7 car launches for October 2015 - IAB Picks

The month of October will have at least 7 car launches, spread throughout affordable hatchbacks, hot-hatches and MPVs, to performance SUVs, luxury SUVs and even mid-size SUVs. Below is a list of cars confirmed to launch in India this month:

1. BMW X5M and BMW X6M:

BMW India have confirmed the launches of the X5M and the X6M for October 15. These SUVs will be powered by the 4.4-liter V8 TwinPower Turbo engine developing 575 hp and 750 Nm of torque. Both SUVs will do the run from 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and hit a top-speed of 250 km/h.

2. Fiat Abarth Punto:

With a 0-100 km/h time of 8.8 seconds, the Abarth Punto will be the quickest non-luxury hatchback in India, when it goes on sale this month. Dealers of FCA India have started accepting bookings for the Abarth Punto for INR 50,000. Initial demo and display units have also started making their way into showrooms ahead of launch.

3. Chevrolet Trailblazer:

GM India has confirmed that the Trailblazer will be launched in October. Powered by a 2.8-liter Duramax DOHC diesel engine capable of 200 hp and 500 Nm of torque, the Trailblazer for the Indian market will likely be offered only in 2WD with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

4. Maruti Ertiga facelift:

According to reports, the Maruti Ertiga facelift will be introduced on October 10. Apart from several cosmetic changes, the Ertiga facelift for India also gets a driver airbag as standard, whereas dual front airbags are offered from the L (O) variant onwards. The Ertiga facelift is also expected with the SHVS micro-hybrid system.

5. Maruti Baleno:

Perhaps the most important car to launch this month, the Baleno is Maruti's answer to the premium hatchback segment composed of the Honda Jazz, VW Polo and the Hyundai Elite i20. The Baleno is expected to launch with a 1.2-liter K-Series petrol paired to a CVT and a 1.3-liter DDiS with the mild-hybrid SHVS technology.

6. Mercedes GLE:

Mercedes-Benz India will launch the GLE, the facelifted M Class, on October 14. While the GLE comes with a host of cosmetic revisions, inside and outside, the highlight of the launch is the debut of Mercedes's 9-speed 9G-TRONIC gearbox in India. Internationally, this gearbox made its debut on the E Class at the 2013 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show.