7 New Turbo-Petrol Cars Launching In 2026: Renault Boreal To Skoda Kodiaq RS
Turbo-petrol engines have been rapidly gaining acceptance in India. These being petrol engines, have relatively lower emissions and the turbochargers make sure that they pack enough punch. More manufacturers are now offering them across segments and price ranges. Here are 7 turbo-petrol cars and SUVs expected to launch in the coming months.
Skoda recently introduced a new AISIN- sourced 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission on the all-new Kushaq. It comes with the 1.0L TSI turbo-petrol engine alone. The Kylaq, currently the carmaker’s highest-selling model, also comes powered by the same turbocharged petrol engine.
We expect Skoda to introduce the new transmission on the Kylaq sometime this year. The small SUV is also expected to get a ‘Sportline’ trim that will come with additional sporty detailing and the same three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 113hp and 178Nm.
The RS is the sportiest avatar of Kodiaq. It places a strong focus on performance and handling. We expect it to launch later this year. The Kodiaq RS will have sharper styling than the regular SUV. One of the most notable changes is that it will have gloss-Black trims instead of Chrome on the exterior. Even the interior will have an all-Black theme and sporty detailing with multiple RS badges and sports seats.
The Kodiaq RS will be powered by the same 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine in a higher state of tune. It will make around 263 PS and 370 Nm. This SUV will be brought as Completely Built Units (CBUs), in limited numbers.
Renault will launch a three-row C-segment SUV later this year. It is likely to be based on the Bigster sold abroad and has already been spied on test in India. As suggested by these spy shots, the SUV will remain close to the international counterpart with its styling, dimensions and silhouette.
This SUV will be underpinned by the same RGMP (Renault Group Modular Platform) platform as the third-generation Duster. It is also expected to borrow its powertrains from the five-seater. It will be powered by the same 1.3L turbocharged petrol engine and will be offered with a 6-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch transmission. When launched, this SUV will compete with the likes of Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV 7XO.
Nissan plans to launch its version of the Duster this year. Called the Tekton, this compact SUV will use the same RGMP platform and the same set of turbo-petrol engines- 1.0L turbo and 1.3L turbo. The former will likely be offered with just a manual transmission while the latter will offer the choice of a six-speed wet clutch DCT automatic gearbox. Pricing is likely to be similar to the Duster’s and the vehicle will compete with a handful of mid-size SUVs here. This segment itself is fiercely competitive and Nissan will have to give the Tekton the perfect pricing to find success with it.
Another turbo-petrol SUV expected to launch this year is the lower-spec Volkswagen Tayron. Now, the Tayron is only available in the sporty R-Line guise. The carmaker will soon bring a lower-spec version powered by the same 2.0L TSI engine (producing 201hp and 320Nm), to cater to the more value-conscious crowd. When launched, it will be positioned below the R-Line in VW’s lineup. On the design front, it will lack some of the sporty R-Line-spec detailing. There may be some feature omissions as well.
Maruti Fronx now has a strong 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine (98hp and 148Nm) on offer. This crossover is expected to get a notable facelift sometime this year which will give it subtle design tweaks, possibly new colours, more features and even an ADAS suite. In addition to the turbocharged petrol engine, the new model may also get a hybrid powertrain.
The Creta has been ruling the mid-size SUV segment for a really long time. The SUV has, however, started to show its age and is awaiting a full generational update. The new generation will move to the more advanced K3 platform and will continue to offer the choice of the 1.5L direct injection turbocharged petrol engine making 158hp and 253Nm. It will be offered with the choice of a seven-speed DCT automatic transmission. The new Creta will be larger, have fresh styling and a more feature-rich and comfortable cabin.