5 Car And SUV Launches Of October 2024: Nissan Magnite Facelift To All-New Kia Carnival
October is here, marking the start of the country’s biggest festive season. This is the month when the most automotive retails happen in India. To cash in on the same, manufacturers like Nissan, BYD, Kia and Mercedes Benz have important products lined up for launch this month. Let’s delve into the details:
Kia Carnival
Launch Date: Oct 3
Kia India will host an event on October 3, 2024. Two products will be launched then, one of which is the new Carnival MPV. It was showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo.
The new Carnival (KA4) will have significant upgrades over the previous model that was on sale here. It will be larger, and better-looking than than the previous model, with SUV-like styling. It will come with a new front grille, L-shaped DRLs, vertically stacked LED headlights, connected LED taillights, and redesigned bumpers.
There will be more room on the inside and the cabin will witness major restyling. It will use more upmarket trims and feature more equipment. Dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, a head-up display (HUD), a 360-degree camera, and level 2 ADAS are expected.
The new Carnival will be based on the new N3 platform. There will be no changes to the powertrains though. It will continue with the 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine. The anticipated power output is 200 hp and 440 Nm. The new MPV will be available as CKD units and could be priced around 40 lakh. Bookings are open and 15,00 confirmed bookings were posted on the first day itself. (A total of 1822 pre-orders were received.)
Kia EV9
Launch Date: Oct 3
The second launch of October 3rd will be the flagship electric vehicle EV9. Packing luxury and technology, the EV9 will be Kia’s second BEV model in India. Key highlights of the exterior include sportier bumpers, 21-inch GT-line wheels, and multiple GT-line badges.
On the inside, the EV will get all-electric seats with a lounge function for the second row, multi-zone climate control, auto parking, connected car technology, ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, and Level 2 ADAS. There will be an extensive focus on sustainability.
It will likely have a 100kWh battery pack and dual electric motors that generate 379 bhp and 700 Nm. The vehicle is expected to offer up to 445 km in range. 0-100 kmph sprint will be done in just 5.3 seconds, and the EV will have a top speed of 200 kph. Brought to India as CBU, the EV9 is expected to have its price in the range of Rs. 1-1.2 crore.
Nissan Magnite Facelift
Launch Date: Oct 4
Nissan will launch the facelifted Magnite on October 4th. Deliveries are known to start the very next day. The new Magnite will have notable restyling on both the exterior and interior. It will get more features as well.
The exterior will likely get new 6-spoke dual-spoke wheels, new front bumpers with skid plates, a new, larger grille with better attention to detail, better headlamps, L-shaped DRLs, slightly tweaked tailgate, and tail lamps with new LED elements inside.
The cabin will get major restyling and new colours. It will use more upmarket trims and finishes. Feature additions expected on the facelift are a larger touchscreen, wireless Carplay and Android Auto, a digital driver’s display, automatic climate control, ventilated seats, a premium audio system and wireless phone charging. A single-pane sunroof could also be offered on higher variants.
The engine options are likely to remain unchanged. The same 1.0 NA and 1.0 Turbo petrol engines could be carried over to the facelift as well. It remains to be seen if Nissan would offer these in different states of tune, compared to the outgoing model. Prices of the facelift could be slightly more than those of the pre-facelift SUV.
BYD EMax 7
Launch Date: Oct 8th
BYD is set to replace its popular EV- the E6 in India, with a new model. It will be called the EMax 7. Bookings are open and the market launch is set to happen on October 08, 2024. The EMax 7 will be more premium than the E6 and will appeal more to the personal buyer, unlike the E6 which is popular in the fleet segment.
The BYD Emax7 will have slight design deviations from the E6. It will have both six and seven-seater configurations, unlike the E6 which is a five-seater. The cabin will have more features and tech. Leatherette upholstery, a large 12.8-inch rotating infotainment screen, a large panoramic sunroof, premium-looking switchgear, soft-touch materials and trims, ADAS, etc are to be expected.
The EV has two battery packs available in international markets- a 55.4kWh with 420 km range and a 71.8kWh with 530 km range. The larger of these could come to India. The powertrain will likely produce 204 hp and 310 Nm. When launched, the EMax 7 could have its price in the Rs 30-33 lakh range.
New Mercedes Benz E Class
Launch Date: Oct 9th
Mercedes Benz will launch the eighth generation of E Class sedan in India, this month. The product has been of supreme importance to the manufacturer and rivals the BMW 5 series in the Indian market. The E-Class is in its LWB avatar in India, and the new car is expected to get even longer.
It will have a sleeker, more handsome design. The exterior will do with just minor tweaks compared to the current model. The cabin will see a complete overhaul. It will be roomier and come with tech like a 14.4-inch infotainment system, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a separate 12.3-inch display for the front passenger, a four-zone climate control system, powered front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a 17-speaker Burmester 4D sound system.
The new E Class will be powered by mild hybrid versions of the 2-litre turbo-petrol and a 2-litre diesel engines. The launch will happen on October 9th.
Happy Car Shopping
It is interesting to note that all these launches are in the first half of October. If, you are planning to buy any of these vehicles this month, take note of these days and have a great car shopping!