Weekend Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: Luxe cars for 2024
Big spenders are keenly tracking these luxury car launches. Sedan, SUV, electric, and fuel powered, they’ll be here soon
It’s a new year, and it promises to be more exciting than the one before. Yes, 2024 is set to see a slew of exciting new car launches that will led by, you guessed it, EVs. But, there’s enough on the menu for the regular petrolhead, who prefers old-fashioned internal combustion, and it’s not just SUVs. There are lots of sportscars and sedans to choose from. None of these are going to be cheap. At the turn of every year, cars become more expensive and less value for money. But looking at the way car sales continue to grow, buyers don’t seem to be complaining. Have money? Here are the top five cars to splurge on this year.New Mercedes E-Class
The luxury-car king, and Mercedes’ best-selling sedan, is due for a complete model change around Diwali this year. The ultra-comfortable sedan, which is the benchmark for back-seat design, looks more like an S-Class and will come with improved petrol and diesel engines. The interior is the talking point, as it gets the latest on-board tech and a ‘superscreen’ with twin displays. Expect the E-Class to pamper you like never before.
New BMW 5-series / i5
The next-gen 5-series is also due in Diwali, but the big news is that it will come, for the first time, with a long wheelbase to directly challenge the E-class. Again, the 5-series will take cues from the bigger 7-series, with features such as the cinematic screen, which folds down from the roof. Preceding the 5-series will be the electric version of the i5, which will offer outstanding driving dynamics and electrifying performance.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The Q6 e-tron is not just the latest Audi EV, but a showcase of Audi’s technology. Built on brand-new 800-volt architecture, with a promised range of 600km, the Q6 e-tron will debut Audi’s new infotainment system, with twin screens in a curved layout. Another talking point will be the latest generation of digital matrix LED lighting, which will provide dazzling illumination. Smaller than the Q8 e-tron in the current Audi line-up, the Q6 e-tron will be cheaper too.
Kia EV9
The EV9 is Kia’s most expensive and largest electric SUV globally, and is a showcase for the Korean brand’s technology. Kia says the EV9 electric SUV is its answer to similarly priced and sized electric SUVs from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The EV9 gets bold styling cues, a three-row cabin with multiple seating layouts, and is brimming with driving aids and tech. Three powertrain choices are available on the EV9 internationally. but it is likely that India will be the EV9 RWD long-range variant with a 99.8kWh battery.
Skoda Enyaq iV
Skoda’s first EV in India has been a long time coming and the company has been testing this electric SUV on Indian roads for some months. This five-seater SUV is slightly smaller than the Kodiaq, but has a spacious cabin and high-quality interiors. The top-spec ‘80x’ version with all-wheel drive and 265hp is expected. A healthy range of over 500km and a comfortable ride will make it a good choice for weekend drives.
