India’s 9 Most Surprising Upcoming Cars: Hyundai Palisade To iCaur V23
The Indian car market is heading toward an interesting phase- one filled with launches, especially from carmakers that are completely new here. They are set to bring bold ideas and new technologies to the mix. Here are 9 most surprising launches, expected to happen in the upcoming months (or even years).
Hyundai is expected to bring the Palisade to the Indian shores by 2028. When launched, it will compete primarily with the Toyota Fortuner here. The current generation that went on sale globally in 2024 is loved for its butch stance and boxy proportions. It is indeed a large SUV with an imposing road presence.
Key exterior highlights include large vertically placed LED headlamps and tail lamps, oversized front grille, smooth panels and bold body cladding. The SUV has an upright stance and 21-inch wheels. The Palisade will have a plush, technology-rich cabin.
The three-row SUV will come with two 12.3-inch screens (for infotainment and instrument cluster), 14-speaker Bose audio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, physical controls for all necessary functions, wireless charger, digital key, fingerprint sensor to start the engine, rear parking camera cleaning system, panoramic sunroof, ADAS and more.
The India-spec Palisade is expected to come with a strong hybrid powertrain. With a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine at its centre, this system will have a combined output of 334 hp and 460 Nm. The vehicle will also come with selectable drive and terrain modes. The hybrid setup will also have a role to play in defining the overall road manners and ride quality of the vehicle. It will do this through torque vectoring and dynamic torque distribution.
The hybrid powertrain, futuristic design and technology-packed cabin remain the X-factors of the Hyundai Palisade. When launched, it will become the carmaker's SUV flagship.
MG has plans to launch the iM6 premium crossover EV in India in the coming months. Expected around August this year, the iM6 will be brought as CBU imports. We expect a premium pricing for this electric vehicle- likely in the ballpark of Rs 60 lakh. It will be sold through the ‘MG Select’ network. The manufacturer had previously showcased this model at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo.
Under the skin, the iM6 packs a large 100 kWh battery pack. Two different powertrain options are available globally- a single-motor version with 401 hp and 500 Nm on offer and claiming a range of 625 km on a full charge, and a more powerful dual-motor version that makes 741 hp and 802 Nm. The latter is claimed to have supercar-like performance figures and a range of around 505 km per charge. All wheel steering is also offered on the version sold abroad. In India, however, the carmaker is likely to offer just a single variant.
Inside, the iM6 will be tech-packed. The design and layout, however, will be minimal. The India-spec is likely to come with a White interior theme. Key features will include a large dual-screen setup, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and ventilated front seats, recline option for the rear seats, panoramic glass roof, wireless charging, and more.
What makes the iM6 special? Strong, supercar-like performance, a long list of features and an attractive styling.
JSW Motors plans to sell a rebadged version of the Jaecoo J5 SUV in India. A prototype of the vehicle was recently spied testing here, confirming this intent. Jaecoo is a sub-brand under Chery Automobile, a Chinese company. When brought to India, the J5-based SUV will have a different name and be sold under the JSW branding, possibly with minor design tweaks.
The J5 has a clean and minimalistic design. It comes with slim LED headlamps and tail-lamps, 19-inch aero-optimised wheels, and more. Inside, the SUV gets features like a 14.8-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, a 540‑degree camera system, panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, level 2 ADAS and more.
Globally, the J5 is available with both hybrid and all-electric powertrains. It will, however, be just the EV that’s coming to India. The electric version will come with a 60.9kWh battery pack and a 210hp electric motor. It will have an NEDC range of 461km per charge and will be able to support fast charging speeds of up to 130kW. The EV will be able to do the 0-100kph sprint in just 7.3 seconds.
JSW plans to take the CKD route initially and gradually transition to deep localisation. We lack clarity on the actual launch timeline, though 2027 remains a strong possibility.
What makes the Jaecoo J5 interesting? Essentially a rival to the Hyundai Creta Electric, the J5-based SUV will have a unique styling and a technology-rich cabin.
Another model that JSW is readying for the Indian market- a Chery iCAUR V23-based SUV. The V23 sold abroad is 4,220mm long. If the JSW version retains these dimensions, it will compete with mid-size electric SUVs like the Creta Electric, Vinfast VF6, and Mahindra BE6 when launched.
The biggest highlight of the V23 is its design. It has a tall stance, upright proportions and may even remind you of Toyota Land Cruiser J40. The silhouette may invoke memories of the Land Rover Defender. There is a likeable retro-modern off-road vibe to this design. Circular LED headlamps, unique LED DRLs, flared wheel arches, five-spoke wheels, wide fender flares, hidden door handles- all make it visually appealing.
Two powertrains are available in international markets- a 136hp rear-wheel-drive setup powered by a 59.93 kWh battery pack and a 211hp, all-wheel-drive configuration mated to a 81.76kWh battery. The smaller battery has a CLTC range of 401km per charge while the other is claimed to offer 510km (CLTC) per charge.
The RWD version is capable of doing 0-100kph in 11 seconds. The AWD version takes 7.5 seconds for the same. Like the J5, this product too will be brought as CKDs initially. Deep localisation will follow later.
Maruti Suzuki’s second EV in India will be an MPV. Though based on the same Heartect-e skateboard platform as the recently-launched eVitara SUV, this product will be longer and roomier inside. Currently codenamed YMC, it is likely to use the same battery packs as the e-Vitara- 49kWh and 61.1kWh. Details remain sparse at the time of writing.
The VF3, when launched, will compete with the MG Comet EV. It will, however, have an entirely different form and packaging. Unlike the Comet that is a hatchback, the VF3 will be a micro-SUV targeted at urban buyers. It will have a two-door, four-seat design, a 191mm ground clearance and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The VF3 will come with an 18.64 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with an NEDC range of 210km per charge. The rear-mounted electric motor will have an output of 43.5 hp and 110 Nm. This EV will be able to accelerate from 0 to 50kph in just 5.3 seconds.
Rox Motor, a Shanghai-based brand recently filed a patent for its Adamas SUV in India. It is a large SUV that is over five metres in length. It has a boxy design and an upright stance. Key design highlights include T-shaped LED headlamps and tail lamps, a flat roof line and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. Both 6- and 7-seater configurations are available abroad. The model sold abroad has features like powered and ventilated seats with massage function,3-zone climate control, digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen.
In India, the Adamas will compete with models like the Toyotra Fortuner and the MG Majestor. The Chinese SUV will come with a 1.5L range extender hybrid powertrain. This setup mates a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors, and extracts 469hp and 740 Nm from the system. The setup is claimed to offer a combined range of 1,226 km and an electric-only range of 235km.
Honda is expected to launch the all-new Prelude coupe in India in the first half of 2026. It will be positioned as a halo product, and will also become the carmaker’s first modern coupe to be sold here. The two-door Prelude will be powered by a 2.0-litre dual-motor strong hybrid powertrain with a combined system output of 200hp and 315Nm. It will come paired with Honda’s S+ shift system, also found in the Civic Type-R. The Prelude will be a full import (CBU) and will thus be priced at a premium.
Chery has patented its T1TP concept in India. While a patent filing doesn’t guarantee an immediate launch, it does give hopes that this modular car is likely to be brought to India sometime in the future. The T1TP concept is called ‘shape-shifting car’ because it can be shaped into an SUV, a pickup truck and a camper by adjusting and changing body panels- interesting!
The design of the front fascia resembles that of other Chery models like the Tiggo 8 and 9. The rear end looks more like that of a pickup. Powering the concept is the proprietary CSH technology (Chery Super Hybrid).This mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The exact output figures remain unclear. Times remains before we see this concept being put into production.