MT Bureau

The new Kia K5 is a fastback evolution of Kia’s global best-selling sedan, combining a striking new design with driver-focused interior, cutting-edge technologies, and new powertrain options. It will go on-sale in many markets during the first half of 2020.

Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “When we launched K5 in 2010, it marked the dawn of a new era for Kia, with a design which heralded a change in how the brand was perceived in markets globally. Now, two generations later, we believe the new K5 will do the same. With a fastback design, the new K5 is one of the sportiest cars that we have ever created. With its comprehensive range of cutting-edge technologies, revised engines and transmissions, and a luxurious new interior, it is also one of the most advanced. K5 will play a central role in strengthening Kia’s presence in the global sedan segment and represent Kia’s transformation into a creator of desirable, world-class cars.”

Exterior Design

K5 presents Kia’s next generation design direction and a new fastback sedan silhouette. It was designed in collaboration among its design studios in North America, Europe and Korea. 

The front of the car is characterized by an evolution of Kia’s ‘tiger nose’, integrating its LED headlamps into the grille, with a ‘heart beat’ daytime running light signature expressing the raised levels of emotion the car is meant to inspire. K5 features a more aggressive front, with the grille nestled beneath a subtle overhang on the hood’s leading edge, parenthesized by angular air curtains and a wider air intake in the lower half of the bumper.

In profile, the K5 displays a greater sense of muscularity, with the body narrowing slightly at the midpoint between wheel arches – inspired by the ‘coke bottle’ shape of the Stinger’s body. The shoulder line gradually rises, narrowing the glasshouse towards the rear of the car and giving the car a sportier, ‘lean-forward’ stance when viewed from the side.

The car also features a modern interpretation of the chrome window line that has historically adorned executive sedans. Topped by this flash of chrome, its rear also has a new lighting signature. The light units have a new LED daytime running light which spans the width of the rear deck.

The new K5 is available with a choice of 16, 17 and 18-inch machine-cut aluminium alloy wheel designs and a wide range of paint colours. K5 GT models will also be offered with a 19-inch wheel design, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, special ‘GT’ badges, and dual twin exhaust tips.

 The Interior

Elegant by design, and with a timeless, minimalist layout, the interior of the new K5 provides the driver and passengers a peaceful retreat in which to spend time. The futuristic driver-oriented interior of the new K5 is trimmed in a selection of tactile materials.  

The wide dashboard shape is characterized by the integration of Kia’s latest infotainment systems, showing the next-generation design language that the brand will adopt across other models in the future. The new car sports a wide infotainment display which is physically attached to the instrument cluster in front of the driver. In certain models, the optional 10.25-inch touchscreen sits alongside Kia’s new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 

Additional technologies are subtly integrated into the cabin of the K5, with an available Mood Lighting system, emitting soft ambient light from panels in the doors and crash pad, and wireless phone charging. K5 also features a powerful 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound audio system.

The cabin of the new K5’s can be upholstered in a wide range of single and two-tone colour schemes, with cloth, synthetic leather and leather options. The dashboard is finished in a series of metallic and wood-effect surfaces depending on vehicle specification.

Performance

The new K5 is available with a range of new ‘Smartstream’ powertrains from Kia, and – for the first time – a new all-wheel drive system available with certain engines. Its powertrain delivers greater confidence, better efficiency and more refinement in performance than ever. The new car remains front-wheel drive as standard.

The new K5 is available with a choice of gasoline engines. For customers in North America and Kia’s domestic Korean market, a new ‘Smartstream’ 1.6-liter T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine is available, featuring Kia’s new Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology. 

Other engine options include 2.0-liter MPI (multi-point injection) engine (152 ps, 192 Nm); 2.0-liter engine with continuously-variable valve lift (CVVL) technology (160 ps, 196 Nm); and 2.5-liter GDi engine (194 ps, 246 Nm). As with previous generations of K5, hybrid powertrain options will also be available.

