New Renault Duster To Likely Get AWD In The Future, Diesel A Possibility?

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New Renault Duster is currently available with three engine options: a 1.0L turbo petrol, a 1.3L turbo petrol and a 1.8L hybrid mill

The third generation Duster made its Indian debut a couple of days ago. While the version unveiled in Chennai arrived without an all-wheel-drive system, Renault has confirmed that a 4WD setup remains very much on the table for India should customer demand justify it. This flexibility is enabled by the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), which has been developed to accommodate multiple drivetrain configurations without major structural changes.

Globally, the 2026 Duster already demonstrates what it is capable of when fully equipped. International-spec models offer a 4×4 Terrain Control system with five selectable modes – Auto, Snow, Mud/Sand, Off-road and Eco. In this configuration, the SUV gains a higher 217 mm ground clearance, approach and departure angles of 31 degrees and 36 degrees respectively along with hill-descent control operating at speeds of up to 30 kmph.

Off-road data such as wheel articulation and traction distribution is displayed directly on the infotainment screen. While diesel power has traditionally been a Duster stronghold, stricter emission regulations and tightening CAFE norms make investments for a new oil burner unlikely in the near term. Renault currently does not have a compliant diesel engine in its portfolio and developing one solely for India may not make commercial sense.

Also Read: All-New Renault Duster Debuts In Grand Fashion, Gets Hybrid Tech

That said, the company has left the door open – choosing not to rule out possibilities outright. Even in its two-wheel-drive form, the India-spec Duster doesn’t abandon its adventure roots. With 212 mm of ground clearance and best-in-segment approach and departure angles of 26.9 degrees and 34.7 degrees, it is positioned as a mild off-road capable SUV. On paper at least, Renault claims it is built to handle broken roads and demanding terrain with confidence.

In its existing powertrain lineup, the range-topper is the 1.3-litre turbocharged TCe 160 petrol producing 163 PS and 280 Nm mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed wet-clutch DCT. Below it sits the 1.0-litre turbo TCe 100 petrol with a manual gearbox. The biggest talking point, however, is the Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 which combines a 1.8-litre GDI petrol engine with a 1.4 kWh battery pack – enabling up to 80 per cent electric-only driving in city conditions.

Also Read: New Renault Duster Hybrid: All Top Features, Booking, Delivery, Specs Explained

With pricing due in March and deliveries starting in April 2026, the possibility of a future 4WD variant could further consolidate the Duster’s case in an increasingly competitive SUV landscape. A larger seven-seater variant will arrive next FY as well while the aforementioned hybrid version’s prices will be announced later this year.

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Bugatti FKP Hommage Revealed As Tribute To the Veyron

Bugatti unveils FKP Hommage one-off hypercar honouring the iconic Veyron

Bugatti has introduced a new one-off hypercar named the FKP Hommage as a tribute to the company’s influential Veyron model. The original Veyron, which debuted in 2005, played a key role in Bugatti’s resurgence after the brand became part of the Volkswagen Group in the late 1990s.

The FKP Hommage is part of Bugatti’s Solitaire coachbuilding programme and uses the mechanical base of the Mistral roadster. The new bodywork draws heavily on the Veyron’s design language, with features such as a prominent front grille and a squared-off profile updated for modern standards. The front end also incorporates narrower LED headlights and broader air intakes.

Visually, the car references the first Veyron built by Bugatti through its red-and-black colour theme, with the black sections made from exposed carbon fibre. Other stylistic cues carried over include multi-spoke wheels, roof-mounted air intakes and side air channels. At the rear, the lighting arrangement mirrors the circular pattern of the original but now uses LED technology. The diffuser and exhaust design have been reworked to suit the newer body.

Inside the FKP Hommage, the layout reflects the design of the Veyron’s cabin, with leather upholstery and embroidered details. Unlike the analogue gauges of the earlier model, the new car blends digital displays with tactile knobs. A notable feature is an octagonal timepiece mounted on the centre console developed in partnership with Audemars Piguet.

