Top Car News Of The Week: India’s Electric Future Comes Into Focus

The past week saw some important launches from Volkswagen and Kia, but the highlight was a concept electric vehicle (EV) from Tata Motors breaking cover. We also interviewed the Managing Director of Tata Motors and Tata Electric Mobility to gain a better insight into the carmaker’s EV plans. 

For all the details and information you may have missed out on last week, here’s a low-down of all our most important news stories: 

Tata Curvv Concept Electric SUV Revealed: 

The Tata Curvv concept vehicle was unveiled this week as a preview of the carmaker’s upcoming 2024 electric SUV. It’s a coupe-SUV that features Tata’s new minimalistic design language. It has uniquely designed interiors and is expected to promise a range of 400-500km. We also got a chance to interview Shailesh Chandra, the Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, about the carmaker’s prospects for electric vehicles in India.

For the sake of brevity, here’s a list of links to all our stories from last week about the Curvv concept EV from Tata: 

• Tata Motors Will Launch Atleast Two New EVs Based On Existing ICE Cars Ahead Of Production-spec Curvv: Shailesh Chandra 

• Tata Curvv Generation 2 Platform Will Support Multiple Electric And ICE Powertrains: Shailesh Chandra

• Tata’s Next 4WD Model Likely To Be An EV: Shailesh Chandra

• Tata Will Introduce Smaller EVs In The Future But Will Not Offer Under 200km Of Range: Shailesh Chandra

Volkswagen Polo Legend Edition Launched: 

The VW Polo has been an enthusiast’s favourite for over a decade since it was introduced in India back in 2009. VW launched the Polo Legend Edition earlier this week as a limited-run, final iteration of the hatchback in the country. Later in the week, the carmaker announced that the fifth-generation Polo’s production has been stopped. 

Kia Seltos and Sonet Refreshed For 2022: 

Korean carmaker Kia has bolstered the safety features of its lower-spec Seltos and Sonet SUVs. Each of the two SUVs has also received a variant rejig, new colours, and updates to the equipment list. You can find out all about the changes in the 2022 Kia SUVs here. 

BMW i4 Gets An Unveiling Date: 

The BMW i4 is all set to make its debut in India later in April. It’s the third all-electric vehicle from the carmaker after the iX SUV and Mini Cooper SE hatchback. Although it’s likely to be a pricey EV, it’ll open up a new market niche for electric vehicles in India – electric luxury sedans. 

Honda City Hybrid Bookings Begin: 

The Honda City hybrid will be launched as the first properly electrified model from the Japanese carmaker in India. The City hybrid has a self-charging, strong hybrid powertrain with a 109PS electric motor. You can book the hybrid sedan now, and it’ll even be capable of driving around as a pure EV for short distances. 

Tata Nexon EV Launch Around The Corner: 

The Tata Nexon EV will soon get a bump in range figures from a new, larger-capacity battery pack. We also expect the Nexon EV to be updated with new features such as ventilated seats, rear disc brakes, auto-dimming IRVMs cruise control and more. 

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Teased: 

You can already book the 2022 Maruti Ertiga MPV on the carmaker’s website or at a dealership. It’s expected to get a few more features over the outgoing model, but more importantly, it’s expected to be powered by a new engine. Maruti’s new, more efficient K15C petrol engine is likely to make its debut in the country with the facelifted Ertiga. 

International Updates: 

After a three-year hiatus, the Geneva Motor Show (GIMS) is coming back next year in February! In China, the automotive giant BYD has stopped producing ICE vehicles in favour of plug-in hybrids and fully electric models. Meanwhile, American carmaker General Motors and Honda have announced that they’ll co-develop a new shared all-electric platform for future EVs.