Maruti XA Alpha Compact SUV : Auto Expo 2012

[GTO]

Full Report on the Maruti Pavilion at this link

High Points:

- Maruti XA Alpha SUV Concept unveiled earlier this morning

- Production version will be targeted at younger, first-time SUV buyers

- Market expects hatchback buyers to upgrade to compact SUVs (instead of a sedan)

- Maruti expects the sub-10 lakh rupee SUV market to explode

- Looks chic and has spunk, much like the Swift! Nice Lava Red colour

- The XA is a monocoque, and NOT a body-on-frame. Samurai & other off-roaders who were expecting Jimny'ish credentials will be disappointed

- Length - 4 meters, Width = 1900 mm & Height = 1600 mm

- Wheelbase of 2500 mm

- Seating capacity of 5

- Production version will be offered in 4x2 and part-time AWD versions

- K-series petrol engine (upcoming 1.4 liter??) and Fiat diesel

- Time taken to prepare the concept was less than a year, and included Maruti's India engineers

Maruti's pavilion this morning:


Chunky European design. Radiator grill looks horrible:


Swift-inspiration on the A Pillar & roof are obvious:


L-shaped tail lamps:










Lovely rear 3-quarter stance:












Sexy wheels. 255 / 50 / R19 Pirellis:






Front & rear tow hooks (on either side):


A sneak peek at the Ertiga (to be unveiled tomorrow):

[Durango Dude]

This brick colored brick is a concept, may take a long time to make it here. Any idea when its headed for production?

[Steeroid]

Kia Soul.

The wheels have turned a full circle - the Japs now copy the Koreans.

[sandeep108]

That is pretty ugly. The Ecosport wins.

[arindambasu13]

Any idea on the powertrain specifications? Looks somewhat inspired from Range Rover Evoque in terms of side profile design lines. But looks to me like this will go the A-Star way, i.e. what you see in these pics will be very different from the set of wheels which actually hits the roads as a production version. And those windows look really high set and claustrophobic from the outside.

[srishiva]

Dont know how it will look once it comes into production. Nothing great I would say. But it looks well proportioned.

On the other hand, will the Indian market move more towards SUVs like the U.S market did.(although for smaller SUVs) It looks like it would with the added benefit of having diesel engines.

[Shrek_924]

Looking at the windows, overall design, twin exhausts, lamps etc. I think it will take another year to bring them a production version. Optimistically 2012-end/Early 2013?

[nitinbose]

Any interior pics? What would be the specs, cost and expected availability? I feel this looks more like the Range Rover Evoque.

[anshul_UVA]

This vehicle (and to a lesser extent the ecosport) look like sedan/wagon bodies with big wheels. Somehow I feel they are disproportionate. A tallboy design on these vehicles would look awesome.

[kartikk]

The rear door looks like it opens just like the London taxi. Shades of Evoque styling in the 3 quarter and side views. Does not at all look close to production version and whats with the ORVM's?

*Sorry couldn't resist but are they using the spike buster to power the lamps

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by GTO

- The XA is a monocoque, and NOT a body-on-frame. Samurai & other off-roaders who were expecting Jimny'ish credentials will be disappointed

- Production version will be offered in 4x2 and part-time AWD versions

I don't mind the looks. But I really don't understand why Suzuki/Maruti doesn't care to upgrade the Gypsy to something modern.

Every car maker is flooding the market with Geldings.

Anyway, this too is off my list. I am not really looking to replace GV in near future.

[ckranjan]

Its good but not as good Looking as Ecosport.
I dont think its production will start before 2013-2014.

Till that time Ford, Renault, Mahindra would have captured most of the Mini-SUV market.

Maruti needs to hurry, Otherwise it will be too late for them.

Lets wait for Duster and Mini - Xylo to complete the comparison.

[mjothi]

Nice to see the sub 10Lacs SUVs. Seems they got inspired with the hummer?.

But the side profile shows like a Swift with a dented rear

[Vid6639]

I can definitely see that it took less than a year to prepare the concept. It looks like they started ok from the front and by the time they reached they ran out of time. Too much bare sheet metal in the back and not much design elements. The C pillar and hatch area look really like a metal slab.

[Tapish]

Nice attempt by Maruti.

Few pointers from my side:
1. Looks like a mini Evoque from the front 3/4 angle.
2. The rear 3/4 seems boxy with the really wide C pillar.
3. As mentioned by someone, the windows appear claustrophobic.
4. Looking at the A-star, this may just be a casual design that will be toned down for the market.
5. Interior space seems to be less (quite like the A-star).

Ford ecosport wins the concept round hands down, with a turbocharged engine and better stance. However, the ability to Ladakh the car lies totally with the Maruti.

Cheers
Tapish