The FKP Hommage carries a version of Bugatti’s signature 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine, tuned for higher output than ever before. The power unit is reported to produce around 1600 HP and 1600 Nm, with drive delivered to all four wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Bugatti has not released pricing details for the bespoke model.

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India-EU FTA “Mother Of All Deals” To Slash European Car Prices By Half

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India-EU FTA results in dramatic reduction in import duties on fully built European cars which are set to fall from a punishing 110 per cent to just 10 per cent

India’s landmark Free Trade Agreement with the European Union is being widely called the “Mother of all deals”, and for luxury car buyers, the excitement is fully justified. One of the headline-grabbing outcomes of the pact is the dramatic reduction in import duties on fully built European cars which are set to fall from a punishing 110 per cent to just 10 per cent under a defined quota. When the numbers are crunched, the impact on on-road prices is nothing short of staggering.

Until now, luxury cars imported into India have carried a massive tax burden. A high-end European car typically attracted 110 per cent customs duty, followed by around 40 per cent GST and cess, effectively more than doubling its base price by the time it reached showrooms. The structure is the single biggest reason why global icons like Porsche, Land Rover, Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce cost nearly twice as much in India as they do abroad.

Under the new India-EU FTA framework, that equation changes completely. With import duty slashed to 10 per cent while GST remains unchanged, the final price stack shrinks big time. Instead of Base Price + 110% duty + 40% GST, buyers now look at Base Price + 10% duty + 40% GST. That single change wipes out a huge chunk of the tax component resulting in prices that are nearly half of what buyers currently pay.

The real-world examples are jaw-dropping. A Land Rover Defender that currently retails at around Rs. 1.03 crore could drop to roughly Rs. 54 lakh. A full-size Range Rover, priced today near Rs. 2.31 crore, could come down to about Rs. 1.21 crore. Performance SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus may see prices fall from around Rs. 4.57 crore to close to Rs. 2.39 crore. Even icons like the Porsche 911 could slip from about Rs. 2 crore to nearly Rs. 1.05 crore while ultra-luxury flagships such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom could potentially be priced near Rs. 4.7 crore instead of Rs. 9 crore.

What makes this even more disruptive is that the savings run into crores, not lakhs. Models such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, McLaren GT, BMW M cars and high-end Audis stand to benefit massively, instantly expanding the pool of potential buyers in India. While the tariff cut will be phased in and capped by annual volume limits of 2,50,000 vehicles, the psychological and market impact is already enormous.

Beyond pricing, the deal reshapes India’s luxury car landscape. European brands, which currently hold a tiny share of India’s 4.4 million unit annual car market, suddenly gain a powerful incentive to expand their presence. However, it must be noted that the drop in tariffs may not directly translate to abruptive price reductions as brands control the final outcome of the sticker tags. It will be interesting to see how they choose to react!

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Volkswagen Offers Jan 2026 Discounts Of Up To Rs. 4.50 Lakh In India

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Volkswagen Taigun, Virtus and flagship Tiguan R-Line are available with attractive discounts in January 2026 in India

Volkswagen India has introduce one of its attractive consumer incentive programmes for January 2026 – offering a comprehensive set of benefits across models such as the Taigun, Virtus and flagship Tiguan R-Line. With savings varying significantly by variant and powertrain, customers are encouraged to evaluate offers closely before purchase. It may vary based on stock availability and location.

At the heart of the campaign is the popular Volkswagen Taigun. Seen as the brand’s volume driver in the SUV segment, the Taigun receives cash benefits, loyalty bonuses and exchange incentives across both Dynamic Line and Performance Line variants. Loyalty incentives of Rs. 20,000 are widely available while exchange bonuses typically run up to Rs. 30,000. Corporate benefits of up to Rs. 40,000 add further value for eligible buyers.

