Here’re The Best Speed Demons That India Got In 2021

Sure, performance models may not set the market on fire, but it's every car enthusiast’s dream to have a fire breathing machine in their garage. And 2021 saw a plethora of speed demons being launched in India, which left enthusiasts spoilt for choice. We even got V10s, V8s, V6s, and even electric speed demons. 

Here’s ten performance machines that caught our eye this year:

Lamborghini Huracan STO

Price: Rs 4.99 crore (ex-showroom, India) 

Those hoping for a Lamborghini Huracan that is more racy while still being road legal, the Sant'Agata Bolognese carmaker answered our prayers with the Huracan STO. Based on the Huracan GT3 EVO, and Huracan Super Trofeo (ST) EVO race cars, it gets a specially tuned 5-litre V10 engine, pushing 640PS and 565Nm. Paired with a 7-speed DCT and rear wheel drive it can hit 0-100kmph in just 3 seconds, with a top speed of 310kmph. It also boasts an aggressive body kit with most of it being carbon fibre to save weight. Of course, these upgrades make it the most expensive Huracan on sale.

Ferrari Roma

Price: Rs 3.76 crore (ex-showroom, India)

The folks from Maranello unleashed one of its newest prancing horses in India with Roma. It features Ferrari’s latest sleek, but drop dead gorgeous design language, and a fairly digital cabin for Ferrari standards. But the highlight has got to be under the hood, with a mid-mounted 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 delivering 612PS and 760Nm. Paired with the SF90’s 8-speed DCT gearbox and a rear wheel drivetrain, it can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 3.4 seconds and top out at 320kmph.

Porsche Taycan

Price: Rs 1.5 crore and above (ex-showroom) 

It’s the most recent performance EV to go on sale in the country, and Porsche's first ever electric vehicle. Sure, it's got certain similarities with the e-tron (which we’ll be talking about soon), but what’s eye-catching is under the hood. In the top-spec Turbo S, it can push 761PS of grunt, and hit 0-100kmph in just 2.8 seconds.

Audi e-tron GT

Price: Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2.05 crore (ex-showroom, India)

The first performance electric vehicle launched in India, Audi’s second electric vehicle, the e-tron GT comes with a sleek, Porsche Taycan-like silhouette, and a lavish cabin with loads of digital bits. But the X-factor lies under the skin with an all-wheel drive electric powertrain pushing 476PS of power. If that’s not enough, there’s a spicier RS trim delivering 598PS. The 0-100kmph sprint is achieved in 4.1 seconds (e-tron GT) and 3.3 seconds (RS e-tron GT), with top speeds up to 250kmph. It also has a range of up to 500km on a single charge.

Facelifted Mini JCW

Price:  Rs 45.5 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

Mini’s hottest hatch, the John Cooper Works received a midlife refresh just like its standard counterparts, the 3-door and Convertible. It comes with a fresh face and more tech inside. Powering the hot hatch is a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine, making 231PS and 320Nm. Paired to an 8-speed automatic, it can reach 100kmph from a standstill in 6.1 seconds.

Facelifted Audi RS5

Price:  Rs 1.05 crore (ex-showroom, India)

Audi gave the RS5 a midlife refresh, and has made it more practical by offering it as a four-door Sportback rather than a two-door coupe. That hasn’t hampered the RS5’s looks, in fact it looks meaner than before with bolder lighting, a wider grille, and aggressive bumpers. The cabin remains largely the same aside from a new 10.1-inch MMI infotainment system. Its 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 engine also remains as is, developing 450PS and 600Nm, with an 8-speed automatic gearbox driving power to all four wheels. The 0-100kmph sprint is achieved in 3.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. 

Mercedes-AMG A45 S Hatchback

Price: Rs 79.50 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

There couldn’t have been a better way to bring back the A-Class hatchback in a more firecracker way than the Mercedes-AMG A45S. The party trick is under the hood with M139 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 421PS and 500Nm, to make it the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production vehicle. Combine this with a 8-speed dual-clutch automatic and 4Matic+ AWD, the hot hatch zips to 100kmph in 3.9 seconds, and can hit a top speed of 270kmph. It’s also got a host of AMG-specific performance wizardry including a variety of drive modes. It’s quite evident we had fun with this hatch at the NATRAX. 

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63S Coupe

Price: Rs 2.07 crore (ex-showroom, India)

As if the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe wasn’t enough, the carmaker unleashed the more hardcore GLE 63S Coupe. Sure you’ll have to shell out a lot more, but you get a beefy 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine making 612PS and 850Nm. It’s also the first V8-powered AMG in India to get a 48V mild-hybrid system. Teamed up with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the SUV does the 0-100kmph sprint in just 3.8 seconds, and hits a top speed of 280kmph.

Mercedes-AMG A Class Limousine A35

Price : Rs 57.48 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

 

When Mercedes-Benz launched its latest entry-level sedan, the A-Class Limousine, it also came in a spicy AMG A35 trim. The racier A-Class Limousine utilises a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 306PS power and 400Nm torque. Mated to a 7-speed DCT (distributing power to all four wheels), the sedan can go from 0-100kmph in 4.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 250kmph.

Facelifted BMW M5 Competition

Price: Rs 1.68 crore (ex-showroom, India)

Like was the case with the standard facelifted BMW 5 Series sedan, its sportier sibling, the M5 Competition also got a midlife refresh. While the updates are largely similar to its standard sibling, to make it more ‘M’, the M5 gets special wheels, as well as blacked out accents on the kidney grille, ORVMs and the rear spoiler. The cabin remains similar other than M-themed seats, seat belts, footrest , pedals, and leather steering wheel. 

It remains mechanically unchanged under the hood, utilising a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, pushing 625PS and 750Nm. Paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and the xDrive all wheel drivetrain, it can reach 100kmph from a standstill in just 3.3 seconds. It also gets a retuned chassis, M-specific suspension, new shock absorbers, an active M differential, track mode, better driving dynamics, and bespoke engine mounting.

With all these speed demons arriving in India, which one was your favorite pick? Drop a comment down below.