Top 5 Car News Of The Week: VW Polo And Vento Facelift Launched; Vitara Brezza Petrol, Porsche Taycan Debut, And More

The last seven days have carried on from where we left off when it comes to launches. Volvo has finally brought the three-seater XC90 Excellence Lounge Console to Indian shores while Volkswagen has launched refreshed versions of its much loved duo, the Polo and the Vento. To top off the list of launches this week, Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan finally made its global debut. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki dropped hints about its alternative to diesel engines. And finally, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India revealed important details on the fate of petrol and diesel vehicles in the country. 

Volvo Unleashes Its 3-Seater Barge In India

Volvo has finally launched the XC90 Excellence Lounge Console in India. As the name suggests, it is a three-seater version of the XC90 Excellence. To make it a three-seater, Volvo has ditched the front passenger seat for a 17-inch touchscreen display that can also be used as a table or footrest. Other tweaks include include ventilated massaging couch-like seats and a refrigerator complete with a bottle and glass holders. Powering the luxurious barge is the T8 Twin-Engine motor that’s good for 407PS and 640Nm of peak torque. Head here to know more about the premiums it carries over the XC90 Excellence.

Volkswagen Polo, Vento Receive Yet Another Facelift

After a long wait, Volkswagen has updated the 10-year old Polo hatchback and the Vento sedan yet again. The two models now get a VW GTI inspired bumpers at the front and rear. The tail lamps also get the GTI treatment while the interiors remain the same. Meanwhile, the engine options have been carried forward as it is. Both the Polo and Vento carry a slight premium over the existing versions. Head here to know their new prices.

Petrol And Diesel Vehicles Unlikely To Be Discontinued Anytime Soon  

At the recent 59th SIAM Annual Conference held in New Delhi on September 5, Indian automotive manufacturers had an opportunity to express their concerns and recommendations to the government. Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, also made some interesting announcements and has confirmed that petrol and diesel vehicles are unlikely to be phased out anytime soon. The minister also gave suggestions to manufacturers with recent struggles in acquiring loans. A variety of recommendations were also revealed to the Indian government to counter the current slowdown. To know more about these suggestions, head here.

Vitara Brezza Petrol Coming By December 

With Maruti Suzuki set to phase out diesel once BS6 emissions norms take effect in 2020, the carmaker has been prepping a petrol variant for the Vitara Brezza. And now, we know that it is coming in December 2019. But which engine could be plonked into the Brezza? Choices could include the 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre motors from the Baleno or even the 1.5-litre unit from the Ertiga. Aside from that, Maruti Suzuki is also planning on expanding its CNG lineup to include its entire sub-4 metre range. Currently, eight models get CNG options, and with this announcement, the Swift, Baleno, Ignis, Vitara Brezza as well as the upcoming S-Presso could be in line to get a CNG variant. Head here to know more about Maruti’s potential alternatives post the phase out of diesel engines.

Porsche Debuts Electrifying Taycan

After a long waiting period, Porsche has finally joined the EV party with the global debut of the all-electric Taycan. The new EV is offered in two variants with two different power trims, making use of a 93.4kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack. Power isn’t the only thing that makes the Taycan stand out. In fact, it features slippery aerodynamics as well as being a tech-laden sedan with multiple screens, including a curved screen for the instrument cluster. To know more about how much the India-bound EV costs and by when it could arrive in the country, head here.