New Delhi, Feb. 26 -- In the bustling showrooms of India's growing luxury car market, a new class of buyers is emerging-not just the ultra-wealthy elite, but ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs from tier-II cities, and even young tech executives eyeing their first taste of prestige on wheels.

Luxury carmakers, on their part, are broadening their appeal by slashing entry barriers through localized production and competitive pricing.

The modern-day entry-level luxury car buyer is increasingly data-driven. While the emotional pull of a prestigious badge remains, it is now balanced against a rigorous assessment of total cost of ownership (TCO), with due consideration for technological longevity and the growing viability of electric vehic...