It has been a week of contrasts in the auto world. On one hand, Hyundai and Kawasaki played it safe with cosmetic updates dressed up as something bigger, while on the other, Maruti Suzuki and Ather announced fresh, forward-looking products. The result is a mixed bag of hype, substance, and a fair bit of marketing gloss.
VW Polo to Go Electric
Volkswagen is finally bringing one of its most beloved nameplates into the EV era. Come 2026, the all-electric ID. Polo will debut, closely based on the affordable ID.2all concept first shown in 2023. VW has also confirmed a performance-oriented ID. Polo GTI, keeping the hot hatch badge alive for the electric age.
This shift marks a new naming strategy: established combustion-era names will now migrate to the ID. portfolio. Expect the ID.3’s successor to be called the ID. Golf, the next ID.4 to become the ID. Tiguan, and so on. It’s a move that ditches confusing EV-specific naming in favour of familiar badges, following the lead of Audi and Mercedes. For VW fans, it means less alphabet soup and more continuity.
Hyundai Creta Electric Knight Launched At Rs 21.45 lakh
Hyundai has extended its Knight Edition strategy to the Creta Electric. Matte black treatment, red calipers, and brass accents define the cosmetic update. Available with both 42kWh and 51.4kWh battery packs, it now delivers improved range—420km and 510km respectively. A premium of Rs 15,000 over the Excellence trim buys you the blackout package.
Hyundai i20 Knight Launched At Rs 9.15 lakh
The Knight theme trickles down to Hyundai’s premium hatchback, in both i20 and i20 N Line forms. Expect the usual black alloys, brass highlights inside, and red calipers outside. The i20 Knight gets either the 83hp 1.2 petrol or the N Line’s 120hp turbo-petrol. Additions include a dashcam and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, but this is largely a cosmetic job at a slight premium.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris Revealed
Maruti Suzuki’s second midsize SUV after the Grand Vitara is called the Victoris. Positioned as Arena’s flagship, it comes loaded with features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Dolby Atmos audio, ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, and the brand’s first Level 2 ADAS suite. Powertrains mirror the Grand Vitara with mild-hybrid, strong-hybrid, and CNG options. The Victoris has a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating and is set to rival the Creta, Seltos, Elevate, and even its sibling, the Grand Vitara.
TVS Ntorq 150 Launched At Rs 1.19 lakh
TVS ups the ante with its largest scooter yet. The new Ntorq 150 gets a sharp, over-the-top design, quad projector lamps, and a 149cc engine making 13.2hp and 14.2Nm. Connected tech is a highlight—Alexa integration, crash alerts, geo-fencing, and more are available on the TFT-equipped variant. A loud design, backed by equally loud feature bragging rights.
Ather Scooter Gets Some Nifty Updates, Including Pothole Detection
Ather pulled off the week’s most meaningful showcase. The new EL platform promises better scalability and lower costs, backed by millions of km worth of field data. The event also brought OTA updates with voice interaction, Crash Alerts, Pothole Alerts, and ParkSafe features. Ather teased the EL01 concept, previewing its future design direction, and the radical Redux concept, which pushes scooter design into experimental territory. Add in a new fast charger and Rizta updates, and Ather easily stole the show.
2026 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Gets A Price Bump
Kawasaki has given the Ninja ZX-6R a new Lime Green paint scheme with white and blue streaks. Mechanically, it remains unchanged with its 636cc in-line four producing 129hp. While features like traction control, ABS, TFT screen, and quickshifter remain, the Rs 60,000 price hike for just a new colour is hard to justify. Still, the ZX-6R stands unchallenged as the only in-line four in its segment.
