Indian car buyers can expect September 2026 to feature a wide-ranging list of launches ranging from mass-market hatchbacks to premium SUVs and luxury sedans, and even an electric SUV in the high-performance category.
Kia Sorento- September 4
Kia will launch the Sorento in India as its new flagship ICE SUV, positioned above the Carens and Carnival. This model is to feature both strong hybrid and diesel engines in order to target customers wanting a large and loaded SUV without making it electric.
Powertrain and performance
1.6-litre strong hybrid: 238 hp, 380 Nm
2.0-litre diesel: 202 hp, 441 Nm
These two will come with automatic gearboxes and all-wheel-drive, but the exact details regarding the transmission will still be announced later by Kia.
Design and dimensions
The design language of the Sorento comes from the most recent Kia design philosophy, which means the Tiger Nose grille, the large vertical LED headlamps and Y-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights. The LED fog lamps and the vertical aero elements at the bumper sides give it its bold front look. In the rear, the model is characterized by the squarish tail-lamps with an inverted L-shaped LED signature, the large roof spoiler and two-tone bumper. The alloy wheels are to be 19 inches.
Features and variants
The interior will feature a connected screen housing the infotainment and instrument cluster, which are supposed to be both 12.3 inches large. Inside, the Kia Sorento is likely to be equipped with:
ADAS safety suite
ventilated front seats
digital interior rear-view mirror (IRVM)
electrically operated tailgate
dual-zone climate control
ambient lighting
panoramic sunroof
The Sorento will be available in both 6- and 7-seater layout, directly competing with Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian. The expected price range is between ₹38 and ₹40 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Maruti Suzuki Baleno Facelift- September 5
The best-selling premium hatchback in India, the Maruti Baleno, is about to receive a mid-life facelift, featuring mostly visual and equipment tweaks but the same proven mechanicals.
Exterior changes
As revealed by spy photos, a redesigned front grille with a horizontal line that connects the headlights seems to be part of the new exterior design. The front bumper is expected to be without the fog lights found in the current model. On the side, not much is expected in terms of exterior changes except the redesigned alloy wheels. The rear section of the Baleno might come with a redesigned bumper while retaining the same tail-lamps as in the current model.
Interior and features
As per the report, the interior will be mostly the same as the current model with the same 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system but different upholstery. Safety and comfort features are expected to undergo some change so as to keep the Baleno competitive against other cars like Tata Altroz, Hyundai i20 and Toyota Glanza.
Powertrain
In terms of the powertrain, the refreshed Baleno will still use the current engine options which include:
1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol: 90 hp; 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed AMT gearbox
1.2-litre CNG: 77.5 hp; manual gearbox only
The expected price is ₹6.3–8 lakh (ex-showroom) putting it right back into the mass-market premium hatch category.
BMW 7 Series and i7 Facelift- September 11
BMW will introduce the facelifted 7 Series and the fully electric i7 cars in India. These two BMW sedans will get some power and technical upgrades making them even better than before.
Powertrain updates
In the global markets, the facelifted variants receive considerable upgrades as follows:
740i (petrol): 3.0-litre straight-six; 400 hp, 580 Nm (19 hp and 60 Nm increase)
740d (diesel): 3.0-litre straight-six; 313 hp, 670 Nm (27 hp and 20 Nm increase)
These engines come with 48V mild-hybrid system, 8-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD.
As for the i7, there will be:
112.4 kWh battery capacity (increase from 101.7 kWh)
eDrive 50 (new name: xDrive-only); 455 hp, 660 Nm
M70 xDrive: 680 hp, 1,100 Nm
Charging speeds are also improved
It seems that the powertrain direction is towards better performance and range for the i7.
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Design and tech
On the outside, the facelifted 7 Series and i7 models are characterized by more monolithic look with split LED headlamps, redesigned and more upright kidney grilles that are lit up on the inside and large bumper air intakes. The rear gets wraparound LED taillamps, a new tailgate and a revised bumper.
In terms of interior design, it will feature:
17.9-inch central infotainment touchscreen display
14.6-inch passenger display
Pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision display at the base of the windscreen
New four-spoke steering wheel (Neue Klasse design)
Rear passengers will enjoy the comfort of power-adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, massaging and lumbar support. Also, they will get the redesigned 31.3-inch 8K Theatre Screen which will have touch capability added. Besides, the updated 7 Series/i7 will have ambient lighting, Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system and 4-zone climate control. The 7 Series/i7 with facelift will continue to compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Porsche Cayenne Electric- First Show in India on September 30
Porsche plans to show the fully electric Cayenne in India in September, having announced its prices earlier. It will come in two trims:
Cayenne Electric: ₹1.77 crore (ex-showroom)
Cayenne Turbo Electric: ₹2.27 crore (ex-showroom)
Powertrain and performance
Both versions of the car will feature a 113 kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel-drive.
Cayenne Electric: 442 hp, 835 Nm; 0-100 kph in 4.8 seconds; top speed 230 kph; WLTP range 542 km
Cayenne Turbo Electric: 1,156 hp, 1,500 Nm (with Launch Control); 0-100 kph in 2.5 seconds; top speed 260 kph; WLTP range 537 km
Design and equipment
The Cayenne Electric keeps the iconic body shape but with closed off-grille and bigger air intake vents (especially for Cayenne Turbo Electric model). There will be a light bar with illuminated Porsche lettering stretching across the entire tailgate and a redesigned rear bumper with horizontal black elements.
Interior will get a three-spoke steering wheel, digital driver’s display and the 14.5-inch curved touchscreen infotainment system seamlessly integrating with the centre console. Optional 14.9-inch passenger display will also be available. Also, the list of highlights includes 8-way electric front seats, four-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof and wireless phone charging.
What September Brings for Car Buyers
September offers some new products for almost any car segment:
There will be a new flagship option for family SUVs with the launch of Kia Sorento.
Premium hatchback buyers will appreciate the facelifted Baleno with a new look and upgraded equipment.
Luxury sedan buyers will receive new high-power tech-loaded versions of the 7 Series and i7.
LUXURY EV fans are now able to test drive the Porsche Cayenne Electric in reality.
In terms of price, vehicles in India start at around ₹6 lakh to even over ₹2 crore during this month, showing just how diverse the car market is getting in India.
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