New Cars for 2015: Sportscars

  • Jan 8, 2015
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We take a look at some of the sportscars, supercars and sports saloons that will make their way to India in 2015.

Nissan GTR

Nissan GTR

Expected Price: Rs 1.0-1.5 crore

Expected time of Launch: Mid 2015

Finally, Nissan is slated to officially bring the haloed GT-R to India in 2014. Although there are already several Nissan GT-Rs in India already, Nissan has never officially given service support for one, which has been a deterrent for several prospective owners. The Nissan GT-R, one of the fastest cars in the world comes with a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 engine, each of which is hand-crafted by its own master technician in a clean-room environment. The V6 engine makes 553PS of peak power at 6400rpm and 628Nm of peak torque at 3200-5800rpm.

The GT-R comes equipped with all-wheel-drive giving it a staggering sub-3 second 0-100Kmph time. The GT-R is also a favourite amongst tuners, many of which have managed to easily tune a GT-R to over 1000PS of peak power with a few going further to achieve figures in the region of over 1500PS from the standard V6 block. The availability of the Nissan GT-R though an official route in India will be essential in the development of the high-end tuner scene which has been generally absent in India.

Audi S3

Audi S3

Expected Price: Rs 60-65 lakh

Expected Time of Launch: Mid 2015

After bringing in the Audi A3 sedan and the A3 cabriolet, the next car from the family to follow will be the hot S3 sports saloon. The Audi S3 will feature a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI engine capable of 300PS power and 380Nm torque, up by 115PS and 130Nm from the most powerful front-wheel-drive Audi A3. The motor comes mated to a six-speed S Tronic transmission delivering power to all four wheels.

Setting the Audi S3 Cabriolet apart from the regular models are aluminium-finish ORVM housings and bi-xenon headlights. Besides it gets a pair of muscular bumpers, a platinum grey finish for the grille, new 19-inch alloys wheels and a 25mm lower sports suspension. The interiors get special treatment as well, with fine Nappa leather and brush metal trim, complete with a sporty flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, special instrument cluster and an integrated boost gauge for the rev counter. Adding to the exclusivity, the Audi S3 gets the ‘S’ logos embossed onto the leather draped front seats finished with contrasting silver stitches.

Audi SQ5

Audi SQ5

Estimated price: Rs 70 lakh

Estimated time of launch: Mid 2015

The Audi Q5 has been available in India for about five years now and has always taken a back seat to the likes of the Q7 and more recently, the Q3. Now though, Audi is about to add some serious power to the Q5’s range with the new SQ5. The SQ5 is the range topping version of the Q5 and is not to be confused with the base model Q3 S version.

The SQ5 internationally comes with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine and a 3.0-litre TFSI petrol engine. Considering our bias for diesels, we think the former will be more popular in India. The Audi SQ5 develops 317 PS of power and an insane 650Nm of torque, that’s more than 70 PS of power over the ‘standard’ Q5 3.0 TDI. Increasing cooling of the cylinder heads and changing the control times of the intake camshafts have achieved this and pistons have been adapted for the higher performance.  These few tricks to the engine help the SQ5 reach a blisteringly quick time of 5.1 seconds to the 100 mark from standstill and a top speed of 250kmph. The SQ5 rides 30mm lower than the Q5 and also has stiffer springs and dampers. It comes fitted with 255/45 tires fitted to 20-inch wheels. The SQ5’s 3.0-litre TDI engine comes mated to the 8-speed tiptronic gearbox to pass all that power to the wheels.

BMW i8
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BMW i8

Expected Price: Rs 2 crore

Expected time of Launch: Early 2015

The i8 will be launched as a CBU and will come in limited numbers due to acute shortage of the sportscar globally so expect BMW to charge a premium for their new halo product. The i8 is a hybrid sportscar that looks futuristic every way you look at it. Low slung with scoops and forms unlike any sportscar you have seen before, the i8 demands attention even when stationary. The hybrid powertrain of the i8 comprises of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol motor and an electric motor that work individually or in tandem to either save the earth or catapult you forward in typical sportscar manner.

