. The rorty turbo petrol option no longer exists; the Hyundai Aura gets simplified powertrain options with a single 1.2-litre naturally aspirated (NA) petrol engine, available in manual, AMT and manual-CNG variants.

• 2023 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Variants Explained

Third-gen BMW X1 Launched 

BMW’s new X1 was launched with tweaked aesthetics and a minimalist interior with a BMW Curved Display inside. The new baby SUV might not have BMW fans rejoicing – its petrol engine has been downsized to a 1.5-litre turbo unit with 54PS less power than before, and the diesel engine has been detuned! Nevertheless, its price still makes the X1 one of BMW’s most affordable models in India right now, alongside the 2 Series Gran Coupe. 

Suzuki’s EV Plans Revealed

Maruti’s parent company Suzuki unveiled its plans for electrification in major global markets including India. Although the carmaker doesn’t currently offer any EVs in the country, it plans to bring its first EV by 2025, with a total of six models in the pipeline until 2030.

We’ve detailed Maruti Suzuki’s EV strategy in the following stories: 

• Maruti Suzuki Fronx EV In The Works, Expected To Launch Post 2025

• All-electric Suzuki Jimny EV In The Works, Confirmed For European Market

Toyota Innova Crysta Reintroduced

After a short hiatus, the beloved Innova Crysta has been unveiled with a facelift and a diesel powertrain. It’ll get a single engine option: the 150PS 2.4-litre diesel unit offered previously, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The features list is intact, with equipment such as an eight-inch infotainment screen, ambient lighting, powered driver’s seat and keyless entry. 

Mahindra XUV400 EV Bookings Opened 

Mahindra opened the order books for its first electric SUV on January 26. The XUV400 EV’s prices are already out for its EC and EL variants, equipped with two battery pack options offering up to 357km and 456km of range (MIDC), respectively. 

• Mahindra Scorpio N Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 75,000, Now Starts From Rs 12.74 Lakh

Skoda Kushaq Xpedition Edition spied 

A spy sighting from a dealership event showcases the Kushaq in a rugged new avatar badged the ‘Xpedition Edition.’ It gets bespoke decals on the sides and fenders, a luggage rack with LED auxiliary lights and blacked-out exterior trim bits.

Other interesting stuff from last week: 

• Maruti Jimny As The Next Indian Army Vehicle?

• Ratan Tata Very Positive About New Sierra Concept: Martin Uhlarik

• New-generation Hyundai Verna To Get A Bigger 1.5-litre Turbo-petrol Engine, To Rival VW Virtus GT And Skoda Slavia 1.5-litre TSI

• Citroen eC3 Electric Hatchback 0-100kmph Real-world Acceleration Time Revealed

• Maruti Fronx vs Brezza vs Kia Sonet vs Tata Nexon vs Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300: Dimensions, Features, And Powertrain Specifications Compared