All engines are paired as standard with six or eight-speed automatic transmissions, while the 2.5-liter T-GDi engines are also available with Kia’s new eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT). 

The new K5 offers a tailored driving experience thanks to its Drive Mode Select system, which enables drivers to adapt the car’s acceleration, steering and gear shift characteristics on the fly. ‘Smart’, ‘Comfort’, ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Custom’ modes allow drivers to alternately maximize fuel efficiency, refine the handling experience, or enhance the responses of their vehicle to driver inputs.

Technologies

The K5’s suite of advanced safety, connectivity and infotainment technologies make it one of the most high-tech, comprehensively-equipped cars in its class. Its voice recognition software allows drivers to use voice commands to control a range of features in the car, including climate control, electric windows, heating for the steering wheel, seats and rear glass, and the audio system. 

The cabin incorporates an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, incorporating audio-visual navigation, and Kia’s new 12.3-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster, providing crystal-clear information to the driver.

The new car is also available with an 8.0-inch head-up display, which projects driving information on to a small glass panel in the driver’s line of sight. The system displays alerts from the car’s numerous driver assistance technologies, details of vehicle speed, and turn-by-turn navigation instructions.

Safety

The new K5 has a range of passive and active safety and driver assist systems, protecting occupants and other road users on every journey. Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving.

Depending on market and vehicle specifications, the ADAS range in the new K5 includes Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) with Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-spot Collision-avoid Assist (BCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) or Navigation-based SCC (NSCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

Kia’s ‘Level 2’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls steering depending on the vehicles in front. LFA uses camera to monitor road markings to keep the K5 in the centre of its lane. In addition, the K5 features a Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist (RCCA).The new K5 is also the first Kia available with the company’s new Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), 

The K5 is fitted with up to nine airbags, as well as a suite of electronic vehicle safety systems. All K5 models are equipped as standard with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and Electronic Stability Control, helping drivers maintain control under braking and cornering. (MT)

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Stellantis-owned Jeep India has launched the Jeep Compass 85th Anniversary Edition, limited to 85 units at prices starting at INR 2.67 million (ex-showroom).

The anniversary edition incorporates visual updates to the exterior and interior of the vehicle platform. External changes include 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black alongside anniversary badging. The interior cabin features a black colour scheme paired with gold accents and contrast trim detailing.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head and Director of Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, "The Jeep Compass has always been central to the Jeep story in India, bringing the brand's legendary capability, design and authenticity to customers who expect more from their SUV. As Jeep celebrates 85 years globally, the Compass 85th Anniversary Edition gives this iconic nameplate a distinctive new expression. With exclusive anniversary-inspired styling, curated accessories and safety technologies, this special edition has been crafted for customers who seek a Compass that feels even more personal, intelligent and exclusive."

The vehicle is offered with optional accessory packages under the brand's personalisation options. These packages add functional and cabin features, including sunroof illumination, ambient lighting, a digital inner rear-view mirror and integrated front and rear dashcams. Bookings for the limited-run vehicle have opened across the company's dealership network and online sales platform.

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German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has opened its new sales facility in Lucknow in partnership with dealership operator T&T Motors. The outlet expands the company's network in Uttar Pradesh to 10 touchpoints across cities including Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi, contributing to a national presence of over 150 locations across more than 60 cities.

The new facility occupies 9,000 square feet, including over 5,000 square feet of carpet area and was completed in five months. The showroom accommodates four vehicle display bays, private and semi-private consultation zones, a lounge section for vehicle lines and a dedicated delivery bay. To support battery electric vehicles, the location incorporates a 180 kW DC fast charger with two charging bays, backed by a staff of 88 employees.

Brendon Sissing, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz continues to strengthen its luxury retail footprint across India, reflecting our ‘Go to Customer’ strategy. The inauguration of T&T Motors’ new facility in Lucknow marks yet another important milestone in bringing world-class luxury products, services and experiences closer to our customers. Uttar Pradesh remains an important emerging market for Mercedes-Benz, and the growing aspiration for luxury mobility in Lucknow presents strong growth potential for Mercedes-Benz. Through modern luxury infrastructure, personalised consultations, digital capabilities and EV readiness, we are elevating luxury retail experience for our discerning customers in the city.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled its first global pick up christened Lifestyler, which will be launched in India as the Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler. The vehicle will go on sale by April 2027 with prices starting below INR 1.97 million ex-showroom. 

