India's 5 Biggest
Car Stories This Week
A PHEV S-Class, a Duster scoop, Sierra EV date confirmed, and booming SUV sales — big week!
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the S-Class facelift launch for June 15 — just two days away — and it's bringing something India has never seen before from the S-Class: a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The S 450e variant arrives with a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six mated to an electric motor, producing a combined 435 HP and 680 Nm, with a claimed 0–100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds. A 22kWh battery gives it meaningful EV range for city driving.
Inside, the redesigned cabin gets Mercedes' latest MBUX Superscreen setup running the new MB.OS operating system — making it a software-defined vehicle with over-the-air updates. The grille is 20% larger with illuminated tri-star stars, and the headlights feature distinctive tri-star DRL motifs. A diesel variant may follow, but that's yet to be confirmed for India.
Why it matters: The S-Class has always set the benchmark for what luxury cars should be. Bringing a PHEV here signals that premium buyers are ready for electrification — and it puts pressure on the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 to respond with their own hybrid offerings in India soon.
This is the week's most exciting scoop for everyday buyers. According to Team-BHP, Renault is working on more affordable automatic transmission variants of the Duster — positioned below the existing 1.3L DCT range. This could mean the 1.0L turbo-petrol engine getting an AMT or a torque-converter automatic, potentially bringing an auto Duster to under ₹13 lakh.
Currently, the Duster's cheapest automatic is the 1.3L DCT at around ₹14.5L — which is a big jump from the 1.0L MT entry variants. An affordable auto option would open the Duster to a massive segment of buyers who want automatic convenience without stretching to the 1.3L. It would also directly challenge the Creta CVT and Seltos IVT in the ₹12–14L bracket.
Why it matters: The Duster is already the most powerful mid-size SUV under ₹20L. Add an affordable automatic option and it becomes a near-perfect package. Watch this space — an announcement could come before Diwali 2026.
Mark your calendars — Tata Sierra EV debuts on June 30, with bookings and official prices expected to open the same day. The Sierra nameplate, last seen on Indian roads in 1998, makes its return as a full electric SUV built on Tata's next-generation SIGMA platform — the same architecture underpinning the Harrier EV.
The Sierra EV's design takes clear inspiration from the original three-door Sierra — particularly the distinctive large glasshouse. The curved panoramic roof, retro-forward styling, and Level 2 ADAS make it one of the most anticipated launches of 2026. Tata is banking on the same nostalgia + EV formula that made the Duster's return such a massive hit for Renault.
Why it matters: The Sierra EV is Tata's most emotionally charged product since the Nexon. If priced right at ₹25–27L, it directly challenges the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Ioniq 5 — while adding a nostalgia premium no rival can replicate.
May 2026 data is in, and the mid-size SUV segment is on fire. A total of 70,836 units were sold in the 4.2m–4.5m SUV segment last month — up a massive 68.2% year-on-year from 42,104 units in May 2025. This is the largest single-month jump in three years, driven largely by the Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, and Mahindra XUV 7XO.
The Duster's re-entry has clearly energised the entire mid-size SUV category — lifting all boats. The Kia Seltos and Skoda Kushaq also saw strong numbers, suggesting buyers who were considering a Duster are cross-shopping the entire segment before deciding. Kia India alone reported 27,586 domestic units in May — up 23.6% YoY.
Why it matters: India's SUV obsession is showing no signs of slowing down. The 68% surge tells us buyers have strong purchase intent right now — and with the Sierra EV and Duster hybrid both coming in 2026, the second half of the year could be even bigger.
The premium and performance SUV space gets two big moves this week. Skoda has confirmed Kodiaq RS bookings open June 22 — expected in limited numbers with a retuned 2.0-litre turbo-petrol producing significantly more power than the standard Kodiaq, mated to a 7-speed DCT with AWD. Meanwhile, BMW has opened pre-bookings for the X6 M60i, hinting at a June 2026 launch.
The BMW X6 M60i is a proper performance SUV — its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 mild-hybrid produces 523 HP and 750 Nm, with AWD as standard. The coupe-SUV silhouette, snake-eye LED DRLs, gloss-black grille, and dual-pod exhausts make it one of the most distinctive SUVs money can buy in India. Expect it to be priced above ₹1.5 Crore.
Why it matters: While mass-market SUV sales surge, the premium end is equally busy. The Kodiaq RS in particular is interesting for enthusiast buyers — it sits in the ₹50–60L range and promises performance SUV thrills without the full luxury-tax price tag of a BMW or Mercedes.
Mercedes S-Class PHEV Launch
Official India price reveal. First PHEV S-Class — watch for on-road pricing in Pune.
Skoda Kodiaq RS Bookings
Limited numbers. Performance SUV under ₹60L — worth tracking if you're in that budget.
Tata Sierra EV Debut
The big one. Prices, range, bookings — everything opens on the 30th. We'll cover it live.
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