The festive season is on in full swing and with sales peaking, four-wheeler manufacturers are doing all they can to build excitement in the market. September has already seen the launch of new cars but existing models are also being thrust into the spotlight. All through September, we saw launches of special- and limited-edition models from the likes of Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Audi, Skoda and MG. Here we try to list all of them.
2/10
Renault Kiger, Triber and Kwid Urban Night | Somehow black as a limited-edition theme has become part and parcel of the four-wheeler industry now and there’s no going back. The only difference is what they decide to name these editions. Renault seems to have gone with a simple Urban Night edition for their Kiger, Triber and Kwid cars. Most of the changes are strictly aesthetic, but what makes these Renault cars special is that only 300 units of each will be offered. That means there is a good chance of stocks running out quickly. As far as the changes themselves go, all three get new silver finished skid plates, headlight bezels, bumper garnishes and black ORVM housings. The lower portion of the tailgate has a chrome strip and obviously the exterior is painted black. On the inside, the changes are limited to a backlit scuff plate and ambient lighting in the Kiger. The Triber and Kiger also get the 9.66-inch Smart Mirror Monitor, an internal rear mirror complete with recording capabilities thanks to the cameras in the front and rear. Powertrains have been left as is for all three cars. The Kwid is powered by a 68 hp 1-litre petrol mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox. The Kiger’s 1-litre engine produces 72 hp and can be had with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. The Triber on the other hand gets two powertrain options—a 72 hp 1-litre naturally aspirated engine or a 100 hp 1-litre turbo-petrol. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on both with a 5-speed AMT option for the NA powertrain and a CVT for the turbocharged unit. (Image: Renault)
3/10
Jeep Compass Black Shark | Despite having black in the name, the Jeep Compass Black Shark Edition just darkens a few elements on and inside the SUV. The Compass Black Shark Edition can be had in any exterior paint you choose but it will come in a dual-tone scheme with a blacked-out roof. The other changes on the outside are limited to the black badging, front grille and alloys. Over on the inside, there is a black upholstery theme complete with red accents and stitching for that sporty kind of feeling. Jeep hasn’t made any changes to the powertrain and the Black Shark Edition continues to be powered by a 2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 170 hp of maximum power and 350 Nm of peak torque. The Jeep Compass Black Shark Edition sits just below the Model S (O) variant and above the Limited (O) variant. While it gets almost all of the features from the Model S variant, it still misses out on a 360-degree camera, the 9-speaker audio system from Alpine and integrated voice commands and navigation. (Image: Jeep India)
4/10
Jeep Meridian Overland Edition | Another special edition from Jeep comes in the form of the Meridian Overland Edition. Like the Compass Black Shark, the Overland also sees only subtle aesthetic changes. The biggest tell for the Overland Edition is the body-coloured cladding that you see on the top-spec Limited Plus variant. Where the matte black cladding made the Meridian look butch, the new single-paint scheme affords a more refined stance. The front grille has been tweaked just a tiny bit to add more chrome in the dark spaces and there is also a new set of alloys for the Overland. There are changes to the cabin, too. Of course, the layout still remains the same, however, the brown theme is now, all-encompassing. The upholstery trim now makes use of suede and copper accents have been splashed around the cabin. Powering the Jeep Meridian Overland Edition is the same engine that does duty in the Compass. This is a 2-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 170 hp of maximum power and 350 Nm of peak torque. It can be mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 9-speed automatic gearbox. (Image: Jeep India)
Skoda Kushaq Onyx Plus | Next on the list is the Skoda Kushaq Onyx Plus variant. An expansion of the Onyx trim, the Onyx Plus gets two paint options, namely Candy White and Carbon Steel. There is a splash of chrome around the car like the front grille, tailgate as well as the window line. The Kushaq Onyx Plus variant is powered by a 115 hp 1-litre TSI engine. Unfortunately, there is only a single 6-speed manual gearbox option and no automatic. (Image: Skoda)
6/10
Skoda Slavia Ambition Plus | Skoda also announced the Ambition Plus line for the Slavia sedan based on its Ambition trim. Like the Kushaq SUV, the Slavia also benefits from the chrome garnish treatment on the grille, tailgate and window line. Unlike the Kushaq, the Slavia is available to purchase in all the paint options currently on offer. The Slavia Ambition Plus also benefits from the addition of a dashcam as standard. It is powered by a 1-litre TSI engine that produces 115 hp of power, but it gets both a 6-speed manual and an automatic gearbox option. (Image: Skoda)
7/10
Audi Q5 and Q8 Limited Edition | The blacked-out theme returns with the Audi Q5 and Q8 Limited Editions. Available in a new Mythos Black paint option, the Q5 comes with other darkened components such as the grille, roof rails and even the logos. The lack of chrome on this is especially surprising and the only contrast to the dark demeanour are the silver alloys. Powering the Q5 is a 2-litre turbo-petrol that makes 265 hp of maximum power and 370 Nm of peak torque mated to the company’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.1 seconds and top speeds of 240 km/h. (Image: Audi India)
8/10
The Q8 is available in the Mythos Black paint scheme as well as Glacier White and Daytona Grey. The exterior is marked by Audi’s S-Line package, which includes the signature single-frame grille in black, dark Matrix LED headlamps and blacked-out roof rails. In addition, 21-inch graphite grey alloys come standard with the Limited Edition Q8. Powering the Q8 is a 3-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine mated to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This churns out 340 hp of maximum power and 500 Nm of peak torque. A 100 km/h sprint can be achieved in 5.9 seconds from standstill and the Q8 can go on to reach a top speed of 250 km/h. (Image: Audi India)
MG Astor Blackstorm | Another all-black special edition that launched in September was the MG Astor Blackstorm. Complete with the Starry Night paint scheme, the Blackstorm edition blacks out almost all of the components on the exteriors, including the grille, alloys, roof rail bumpers and headlamps. The door garnish has been left with a little bit of chrome to add a bit of contrast. Also, just to give the Astor a bit of a sporty flavour, MG has painted the brake callipers red. The all-black interiors from the Smart trim of the MG Astor have been carried into the Astor, but this time, red splashes around the AC vents, steering wheel, seats and upholstery make for a fresh new look. Finally, a JBL sound system has been added to the mix. The Blackstorm Edition is powered by just one engine option. This 1.5-litre petrol produces 110 hp of maximum power and can be had with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic gearbox. (Image: MG Motor India)
10/10
Mercedes G63 Grand Edition | Finally, the super limited Mercedes-Benz G63 Grand Edition has come to India. The biggest highlight on this edition is the all-black exterior complete with Kalahari Gold Magno highlights. Aside from the gold decals, the Kalahari gold extends to the alloy wheel colours and accents around the bumpers. Even the logos are finished in gold. Then, on the inside, the stitching around all the leatherwork is gold, giving it a fairly ‘grand’ feel. There is also some ‘Grand Edition’ badging on the passenger-side dash and floor mats, again, finished in gold. Powering the G63 is a 4-litre V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine capable of belting out 585 hp of maximum power and 850 Nm of peak torque, easily making it the most powerful car on this list. It has a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds, but the SUV’s top speed has been capped at 220 km/h. Now, the thing about the G63 Grand Edition is that only 25 units out of the 1,000 have been allocated to India, which makes it super-exclusive. On top of that, Mercedes says that the G63 will only be available for purchase to customers, who already own a Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-AMG or the S-Class. (Image: Mercedes Benz India)
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