First shown as a concept in Cape Town, South Africa, in August 2023, the pickup was designed at the Mahindra India Design Studio in Mumbai and developed at Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai. It is built on Mahindra’s next-generation body-on-frame architecture and is intended for both payload and lifestyle use. The company claims to have around 267 patents in terms of innovation for the Lifestyler.

Dr Velusamy R, President, Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “From the outset, our vision was to create a world-class global pickup that raises the bar for the segment while remaining true to Mahindra's strengths in authentic capability and value. The Scorpio Lifestyler is a testament to the strong product development capabilities at Mahindra Research Valley (MRV). Built on our advanced next-generation body-on-frame architecture, it has been engineered to deliver the capability, durability, safety and refinement demanded by customers around the world.”

Pratap Bose, Chief Design and Creative Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Scorpio Lifestyler is inspired by how our customers work, play and explore. Combining bold exterior design, plush interiors and SUV-like comfort with unmistakable Mahindra toughness, it brings style and refinement to every journey. This philosophy is reflected in the three editions showcased today: Valley celebrates purposeful refinement, Reef embodies freedom and exploration, and Trail captures the spirit of boundless adventure. Together, they express our vision of a pickup that celebrates individuality while remaining rooted in capability, authenticity and the freedom to explore without limits.”

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Scorpio Lifestyler represents the convergence of global engineering and evolving customer aspirations. As we prepare for its India launch, we see a growing appetite among customers for a vehicle that delivers authentic capability without compromising on technology, safety, comfort or everyday usability. We are investing in building awareness, strengthening our network and creating the right ownership experience for this category. We believe the Scorpio Lifestyler has the potential to redefine expectations and shape the future of the pickup segment in India.”

While the technical details are still under the wraps, the company showcased three editions - the Valley Edition finished in Artemis Grey, the Reef Edition uses an Aquareef finish and the Trail Edition finished in Sahara Beige.

The Mahindra Lifestyler is aimed at the midsize lifestyle pickup segment in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. It has been developed to meet requirements for capability, durability, safety, technology and everyday use across those markets.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, one of the leading automakers in the country, is charting a confident course for FY2027. The company is sees its multi-powertrain leadership, capacity flexibility and industry-outperformance ambitions to drive a strong H2 for fiscal 2027.

Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director and CEO, of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, struck a distinctly forward-looking tone in the company’s Q1 FY27 virtual conference, outlining a strategy built on sustained demand for alternative-energy vehicles, flexible manufacturing, product intensity and disciplined capital allocation even as the broader industry navigates inflationary and commodity headwinds.

He characterised the remainder of FY2027 as a period of continued outperformance relative to the passenger-vehicle industry. Tata Motors at 14.1 percent had already delivered growth roughly twice the industry average of 7.9 percent in FY2026 and a robust 45 percent in Q1 FY2027 as against the industry average of 25.9 percent.

The management expects this momentum to persist. Industry volumes are projected in the mid-double-digit range of 15-20 percent for the remainder of the year in some scenarios.

Tata Motors, on the other hand, is targeting sustained growth even if overall industry expansion moderates to single digits in the second half because of a high base effect from strong H2 FY2026 demand.

Inventory levels are meaningfully lower than a year earlier, creating scope for healthier retail offtake. Q2 is expected to be more challenging for the industry as a whole due to cost pressures, with the second half potentially tighter still for conventional passenger vehicles.

Chandra, however, intends to defend and expand market share through timely product refreshes, facelifts and new nameplates across both ICE and electric portfolios, while prioritising supply-side capacity increases. Waiting periods across the Tata Motors range currently stand at 4-6 weeks, reflecting healthy demand.