Across the Taigun lineup, total savings can stretch up to nearly Rs. 2.9 lakh on the GT Plus DSG variant – the best deal of the month. Only slightly lower, the GT Plus Chrome/Sport MT and Topline trims offer combined benefits of nearly Rs. 2.4 lakh. Even entry-level Comfortline variants get total savings of more than Rs. 1.3 lakh thanks to cash and corporate incentives.

Also Read: Volkswagen Virtus & Taigun 1.5L MT Trims Discontinued In India

Model	Variant	Total Savings (Up to)
Taigun	Comfortline 1.0 MT	Rs. 1.30 lakh
Taigun	Highline / GT Line 1.0 MT & AT	Rs. 1.20 lakh
Taigun	Topline 1.0 MT & AT	Rs. 2.40 lakh
Taigun	GT Plus Chrome / Sport MT	Rs. 2.40 lakh
Taigun	GT Plus Chrome / Sport DSG	Rs. 2.90 lakh
Virtus	Comfortline 1.0 MT	Rs. 0.50 lakh
Virtus	Highline 1.0 MT	Rs. 1.51 lakh
Virtus	Highline 1.0 AT	Rs. 1.86 lakh
Virtus	Topline 1.0 MT & AT	Rs. 1.65 lakh
Virtus	GT / GT Plus 1.5 MT & DSG	Rs. 1.60 lakh
Tiguan R-Line	Single Variant	Rs. 4.50 lakh

Volkswagen’s Virtus sedan also features prominently in the January value stack. The midsize segment sedan combines performance with savings that reach into the Rs. 1.8 lakh range on select trims. Loyalty and exchange benefits are consistent across most versions while higher cash discounts are available in Highline, Topline and automatic variants.

At the pinnacle of the offers sits the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, the brand’s flagship SUV in India. January 2026 sees one of the most generous benefit structures in recent memory with a direct cash benefit of Rs. 3.5 lakh – supplemented by Rs. 50,000 each in exchange and loyalty perks – pushing total savings up to Rs. 4.5 lakh.

Also Read: Volkswagen India Begins Local Assembly Of 7-Seater Tayron R-Line

This places the Tiguan R-Line among the best discounted premium SUVs currently on sale. Within the next couple of months, VW will launch the Tayron R-Line seven-seater SUV in India and its production has commenced in India. In addition, the updated versions of the Taigun and Virtus are also in the pipeline.

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Top 10 Sedans Dec 2025 – Dzire, Amaze, Tigor, Virtus, Slavia, Aura

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In the list of top 10 sedans sold in December 2025, Maruti Suzuki Dzire continued to sit first ahead of Hyundai Aura, Honda Amaze and VW Virtus

The list of top 10 sedans in December 2025 based on volume sales saw very little changes in the pecking order as the segment continues to lose out to SUVs. Despite the challenges, select models managed to grow year-on-year, showing that sedans still have relevance when priced and positioned right. The CY2026 is shaping up to see quite a few new launches as well.

Leading the segment by a massive margin was the Maruti Suzuki Dzire which clocked 19,072 units in December 2025 – up from 16,573 units a year earlier. The 15 per cent YoY growth shows the Dzire’s unmatched appeal among private buyers and fleet operators alike and the arrival of the brand new generation just a year ago proved to be another success story.

The Hyundai Aura retained its position as the second best-selling sedan with 4,925 units in the final month of last year with a healthy 28 per cent growth over December 2024. The Aura has steadily carved a niche for itself with its affordable pricing, longevity and practicality. In contrast, the Honda Amaze saw volumes drop sharply to 2,575 units from 3,708 units last year – registering a 31 per cent decline.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Sold Cars CY2025 – Dzire, Creta, Nexon, Scorpio, Punch, WagonR

Top 10 Sedans	December 2025 Sales	December 2024 Sales	YoY%
Maruti Suzuki Dzire	19,072	16,573	15
2. Hyundai Aura	4,925	3,852	28
3. Honda Amaze	2,575	3,708	-31
4. Volkswagen Virtus	2,378	2,257	5
5. Honda City	943	783	20
6. Tata Tigor	775	1,054	-26
7. Skoda Slavia	711	1,894	-62
8. Hyundai Verna	406	872	-53
9. Toyota Camry	200	88	127
10. Skoda Octavia	0	0	—

Among midsize sedans, the Volkswagen Virtus stood out as one of the few bright spots. It posted 2,378 units – marginally higher than last year’s 2,257 units – resulting in a modest 5 per cent growth. The Skoda Slavia, however, faced a steep drop in sales numbers, slipping to just 711 units from 1,894 units with a massive 62 percent YoY decline.

