Most powerful cars launched in India in 2016

2016 witnessed launch of 5 exciting and powerful cars in India from five different manufacturers which included two German, two American and one Japanese automaker.

The gap between the cheapest and most expensive car between these five models is as much as INR 1.74 crores. No surprises here as all five of them are petrol-powered, unless you hoped Elon Musk had a weird dream of launching Tesla in India.

4 out of the 5 models are beyond the reach of 99% of India's population with only one model that can satisfy your lust for sheer power and is a little bit pocket-friendly.

Let us ask you a question, which one of these would you buy? Tell us your answer in the comments sections.

Ford Mustang

After a long wait, India finally got to witness one of the legendary Fords, Mustang with a right hand side drive module for Indian market. Having a beastly 396 hp of power, 515 Nm of torque generated from a 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Mustang is a collector's favourite. 

With a 6-speed select shift auto transmission gear box and a top speed of 250 km/h, it reaches 0-100 km/h in 4.8 secs. It has a ground clearance of 137 mm which limits the excitement to very few and rare stretches of tarmac in India.

With its sleek design and powerful engine, it is available in Indian market at a price of INR 65 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Audi  RS₇  Sportsback  Performance

Audi launched the most powerful 4-door sedan in India by improving the previous RS7 Sportback to Sportback Performance. This rubber-burner packs a spectacular twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that makes 605 hp of power, 700 Nm of torque, a performance-tuned 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and a lowered suspension. 

The new COD (Cylinder On Demand) feature makes it more economical. The best part is that the luxury is not compromised for the sporty performance. The rear spoiler rises up according to the speed to generate additional downforce.

For a luxurious ride with a sporty blend, India has to pay a high but reasonable amount of INR 1.25 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Nissan  GT-R

The latest offering from Nissan India's stable is the GT-R. The supercar gets mid-mounted hand-built 3.8-liter V6 twin turbocharged engine developing 565 HP of power and 637 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch sequential transmission. 

The Nissan GT-R reaches from zero to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds and has a top speed of 311 km/h. The GT-R is offered with different driving modes, - Normal Mode, Race mode and Snow mode.

Compared to the previous model, the new Nissan GT-R has better aerodynamics due to the reduced coefficient-of-drag of 0.26. In addition, the C-pillar has been redesigned to prevent vortex formation which could have resulted in less performance had it not been looked into.

The handcrafted seat upholstery of the GT-R ensures a reduced noise level inside the cabin. The interiors boast of a Bose audio system with 11 speakers and Black, Red, Ivory or Tan touring leather seats and trims. The Nissan GT-R is also equipped with features like Vehicle Dynamic Control system, Traction Control System, ABS with EBD and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

It is priced at INR 1.99 crore, ex-showroom, Delhi and is the most expensive of the five cars mentioned in this article.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

After many rumours and speculations, Jeep launched the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited in India in August 2016. 

Under the hood, the Grand Cherokee SRT gets a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 petrol engine that churns out 468 hp and 624 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. The engine is channelized to a Quadra-Trac Active on-demand four-wheel drive system.

It gets Brembo high-performance Anti-Lock Brakes, Selec-Track traction control and Ready Alert Braking. The last technology mentioned helps the driver during emergency braking by using sensors from the camera and radar of the Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control systems.

The Grand Cherokee is available in three variants, the Summit priced at INR 1.03 crore, Limited at INR 93.64 lakhs and the high-performance SRT that carries a price tag of  INR 1.12 crore.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

One of the most affordable performance cars in India is the three-door Volkswagen Polo GTI. The Polo GTI competes with the Fiat Punto Abarth and is powered by a 1.8-liter TSI petrol engine, developed by Audi. 

The engine generates 189 hp of power and 250 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a 7-speed automatic DSG gearbox. The car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 233 km/h. The Polo GTI is equipped with disc brakes with red painted callipers at both the axles.

At a price tag of INR 25.99 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, the Polo GTI is also packed to the hilt with safety features such as 6 airbags, ABS, Hill Hold and ESP (Electronic stability control). Volkswagen sells the GTI as a CBU unit and is available in limited numbers.