Maruti Suzuki is the largest carmaker in India, and it is little wonder that car buyers are constantly looking for new models and updates from the company. The next 12 months is going to be interesting for Maruti with at least five cars expected from the company – some all new models and some facelifted versions.
Here’s a list of upcoming cars from Maruti Suzuki that you can expect within the next 12 months.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
Expected: October 2017
Likely price: Rs 5 lakh-Rs 8 lakh
The new-generation Maruti Swift is likely to be introduced in India during the festive season, which is October-November 2017. This car was recently crash-tested by Euro NCAP and scored 3 and 4 stars for the basic and enhanced safety variants respectively. It is based on the Heartech platform, which underpins the Baleno and new Dzire. This will make the Swift lighter, yet more spacious. It will continue to be powered by the same engine choices – a 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel, with manual and automated-manual transmissions like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire.
Maruti S-Cross
Expected: November 2017
Likely price: Rs 9 lakh-Rs 13 lakh
One of the criticisms that the existing Maruti S-Cross faces is that it does not look aggressive enough for an SUV or a crossover. That is something the company is addressing with the upcoming facelifted S-Cross. It looks mean and should help it shore up its sales numbers. It comes with a choice of 1.3 litre diesel and 1.6 litre diesel engines, but the upcoming facelifted variant is also likely to get the 1.0 litre boosterjet (turbo-charged petrol) engine that comes in the Maruti Baleno RS. The facelifted S-Cross includes a reworked grille, headlamps, and redesigned tail lamps.
Maruti Ciaz
Expected: September 2017
Likely price: Rs 8 lakh-Rs 12 lakh
The company moved the Maruti Ciaz to its Nexa branded sales outlets rather hastily, just ahead of the launch of the new Maruti Dzire. Nexa outlets are premium versions of the regular Maruti outlets and sell high-end cars.
The car is now likely to get a few updates, which will add value to its refreshed badging. (Maruti has now moved the Ciaz variants to Sigma, Delta, Alpha badging from the LXI / LDI, VXI / VDI, ZXI / ZDI nomenclature.) The changes are likely to be limited to headlamp and fog lamp updates, minor bumper changes and premium touches to the interiors. Rumour has it that the top-end variants could include a sun-roof too.
Maruti Vitara Brezza petrol
Expected: September 2017
Likely price: Rs 7 lakh-Rs 10 lakh
The Maruti Vitara Brezza compact SUV has so far been available only with a 1.3 litre diesel engine and five-speed manual transmission. However, with other competing compact SUVs being offered with petrol engines too, Maruti is likely to update the Brezza and give it a petrol engine. It is likely to get the 1-litre boosterjet (turbo-charged petrol engine) that is present in the Baleno RS. This will allow it to compete with the Ford EcoSport Ecoboost model. With the update, Maruti may also offer an automatic or automated manual transmission option with the Vitara Brezza.
Maruti Ertiga Dreza
Expected: February 2018
Likely price: Rs 8 lakh-Rs 11 lakh
The Maruti Ertiga is likely to get a facelift in the form of the Maruti Ertiga Dreza. This facelifted variant of the Ertiga was showcased at the Auto show in Indonesia a few months ago. Changes are mainly cosmetic, with a revised front grille and bumper as well as alloy wheel design. It is expected to get a few premium updates on the interiors too, including a new infotainment system. Engine choices are likely to remain the same as before – a 1.4 litre petrol engine and a 1.3 litre diesel engine with five-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic.
Besides these cars, there are rumours of a refreshed Maruti Alto coming towards the end of 2018 and a chunkier version of the Maruti Celerio – sort of like a Celerio cross.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)