Hyundai’s Verna struggled to maintain momentum as well – recording 406 units compared to 872 units in December 2024 with a steep drop of 53 per cent. The Korean auto major is currently preparing to bring in a mid-cycle refresh for the five-seater midsize sedan. Honda City, on the other hand, managed to buck the trend with 943 units – up 20 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

Also Read: Top 10 Brands With Highest Volume Growth In CY2025 In India

The Tata Tigor continued its downward trajectory by posting 775 units last month as against 1,054 units during the same period last year with a decline of 26 per cent. At the premium end, the Toyota Camry emerged as a surprise performer, growing sharply to 200 units from just 88 units with a growth of 127 per cent.

Source

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4 Upcoming Mahindra Models In 2026 – 3 SUVs & 1 Pickup Truck

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Mahindra & Mahindra will continue its unparalleled dominance in the SUV segment with the launch of multiple new ICE and EV models

Mahindra & Mahindra finished CY 2025 as India’s second biggest auto brand with sales of close to 6 lakh units in the Indian market. We are just into the first month of 2026 and the home-grown automaker has already launched three new models namely XUV 3XO EV, Bolero Camper & Bolero Pik-Up, and Thar Roxx Star Edition. However, it is merely the tip of the iceberg as Mahindra will introduce multiple new SUVs throughout the year. Hence, in this piece, we will talk in detail about the upcoming Mahindra SUVs in 2026-27 in India.

1. 2026 Mahindra Scorpio N Facelift

The mid-cycle facelift for the Scorpio N will debut in the coming few months in the domestic market. The facelifted version of the SUV was recently spied testing with heavy camouflage. The test unit revealed that updates will be strictly cosmetic in nature as the SUV will remain unchanged in terms of technical specs. Needless to state, the 2026 Mahindra Scorpio N facelift will be more feature-rich than the current model.

The most prominent update in the 2026 Scorpio N will be the inclusion of a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system which will be borrowed from the Thar Roxx. It will replace the existing 8-inch unit. The new SUV is likely to retain the Level 2 ADAS tech, dual-zone automatic climate control and 12-speaker sound system powered by Sony. Mechanically, it will continue with the 2.0L petrol and 2.2L diesel engines.

Also Read: Mahindra Thar Roxx Star Edition Launched In India At Rs. 16.85 Lakh

2. Mahindra Vision S

Unveiled last year in August, Mahindra Vision S concept previews a rugged sub 4-metre SUV. Underpinned by the NU_IQ platform, it was recently spotted testing in Tamil Nadu. It will be using a monocoque architecture instead of Mahindra’s signature ladder-frame chassis. Apart from petrol and diesel versions, an all-electric version of Vision S SUV will also be launched in and around late 2026 in the country.

Retaining the boxy silhouette of the concept model, the Vision S also gets a rear spare wheel mounted at the tailgate. However, the inverted L-shaped headlamps seen on the concept have been replaced by circular units. The cabin is likely to feature a 12.3-inch dual-screen layout with latest connectivity features. The engine choices could be 1.2L turbo petrol and 1.5L turbo diesel units.

3. Mahindra Scorpio N Pickup

Source: Gautam Sahoo

The Scorpio N based Pick-up concept debuted in Aug 2023 in South Africa. Since then, it has been spotted several times on the Indian roads during its test runs. The brand has stated that production-ready Scorpio N pickup will come with several premium features in the form of Level 2 ADAS, 5G connectivity, ride modes (Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud), front centre armrest, rear bench seat and semi-automatic parking ability. Under the hood, the pickup will have the Gen-2 mHawk diesel engine with 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options. It could go on sale by the end of 2026 in the country.

