Recently, Skoda made waves in India by relaunching its Superb at a price of ₹54 lakhs. Now, you might be thinking—₹54 lakhs? What could I get for that elsewhere? In the U.S., you could get two Ford Mustangs for that price! In Japan, a Land Cruiser Prado could be yours. And in China? Well, maybe even half a company (just kidding!).
But the real question is, which cars from around the world would make the best fit for the Indian market? Let’s take a quick flight around the globe to explore what’s out there, and see what’s most likely to come to India—and at what price.
Cadillac Escalade: A Big Dream for a Big Price
First stop, the U.S., where Cadillac reigns supreme. When we talk about Cadillac, the first thing that comes to mind is the Escalade—a beast of a car that makes a serious statement wherever it goes. This massive luxury SUV stands out with its imposing grille, sleek headlights, and a 5.3-meter length that extends to 5.7 meters with the long-wheelbase version.
Inside, it’s all about luxury. The Escalade boasts a stunning 33-inch curved OLED display, a spacious interior, and room for seven people. It’s powered by a 4.2-liter V8 engine, delivering plenty of power for those long highway drives.
While the basic version of the Escalade starts at ₹60 lakhs, the top-spec V performance version goes up to a staggering ₹1.2 crores. However, even if the Escalade did come to India, after import duties, you’d be looking at a price tag close to ₹1.9 crores. As much as we’d love to see it here, the chances of it launching in India are slim—maybe 10% at best.
Cadillac Lyriq: A Better Chance for India?
Moving on to something a little more realistic, the Cadillac Lyriq—an electric SUV that could actually have a shot in India. This nearly 5-meter-long electric SUV sports the iconic Cadillac look, minus the traditional grille, replaced by a sleek design. Inside, you’ll find another 33-inch screen setup and luxurious seats that offer a premium driving experience.
The Lyriq comes with a 500 km range and 400 horsepower in its top-spec version. Priced at ₹50 lakhs in foreign markets, importing it to India would cost about ₹60 lakhs. While it’s still not cheap, the probability of this one coming to India is slightly higher at around 15%, especially with India’s growing interest in electric vehicles.
Hummer EV: Big, Bold, and Electrifying
Next up, we have the iconic Hummer, which has made a comeback as an EV. The Hummer EV SUV could be perfect for India, particularly the dual-motor version, which delivers over 800 horsepower and a 500 km range. You’ll also get 37-inch tires, 400 mm ground clearance, and even crab-walk technology—yes, the car can move diagonally!
With features like a glass roof that you can detach and store in the front trunk, this car offers something truly unique. The Hummer EV is priced at ₹87 lakhs abroad, but after importing it to India, it could cost around ₹2.3 crores. Still, it’s a value proposition, especially when compared to luxury SUVs like the Defender. However, the chance of this beast landing in India? About 18%.
Ford Mustang: The Iconic Muscle Car
Ford has been toying with the idea of a comeback in India, and if that happens, we can expect the return of the iconic Ford Mustang. Whether you go for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost or the 5.0-liter V8, the Mustang’s price abroad starts at around ₹40 lakhs. If it returns to India, it’s likely to cost somewhere between ₹1 crore to ₹1.3 crores.
Given its massive popularity in India, the probability of a relaunch is around 45%, which is pretty high. The Mustang’s legacy in India makes it a car we can realistically hope to see on our roads soon.
BYD Yangwang U8: China’s Answer to the Defender
Let’s take a quick flight to China, where BYD has been making waves. Their new Yangwang U8 is essentially a Defender on steroids. It’s a 5.3-meter-long SUV with 4 independent motors that deliver 1000 horsepower. It also boasts features like crab-walk, tank turn, and boat mode, allowing it to float on water!
With all these high-tech features, the Yangwang U8 is priced at ₹1.2 crores abroad. However, if BYD sets up a local assembly plant in India, it could be priced at around ₹1.5 crores. This could be a game changer, offering serious competition to the likes of the Defender and other premium SUVs.
Xiaomi SUV 7: The Budget Porsche Taycan?
Xiaomi, the company known for its smartphones, has now entered the car market with the Xiaomi SUV 7. This car resembles a Porsche Taycan, but with a price tag of just ₹25 lakhs! It offers a 700 km range and a 2.0-liter turbo-petrol engine, which is unheard of at this price point.
If Xiaomi decides to bring this car to India, it could pose serious competition to Indian carmakers. The possibility of this launch? Well, it’s anyone’s guess, but considering Xiaomi’s aggressive expansion in India, there’s definitely hope.
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Conclusion: What’s Coming to India?
So, after traveling around the world, we’ve seen a variety of cars that could potentially make their way to India. While some have a very slim chance, others, like the Ford Mustang and BYD Yangwang U8, seem more likely to be launched here.
The global car market is evolving, and with India’s growing interest in electric vehicles and luxury SUVs, we might soon see some of these iconic brands on our roads. Let’s hope for the best!
For a more detailed look at these cars and their features, visit our channel for an in-depth review.