MINI India has launched the all-new MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI Convertible and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch in India. The new MINIs will only be available as Completely Built-up Units (CBUs) in their petrol guise.

MINI 3-Door Hatch and MINI Convertible:

The exterior of the new MINIs has been simplified and modernised with a new characteristic hexagonal radiator grille and the round hallmark MINI LED headlights with integrated fog lights. The car's side view is dominated by the striking new contours of the wheel arch surrounds and the redesigned side scuttles with integrated LED side indicators.

At the rear, the car continues to carry the British flag-inspired rear light graphics along with a new narrow LED rear fog light integrated into the rear apron.

The MINI 3-Door Hatch and the Convertible will be available in rooftop Grey metallic, Island Blue metallic, Enigmatic Black and Zesty Yellow (only for MINI Convertible) colour options. Users can also opt for a piano black exterior package that gets the door handles, side scuttles, fuel cap, MINI logos on the bonnet and luggage compartment lid, the model lettering and tailpipes of the exhaust system finished in high-gloss black.

Along with the standard colour options, customers can also choose Jet Black, Aspen White, Melting Silver paintwork (for MINI 3-Door Hatch and Convertible) and a unique colour gradient from San Marino Blue through Pearly Aqua to Jet Blackcontrasting roof colour.

MINI has renewed the 17-inch light-alloy wheels with options for Roulette Spoke-Two-Tone, Tentacle Spoke-Black and Rail Spoke-Two-Tone.

On the inside, the MINIs offers two packages:

1. MINI Interior Surfaces Silver Chequered features sporty style wherein the instrument panel surface and the elliptical ring in the door are finished in chequered design.
2. MINI Interior Surfaces Aluminium features opposing diagonal lines representing a modern, visually impactful evolution of the classical herringbone design.

MINI offers two new standard upholstery options: Cloth-leatherette combination in Black Pearl Light Chequered and Black Pearl Carbon Black. In addition, customers can spec their upholstery using the MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Carbon Black, Leather Cross Punch in Carbon Black, Leather Chester in Satellite Grey and Malt Brown.

MINI has given the car a new multifunction steering wheel design integrating more functions into fewer control surfaces. The audio control unit and the function buttons for hazard warning lights and driver assistance systems are integrated into the central 8.8-inch central colour touchscreen system. MINI also offers the circular touchscreen system, touch-sensitive buttons and piano black finishes as standard on the new cars.

Customers also can add a 5-inch multifunctional instrument display on the steering column to improve the cockpit feeling. Other additions include MINI Wired Package (adds navigation system, wireless charging, enhanced Bluetooth mobile preparation), MINI Excitement Pack (adds LED interior and ambient lighting that illuminates the cockpit with a choice of selectable colours as well as a projection of the MINI logo from the exterior mirror on the driver's side when opening and closing the car door) and an upgrade to Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system.

In terms of performance, the MINIs are powered by the latest 2.0 l MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology mated to a 7-Speed Double Clutch Steptronic Transmission. The twin-turbo engine makes 192 hp of power and a torque of 280 Nm sufficient to propel the car from 0-100 km/h in just 6.7 seconds for the 3-Door Hatch and 7.1 seconds for the Convertible.

In terms of safety, MINI has equipped all three models with front passenger airbags, Brake Assist, 3-Point Seat Belts, Dynamic Stability Control, Crash Sensor, Anti-lock Braking System, Cornering Brake Control, Run-flat tyres and Rear-View Camera as standard along with Rollover Protection System for the Convertible.

MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Hatch:

The changes on the new JCW Hatch include a new hexagonal front grille with a honeycomb pattern and a cross member at the bottom edge finished in red. The JCW Hatch also features the exclusive John Cooper Works bonnet stripes that provide a distinct race-inspired look to the car,

In terms of the exterior and interiors options, the JCW Hatch gets all the standard options from the 3-Door Hatch and the Convertible and some more, including the exclusive Chilli Red paint colour, the upgraded JCW sports seats in dinamica.

In terms of the mechanicals, the car gets the same 2.0l MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology engine mated to an 8-Speed Steptronic Sports Transmission. The JCW MINI produces 231 hp of power with 320 Nm torque helping it complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.1 sec.

The CBU MINIs cost:

3-Door Hatch: INR 38 lakh (ex-showroom)
Convertible: INR 44 lakh (ex-showroom)
JCW Hatch: INR 45.5 lakh (ex-showroom) (MT)

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Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

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Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

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Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.

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