Also Read: How Mahindra Cracked No.2 Spot On Sales Charts In 2025; Analysis

4. Mahindra Thar EV

Mahindra Thar.E concept was unveiled last year in the Indian market. The electric off-roader concept with 5-doors will spawn the electrified version of the Thar SUV. Some of the notable design elements in the Thar EV will include rectangular front grille, square-shaped LED headlamps, upright and boxy silhouette.

The cabin is expected to be on the similar lines as the new crop of Mahindra’s born-electric SUVs. It will be based on a revised version of the INGLO platform, christened as P1. Mahindra could source the battery pack for the Thar EV from Volkswagen and it could offer a range of 500+ km on a single charge.

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New Renault Duster Hybrid: All Top Features, Booking, Delivery, Specs Explained

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New Renault Duster uses a 1.8L GDI petrol engine working in tandem with a 1.4 kWh battery pack to form the hybrid system

Unveiled in Chennai last night, the third generation Duster is the first visible outcome of Renault’s International Game Plan 2027 for India. Over 90 per cent of the new Duster has been created specifically for Indian conditions – underpinned by the Renault Group Modular Platform. It has been tested for extreme temperatures ranging from minus 23 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius and validated at altitudes exceeding 18,000 feet.

The flexible platform which will give to a seven-seater Duster sibling next FY has also been created to meet high safety standards as well and integrates 35 safety features. Another headline grabber is that instead of leaning on a single headline engine, Renault is offering three choices. The 1.3L turbo TCe 160 petrol sits at the top with 163 PS and 280 Nm.

It is available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch automatic. Positioned below it is the 1.0L turbo TCe 100 petrol option paired with a manual gearbox. For the first time in this segment from Renault, a Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 joins the lineup from global portfolio combining a 1.8-litre engine with a 1.4 kWh battery to enable up to 80 per cent electric-only driving in urban conditions.

With a ground clearance of 212 mm and approach and departure angles of 26.9 degrees and 34.7 degrees respectively, the SUV retains its ability to handle rough terrain but no AWD option has been provided. Dimensions stand at 4,346 mm in length, 1,815 mm in width and a 2,657 mm wheelbase while the bootspace capacity stands at segment-best 700 litres.

Some of the highlighting visual elements include a trapezoidal grille with yellow accents, full LED lighting, a horizontal rear light bar, protective cladding and diamond-cut 18-inch alloy wheels. Renault has also introduced an exclusive Mountain Jade Green shade inspired by Himalayan landscapes coupled with a contrasting black roof.

Stepping inside, the elevated centre console integrates an electronic shifter while physical switches remain for frequently used functions. Seats feature sculpted cushioning with yellow stitching and the cabin is finished with Mountain Jade leatherette, carbon-textured surfaces and metallic highlights. Practical comfort additions include ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control with PM2.5 filtration, an electric panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate and ample interior storage totalling 32.6 litres.

Technology is where the new Duster breaks furthest from its predecessor. At the centre is the 10.1-inch OpenR Link touchscreen with Google built-in – making this the first mass-market car in India to offer native Google Maps, Assistant and Play Store access without smartphone mirroring. A 10.25-inch digital driver display mirrors navigation and vehicle data while over 60 connected features are accessible via Renault’s app ecosystem.

Seventeen ADAS functions, hill descent control and multi-sense drive modes allow drivers to tailor assistance systems and driving behaviour with preferences stored and recalled through individual Google profiles. The Duster will be offered with a warranty of up to seven years or 1,50,000 km under the Renault Forever programme as well.

Pre-bookings have opened via an R Pass priced at Rs. 21,000 offering priority delivery and introductory benefits. Prices will be announced in mid-March 2026, customer deliveries will begin in April and the Strong Hybrid E-Tech variant will follow later this year.

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