Top 5 Car News Of The Week: Tata Altroz And MG ZS EV Unveil; Jaguar XE, Mercedes GLC Launch, and Skoda’s Future Plans

Over the last few days, we got our first official look at the hotly-anticipated Tata Altroz hatchback and MG’s all-electric ZS EV. A few segments above, we saw Mercedes launch the facelifted GLC while Jaguar introduced the new XE sedan. And to top it all off, we’ve brought you exclusive details about Skoda’s lineup for the Aut Expo as well as its future plans for India. Here’s what caught our attention the most.

The Altroz Is Finally Here!

Tata pulled the wraps off its first-ever premium hatchback, the Altriz, ahead of its launch in January 2020. Powering the Polo-rival will be two BS6-compliant powertrains - a 1.2-litre petrol engine (85PS/114Nm) and a 1.5-litre diesel (90PS/200Nm). Some standout features include ambient lighting, a 6-speaker Harman sound system, cruise control, and automatic headlamps and wipers. When launched, it will take on some of the most popular hatchbacks in the country like the Hyundai Elite i20, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Toyota Glanza.

All-Electric MG ZS EV Unveiled

MG’s second offering for the Indian market, the  all-electric ZS EV, was unveiled this week. It packs an IP67 rated 44.5kWh battery pack that powers an electric motor capable of producing 143PS of power and 353Nm of torque. The result of all this is a 0-100kmph time of 8.5 seconds. The SUV also supports fast charging, enabling it to charge up from 0-80 per cent in under an hour. In tune with the Hector, the ZS EV also gets features such as i-SMART connected car technology, a PM 2.5 AC filter, panoramic sunroof, auto headlamps and wipers, and heated ORVMs. 

Jaguar Drives In the 2019 XE

Jaguar’s answer to the BMW 3 Series, the 2019 XE, was launched with a sticker price of Rs 44.98 Lakh. It features revised styling, new features and two BS6-complaint powertrain options. The D180 variant is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel that makes 180PS and 430Nm while the P250 petrol  uses a 2.0-litre motor good enough for 247PS and 365Nm. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.2-inch infotainment system are the major highlights inside the cabin. 

Mercedes-Benz GLC Launched

Mercedes launched the facelifted GLC with prices starting from Rs 52.75 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India). It now comes with BS6-compliant powertrain options. The 2.0-litre diesel develops  197PS/400Nm of torque while the 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 200PS/320Nm. Both engines come mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The new engine options and the cosmetic changes now demand a premium of Rs 63,000 to Rs 1.32 lakh over the previous model.

Skoda’s Future Plans For India

Skoda took the spotlight this week by revealing the brand’s roadmap for 2020. The Czhech carmaker has confirmed its lineup for the upcoming Auto Expo. These include the Rapid with a BS6 heart, the go-faster Octavia RS245, the facelifted Superb, Karoq and a new Kamiq-based Creta-rival. Furthermore, Skoda also informed us about it’s plans to discontinue the Octavia by April 2020. The flagship Kodiaq SUV is all set to receive a new petrol heart while the existing diesel motor is also likely to get the boot come April 2020. It doesn't stop there as we also found out that the 2020 Skoda Superb will only be offered with a BS6 petrol heart.

Bonus 

Mahindra XUV300 Is The First BS6-Compliant Sub-4m SUV In India

Mahindra has updated the 1.2-litre turbo petrol in the XUV300 to meet the upcoming BS6 emission norms. With this engine in place, the XUV300 becomes the first sub-compact SUV to feature a BS6-compliant engine. The updated SUV now carries a premium of Rs 20,000 over its BS4 counterpart.