There has been a remarkable step-up in the number of launches in the premium and luxury categories after the Covid-19 pandemic and the frequency of luxury car launches is only going to intensify in 2024. Of the eight vehicles that we have picked out to watch out for in the coming year, that six of them are electric vehicles is a testament to our times and the obvious shift of the focus of the high-end market towards sustainability. Five of the eight are SUVs and another one is a UV that again is in keeping with the trends of the past few years.
Of the ICE cars, the most awaited one right at the top is the SUVish vehicle from Ferrari, the Purosangue that will be priced in the super luxury car territory while the one that is gaining a lot of traction is the luxury MPV from Lexus—the LM. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is the only company in the luxury market that has really improved. It has not only planned a number of exquisite automobiles for the Indian market, but it has also acquired the Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 concept to display at the NMACC in Mumbai. The Maybach version of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, in addition to the CLE Coupe, which will be the highlight of the ICE models that are coming to India this year, will top the electric Mercedes lineup. In 2024, the Mini’s smallest and only SUV will rank at the bottom of the luxury car market due to its stylish appearance and quirky personality. And last but not the least are the two sedans that will go head to head against each other in the segment that sees the most volumes in India—the executive luxury sedan. While Mercedes will continue to offer ICE versions of the sixth generation of the E-class, including the LWB model, the 8th-generation 5 Series has also included the all-electric i5. BMW is preparing its long wheelbase offering for the Indian market. In addition to the electric version, the car will also be available in the country. The evolutionary design of the all-electric i5 has been inspired by the older 5 Series, but maintains the 7 Series/i7 look, using the same exterior design with certain changes, which include blanked-grille and more aero optimisation. Other elements include a completely new fascia with new yet familiar kidney grille design, sculpted headlamps and crescent shaped LED DRLs, while the rear gets large wraparound LED taillamps. The i5 will be launched in India in the LWB (long-wheelbase) and right-hand drive configuration—the only market in the world to get this configuration. It also debuts a digitised cabin, with a 12.3-inch instrument display along with a 14.9-inch infotainment display, the same setup that has been seen in the new 3 Series. The sedan also gets the 31.1-inch 8k roof-mounted display from the i7 in China, but it remains to be seen whether this makes it to India.