The petrol motor is a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged unit developing a colossal 231PS of power and 320Nm of torque. The electric motor adds another 131PS and 250Nm to the i8 giving it a combined output of 362PS and 570Nm. The i8 is built largely out of carbon fibre and that means despite a large battery pack and a engine, the car weighs just 1490kg, and it has a very low centre of gravity. Official BMW figures state that the i8 can do the 0-100kmph sprint in just 4.4 seconds and it has a limited top speed of 250kmph.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

Expected Price: Rs 1.5 crore

Expected Time of Launch: Mid 2015

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class isn’t really a sports car, but its incredibly beautiful two door coupe body and stance makes it as desirable as anything else on this list. Expect the coupe to be available with only the 500-spec V8 engine with the AMG following later in the year.

Replacing the CL-coupe, the S-class Coupé is 5,027mm long, 1,899mm wide with a height of 1,411mm and wheelbase of 2,945 mm. It has narrow rear windows that flow into a set of narrow rear arches. The LED tail-lights are wrapped around the boot and wings of the car. The S-class Coupé gets the same 3D pin grille, and a large badge that is flaunted by the A-Class models. A standard panoramic glass roof covers two-thirds of the entire roof, and can dim at the push of a button with magic sky control technology, which the car comes equipped with.

The interior of the S-class Coupé maintains many of the same design elements and features of the S-class Sedan. The S-class Coupé gets a three-spoke steering wheel with a large centre. The new car gets two LCD screens, which stretches across the dashboard, and displays infotainment and navigation along with instrument panels and electronic gauges. Customers can opt for a seat comfort package, where the front seats feature the energising massage function based on the hot-stone principal.

 

Mercedes AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Expected Price: Rs 2.0 crore

Expected Time of Launch: Mid 2015

The Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT is the replacement for the SLS AMG. The SLS has been highly popular in India due to its brilliant engine and of course, the way it looks. The AMG GT is set to take the supercar game from AMG to the next level and will be available in India in very limited numbers sometime mid 2015 onwards.

The company has developed a new 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 that sits behind the front axle and sends power to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with a locking differential. AMG has said in the past that the V8 will and always has been their mainstay and this engine is their latest that will make it to most future AMG models. This V8 will be offered with two power outputs – a 510PS version with 650Nm of torque in the AMG GT S and a 462PS/600Nm version for the GT.

AMG says the GT can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 3.7 seconds with a limited top speed of 304kmph and the GT S has a 3.7 second sprint time with a 310kmph limited top speed. The AMG GT gets an aluminium space frame with independent double-wishbone suspension all round and the range topping GT S gets adjustable damping as standard. Dry sump lubrication, ceramic brakes, forged wheels, dynamically adjusting engine and transmission mounts further make the AMG GT track worthy. The AMG GT will take on the Jaguar F-type and the Porsche 911.

Mahindra Reva Halo

Mahindra Reva Halo

Expected Price: Rs 10-12 lakh

Expected Time of Launch: Late 2015

Mahindra Reva unveiled the Halo at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo to a rather warm response from both journalists and the general public. The Halo is essentially a small electric sportscar that could finally answer the prayers of people wanting a small cheap weekend sportscar in India. It is sleek, sits low, has two doors, two seats, large wheels and an all-electric powertrain.

It car do the 0-100kph sprint in 9 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 kmph claims Mahindra. Agreed it isn’t technically sportscar quick but why wouldn’t you want a car that looks as good as the Halo, is decently quick and potentially more efficient than the conventional hatchback. It also has a bigger range than the e2o hatchback. The Halo will be available with two range options – one will have between 100 to 150km and the top-end model will have a range of 200km. Expect the Halo to be priced at about Rs 10-12 lakh and come jammed packed with the latest connectivity based technology.

DC Avanti

DC Avanti

Expected Price: Rs 30-40 lakh

Expected Time of Launch: Mid 2015

We have seen the DC Avanti being tested on the Mumbai-Poona Expressway on and off for a few months now and having followed the car for a long stretch doing well over triple digit speeds, it does look quite promising. The DC Avanti will be a low volume sportscar that will eventually be priced around the Rs 30-40 lakh mark and will most probably feature a turbocharged 4-cylinder Ford Ecoboost engine making about 250PS of peak power.

Although we have seen the concept form of the Avanti twice now, the production version is said to be slightly more subdued and more in line with today’s supercar design philosophy. The DC Avanti will be India’s second sportscar, the ill-fated San Storm being the first, and will possibly open up a new avenue for Indian manufacturers to look at a cheap sub 20-lakh rupee sports car for the masses. Expect the DC Avanti to be officially revealed sometime mid-2015.


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