Turning Into A New Leaf

Turning Into A New Leaf

The cat is finally out of the bag as Jaguar Land Rover launched the all-electric I-Pace in India starting from INR 10,600,000, ex-showroom India. It will be the second luxury electric SUV in India after Mercedes-Benz EQC. Jaguar had earlier opened the bookings of I-Pace in November 2020.

At the launch, Rohit Suri, President and Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said, “Jaguar I-Pace is the first all-electric SUV that we’ve launched in India and it marks the beginning of our electrification journey. With our electrified products, we look forward to playing a significant role in India’s electrification drive into the future.” He further stated, “Jaguar I-Pace will appeal to people who look for and purchase the latest in technology and design to express their personalities and stay ahead of the curve. We and our retailer network are fully prepared to cater to the demands of these customers.”

I-Pace variants:

The new Jaguar electric SUV is available in three trims—the S at INR 10,600,000, SE from INR 10,800,000 and the fully-loaded HSE, which starts at INR 11,200,000. All three come standard with 19-inch dual-coloured diamond-cut alloy wheels. The entry-level S variant sports all-LED headlamps, powered tailgate, smartphone-like designed 10-inch Pivo Pro infotainment system’s interface with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 400W music system with 12 speakers and a subwoofer, 5.5-inch climate control touchscreen unit, cruise control, 3D surround camera, ‘InControl’ car connectivity technology and much more.

The SE offers additional features like leather upholstery, premium LED headlights with prominent DRLs and heated outside rearview mirrors that fold electrically and come with approach lights.

The feature list continues to increase with the top-of-the-line HSE as it’s packed with ‘Matrix’ LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, premium Windsor leather upholstery, an 825W Meridian 3D sound system with 16 speakers and 16-way heated and cooled front electric powered seats with memory function.

The goodies don’t end here as there’s an array of optional features as well like adaptive air suspension, four-zone climate control, an ionising air purifier with PM2.5 filtration etc.

Electric power:

The I-Pace is powered by two electric motors that offer a whopping combined output of 296 kW (394 bhp) and 696 Nm of torque. As impressive as it’s on paper, the electric SUV can do 0-100 kmph in just 4.8 seconds.

The I-Pace comes with a 90 kWh battery that offers a range of WLTP-certified 470 km on a single charge. The Jaguar SUV comes standard with a Home Charging Cable for a 7.4 kW AC wall-mounted charger, but it takes over 10 hours to fully charge the battery. According to Jaguar, the I-Pace can also be quick-charged with a 50 kW charger that offers a range of 270km per hour and a 100kW charger that delivers around 127km range in just 15 minutes.

To ensure complete peace of mind, Jaguar provides a complimentary 5-year service package, 5-year roadside assistance package, 8-year or 160,000 km battery warranty and a 7.4 kW AC wall-mounted charger.

The installation of home charging stations will be done by Tata Power Ltd and will be coordinated via Jaguar retailers. I-Pace owners will also have access to Tata Power’s EZ Charge network, which currently offers around 200 I-Pace compatible charging points on a use and pay basis. Apart from this, Jaguar has also set up over 35 EV chargers installed at its 22 retail outlets across 19 cities. These chargers are a combination of 7.4 kW AC chargers and 25 kW DC (fast) chargers.

In terms of competition, the I-Pace, at the moment, only has to face the Mercedes-Benz EQC, but the Audi-e-tron could enter the Indian market this financial and let’s not forget that Tesla is setting its shop here as well. (MT)

Mahindra Scorpio-N Z8L Variant Now Gets L2 ADAS Tech, New Z8T Variant Launched At INR 2.02 Million

Mahindra Scorpio-N ADAS

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.

Maruti Suzuki India Clocks New Milestone Of Servicing 2.45 Million Vehicles In A Month

Maruti Suzuki India

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.

 

Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Brendon Sissing As New VP Of Sales And Marketing

Brendon Sissing

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.

Honda Launches Sporty New Variant of City Sedan At INR 1.48 Million

Honda City Sport

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.