By As we enter the penultimate month of 2022 (ALREADY!), here is a list of car launches to look forward to
November 2022 has just shown up on our calendars. While the previous month was full of festivities, November doesn’t have any of it and it’s going to be one long month with relatively fewer holidays. But, that’s no reason to sulk as November will bring with it some of the most anticipated launches of the year. Let’s look up some of those.
MG Hector Facelift
MG Motors India teased the facelifted MG Hector a while back, while also revealing pictures of the interiors. The updated Hector will get minor styling changes on the exterior. The interior will also be spruced up with a new layout for the dashboard, an updated infotainment system with a large, Tesla-style display, new i-Smart features, and more. More importantly, the facelifted Hector will get ADAS capabilities which will include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, etc. Word is out though, that the facelifted Hector will not get a diesel-automatic variant which we think might hurt the sales a bit. However, MG Motors recently revealed a Hybrid powertrain for the Hector for foreign markets. Should MG Motors India launch the Hybrid in India, it might compensate for the lack of the diesel-automatic variant. We expect the MG Hector facelift to launch by the end of the month, with prices starting at the Rs. 15 lakh mark.
Toyota Innova HyCross
The All New Toyota Innova HyCross will be evolutionary for not just the Innova, but Toyota as a brand as well. For starters, The Innova will feature a monocoque chassis for the first time ever. Secondly, it will be front wheel drive for the first time ever. While Toyota India says that the Innova Crysta will be on sale alongside the HyCross, it will be available only with the 2.7-liter petrol engine. The Diesel-powered Crysta will be relegated to fleet sales only. The Innova HyCross will get a long list of modern features which the Crysta lacked. Toyota is also giving the HyCross ADAS capabilities, as teased very recently by the automaker. We can also confirm that the Innova HyCross will get a sunroof, courtesy of a leaked 3D exterior design model picture. It will be powered by a 2.0 liter petrol engine paired with a strong hybrid system similar to the one in the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Toyota India will unveil the Toyota Innova HyCross on 25th November, while the launch will take place at the 2023 Auto Expo, Delhi.
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee was first launched in India in 2016. It is a luxury SUV with strong offroading abilities. However, it couldn’t rack up the sales numbers in Indian market like it does in other markets like North America and European market. That was because it fell short on the luxury quotient as compared to its rivals, the Mercedes Benz GLE, Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Volvo XC90. That however will be addressed by the new Jeep GC, which has upped the luxury quotient in its new generation. However, true to its Jeep DNA, it will also be more capable offroad, than its predecessor. Word is around that the Jeep GC will not offer a diesel engine option, unlike its predecessor that offered both a diesel as well as petrol variant. The only engine option available will be a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired with a mild hybrid system. Jeep will launch the Grand Cherokee on 11th of November. We expect a competitive Rs.65 lakh starting price due to heavily localized production of the SUV.
BYD Atto 3
Chinese EV maker BYD showcased the BYD Atto 3 midsize SUV last month, and will be launching it in India this month. The Atto 3 will rival the MG ZS EV, and the Tata Nexon EV Max It gets a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, developing 204hp and 310Nm of torque. We expect the prices to start around the Rs. 25 lakh mark.
