Important Car News Over The Past Week: Hyundai, Kia And Renault Made Headlines

The past week saw several major developments in the automotive sector. Hyundai launched the facelifted Verna sedan, MG Motor began bookings for its flagship Majestor SUV, and Jetour’s T2 SUV achieved a top safety rating. Renault also revealed a new concept SUV for India, and Kia updated its Sonet lineup with more accessible automatic variants.

Key Highlights

• The past week saw several major developments in the automotive sector.
• Hyundai launched the facelifted Verna sedan, MG Motor began bookings for its flagship Majestor SUV, and Jetour’s T2 SUV achieved a top safety rating.
• Renault also revealed a new concept SUV for India, and Kia updated its Sonet lineup with more accessible automatic variants.
• Hyundai introduced the facelifted Verna for the 2026 model year.

Hyundai, MG, and Jetour Announcements

Hyundai introduced the facelifted Verna for the 2026 model year. The sedan starts at Rs 10.98 lakh (ex-showroom) and comes in six trims under the new HX nomenclature. The update brings minor design changes, more features, and improved safety equipment. Hyundai also announced that the Venue SUV has surpassed 1 lakh bookings in India. To mark this, Hyundai launched a new HX8 Diesel AT variant for the Venue, positioned between the HX5 and HX10 trims. This variant offers buyers an automatic diesel option without needing to purchase the top model.

MG Motor opened bookings for its upcoming flagship SUV, the MG Majestor. The full-size SUV is expected in showrooms from April 2026, with deliveries likely to start in May 2026. Early customers will benefit from a special scheme offered by MG.

The Jetour T2, set to launch in India later this year, secured a 5-star safety rating in ASEAN NCAP crash tests. The SUV scored 86.50 points under the 2021–2025 testing protocol. It performed well in Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Safety Assist, and Motorcyclist Safety categories. The T2 will be Jetour’s first model in India under the JSW Motor partnership.

Renault and Kia Updates

Renault unveiled the Bridger Concept, a subcompact SUV designed in India. The concept previews a future model that will sit below the Duster in Renault’s lineup. The Bridger Concept features a boxy, rugged design with large wheels and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. It is expected to use Renault’s 1-litre turbo-petrol engine, already available in higher variants of the Kiger.

Kia updated the Sonet lineup by introducing new turbo-petrol and diesel variants. Automatic transmission options are now available from lower trims. The diesel automatic is offered from the HTE(O) variant, while the turbo-petrol DCT is now available in the HTK (O) trim. Kia also added a new exterior colour option. The Sonet retains its existing features, safety equipment, and engine choices.

This week’s developments highlight new launches, expanded lineups, and significant safety achievements in the Indian automotive market.