Hatchbacks continue to contribute around 15-20 percent of the mix, while SUVs remain the structural growth engine. Export plans include opening a significant new market next year, with a dual focus on ICE and EV products; recent export growth has been driven primarily by South Africa.

Alternative Energy Mix

The shift toward alternative powertrains is central to Chandra’s vision. Industry EV penetration has reached approximately 8 percent – the highest among passenger-vehicle markets – and is expected to climb toward 10 percent by end-FY2027.

Tata Motors’ own EV share of its portfolio has risen from around 38 percent and is targeted at upwards of 40 percent (for the remainder of the year), supported by strong customer acceptance. EV demand has jumped sharply (management noted a 3-4 times increase relative to February levels for the company), but supply remains the binding constraint rather than underlying demand. Chandra revealed that the strong demand for EVs versus supply-side constraints has led to waiting periods for EVs of around 4-6 weeks.

CNG demand is robust: industry CNG share stands near 22 percent, while Tata Motors’ mix is higher at around 27 percent. The outlook remains positive as the CNG station network expands from roughly 8,500 to 15,000-16,000 stations in the coming year. CAFÉ norms (particularly CAFÉ 3 and CAFÉ 4) will further accelerate the push toward alternative-energy vehicles; for OEMs with credible EV offerings, electrification is the most powerful compliance lever.

Sharing his perspective on hybrid technology, Chandra stated that its share in the overall PV segment has stabilised at a modest 2-2.5 percent share. Tata Motors remains ready to introduce hybrids if market conditions warrant, but current emphasis is clearly on CNG and pure electric.

In Q1 the combined CNG-plus-electric mix rose from 19-21 percent to 24 percent. Management is optimistic that EV volumes for the company could grow 70 percent in FY2027, even allowing for some high-base effects in the second half, with overall company growth of 10-15 percent still feasible.

Capacity, Cost Pressures and Capital Plans

For Tata Motors internal EV capacity is not a bottleneck since production systems are fungible and flexible; capacity has already been stepped up from 9,000 to 13,000-14,000 units and reached more than 15,000 units last month, with further increases planned.

Responding to lower-than-anticipated sales for the popular Sierra SUV, the company attributed the temporary production impact to constraints from casting and sheet-metal suppliers plus a five-day production loss at the Sanand plant due to heavy rains, but corrective actions are under way.

Profitability in the recent period was pressured primarily by commodity-price inflation (approximately 4-4.5 percent impact) plus roughly 1 percent from other factors. Cost-reduction initiatives have partially offset these headwinds; in a normalised quarter, margins would have expanded more significantly. Certain PLI benefits were deferred because of new-product launches but will be reapplied in due course.

However, it is important to note that Chandra has emphasised that CAPEX plans remain unchanged at around 6-8 percent of revenue, which will continue to be directed toward new products, technologies and capacity expansion. Management sees no need to revise the programme despite margin pressure.

On the E20 contamination issue raised in the market, Tata Motors has not experienced customer reports and was not among the OEMs that submitted data on the matter.

Jaguar Land Rover Perspective

Richard Molyneux, CFO of JLR, noted that the luxury brand is a truly global business with only a small percentage of sales in India. China remains challenging, production of legacy products (including Jaguar) has been wound down, and a fire plus broader global slowdown affected Range Rover output. Q1 is seasonally soft for JLR, but the team is optimistic about sequential improvement. India is viewed as a significant growth market going forward, supported by existing domestic assembly and imports, with plans to expand the brand’s presence rapidly.

Chandra’s message is one of controlled confidence. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles enters the balance of FY2027 with lower inventories, a flexible multi-powertrain portfolio that is already capturing rising CNG and EV demand, fungible capacity that can scale with the market, and an intact investment programme focused on product and technology. While the industry faces near-term cost and base-effect challenges, the company’s leadership in alternative energy, combined with ongoing product intensity and supply-side focus, positions it to continue outgrowing the market and to deepen its role in India’s evolving mobility landscape.

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