KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Mahindra coming up 3 launches
- Skoda Octavia RS pre-bookings to start from October 6th
- CBU unit with only 100-150 units expected
October, the third-last month of the year, is one of the most significant for India, packed with festivals - including Diwali. This season sees a spike in spending, boosting the GDP and driving up car sales, thanks to festive discounts from manufacturers and dealers. To add to the excitement, several new cars are launching this month. Here's what to expect: Before that do join our 91Wheels Whatsapp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.
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Mahindra Thar Facelift
Yes, the off-road centric 2-door Thar is getting a facelift this month, and a few days ago, a picture of the updated Thar was leaked on the web, where every new detail of it got out before Mahindra's permission. So, the photo showed - a new steering wheel, same as what Thar Roxx has, a 10.24-inch infotainment screen, power window switches on the driver side, and some more modern features like a wireless charging pad. At the front, it will get a new grille, newly designed alloy wheels, and new striking paint options. The launch date isn't confirmed, but it will happen around 10 to 11th October.
Mahindra Bolero & Bolero Neo
Yes, this old-school, ladder-on-frame SUV is finally getting a facelift. The Bolero remains a tough, no-nonsense SUV, mostly seen in rural parts of India where its true potential is fully utilized. Urban buyers, however, aren't as interested - mainly because it's uncomfortable, looks boxy, lacks modern features, and doesn't offer enough space. That said, while the upcoming facelift may bring in some much-needed updates and features, at its core, the Bolero is expected to remain the same, with no changes to its engine lineup.
Moreover, even the Bolero Neo - the premium version of this (Bolero) brand - will get the same treatment. That too is a real SUV, but offers better ride quality, more space, and a more powerful engine. Although, it still lacks several features, and its rugged, SUV-centric nature doesn't really appeal to the mass-market buyer.
Skoda Octavia RS
Skoda Octavia, the first ever car by Skoda India is coming back with bang this October. On social media, the company has released the teaser with a message that pre-bookings start from October 6th. Now, for those who want to own, here's a sad news, as this is coming in limited units, and will be a CBU unit, so the price will be above Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom). Also, under the hood, it will likely feature the familiar 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol, churning out 261bhp and 370Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DSG transmission. It is said to cover a 0-100kmph run in 6.4 seconds, which is marginally slower than the Golf GTI. Lastly, the launch is expected to happen this October 17th.
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Verdict
Mahindra Auto has several launches lined up, and it's great to see that they're trying to revive the Bolero nameplate. Almost every car in their lineup sells well - except for the Bolero and Bolero Neo -because they don't quite tick all the boxes for most customers. Let's hope the new version changes that.
On the other hand, the launch of the Skoda Octavia RS this month isn't exactly big news, as it's coming via the CBU route in limited numbers. That means it'll be very expensive and extremely rare.
