10 Sporty Cars Launching Soon: Honda Prelude To Skoda Kodiaq RS
We often say how price-sensitive India is as a market. That is one of the reasons why many brands are not willing, or are a bit shy, to launch premium products in India. We as customers often look for value-for-money products that give us the best of both worlds. They should offer premium features but should not cost a lot. The cars should be efficient too. However, there are brands that are constantly testing the waters by bringing expensive, high-performance, or sporty models to India. Some of them work, while others don’t. Here we have a list of 10 such sporty cars that are expected to be launched in the Indian market soon.
Honda unveiled the all-new ZR-V in India along with the updated City sedan. Apart from this, Honda plans to bring more models via the CBU route, and the Prelude Hybrid is one among them.
It is a sporty hybrid two-door coupe that comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine. The sports coupe generates around 201 PS and 315+ Nm of torque. It is a 2-door, 4-seater coupe with premium features like a touchscreen infotainment system, switch-type gear selectors, suede upholstery, electric and heated seats, sports seats with leatherette upholstery, automatic climate control, and so on. It will be the most expensive and quickest Honda in India when launched.
Skoda launched the Octavia RS last year in limited numbers. Surprisingly, all 10 units of the sedan were sold out even before its official launch or price announcement. Looking at the overwhelming response, Skoda is preparing to bring a second batch of the Octavia RS to India. The launch is expected to happen around the festive season this year.
The performance sedan is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine that generates 263 bhp and 370 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission and has a top speed of 250 km/h.
The Kylaq is one of the best-selling models for Skoda in India. Skoda sold over 50,000 units in a year. Skoda is now planning to launch a Sportline version of the Kylaq this year. It will be a sportier-looking variant with blacked-out elements. It will continue to use the same 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 115 PS and 178 Nm of torque. Skoda might eventually introduce the 8-speed automatic transmission with the SUV too.
Volkswagen is currently working on the Virtus facelift. It will come with a revised grille, headlamps, and bumpers. The sedan will come with new alloy wheels and LED tail lamps with a connecting LED bar too. The sedan will be offered with an updated cabin as well.
It will come with the same 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre TSI engine options. The 1.5 TSI will come with a 7-speed DSG and will generate 150 PS and 250 Nm of peak torque.
Skoda will be bringing the Kodiaq RS to India later this year. Compared to the regular Kodiaq, the RS will have an RS bumper, gloss-black elements on the grille and many other areas instead of chrome, and so on.
As this is the RS variant, the SUV will come with an all-black, sporty-looking interior with red accents, RS badging at multiple places, RS-specific sports seats, along with all the premium features like a panoramic sunroof, and so on. It will be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine generating around 263 PS and 370 Nm of torque. This would also be a CBU, and just like the Octavia RS, it is also likely to come in limited numbers.
Just like the Kushaq, Skoda will be updating the Slavia sedan as well. It will get connecting LED DRLs, a revised grille, headlamps, bumpers, and tail lamps. The Slavia might also get a Sportline variant based on the 1.0 TSI or 1.5 TSI. These engines will generate 115 PS and 150 PS respectively. It will be offered with manual, 8-speed automatic, and 7-speed DSG transmission options. It will come with blacked-out trims that are otherwise finished in chrome or brushed aluminium. It will be a sportier-looking version of the regular sedan.
Volkswagen launched the Golf GTI in India last year. The initial 250 units were sold out almost immediately. Overwhelmed by the response, Volkswagen has decided to bring in a second batch.
Several Indian celebrities, especially from South India, along with automotive enthusiasts, have already purchased this hatchback. The next batch of Golf GTIs is expected to arrive in India soon, and like the first batch, it will be brought in as a CBU (Completely Built Unit).
The Golf GTI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 265 bhp and is paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox.
Nissan will be officially unveiling the Tekton SUV on July 9, 2026. The SUV comes with a different-looking exterior design from the Duster. It would look a lot like the Nissan Patrol. While the exterior looks different, the cabin and the features that the Tekton offers are going to be the same.
It will be offered with the same 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine that generates 163 PS and 280 Nm of peak torque. This engine will be offered with a manual and a 6-speed DCT gearbox.
Tata will be unveiling the Sierra EV in India soon. It is the electric version of the Sierra, which is expected to be based on a born-electric platform. It will feature an exterior design inspired by the ICE version but with minor cosmetic changes.
The electric SUV is expected to be offered with 65 kWh and 75 kWh battery pack options. The bigger battery variant is expected to come with a dual-motor setup or AWD. The power and torque figures of the Sierra EV have not been revealed yet, but it is expected to be at par with the Harrier EV.
The last one on this list is the Avinya. Tata is now planning to expand its EV lineup and is preparing to launch a range of premium EVs under a new and separate sales network. The Avinya is one such model. The first model is expected to be called the Avinya X, which will be a premium crossover available in 5-, 6-, and 7-seater configurations. It is expected to be nearly 5 metres long and will come equipped with advanced features beyond what we currently see in Tata models.