[mooza]

^^ Hi DReddy, welcome to TBHP!

Nice catch from you on the Wuling test vehicle. You might be interested in some more details in the thread already existing below :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...eco-rival.html

Both the Maruti and Chevrolet MPVs are running neck and neck for the launches, it appears

[hpzone]

7 seater MPV market in India is still under explored. The photos suggest the new MPV is significantly different from the RIII concept. Now maruti is stepping into a segment with low competition and will be interesting to see how this market develop. And then we can dream about the cute crossovers conquered European markets recently. Hope Nissan will bring Qashqai+2 soon

[phoenix_rising]

Source: autocarindia.com

Maruti’s new R III mini-MPV spied

Here are the first spy pictures of Maruti’s new people mover. Shot in Rajasthan, probably undergoing hot weather testing, Maruti’s latest baby is not a regular Suzuki model sold in other markets but one that has been designed and engineered in India for the Indian market. Based on a stretched Ritz platform, this new Maruti features three rows of seats, four regular doors and is likely to have a seating capacity of between six to seven passengers, depending on the configuration.

The design is not what we had expected. Maruti had shown the RIII MPV concept at the Auto Expo in 2010, but this car looks almost nothing like it. Yes, the large triangular headlights spillover the fenders in a similar manner, but apart from that the MPV and the R III concept have nothing in common. The design however is immediately recognizable as a Suzuki and the nose, with its large headlamps and horizontal slot like grille, in fact is very similar to the Ritz. The wide inlet under the bumper and the nacelles for fogs however are very different.
Look closely at the pictures and other details come into view. A corrugated roof has been used to increase strength, the rear windscreen wraps itself around the back for that ‘pillar-less’ look and the tiny tail-lamps seem to have been designed with cost rather than visibility in mind.
Look at the nose and you can also see the vertically aligned intercooler in the chin of the car, which of course means there will be a diesel version. And you can expect a more powerful version of the K-Series engine to power this car as well. Maruti could also do a CNG version of this car. What remains to be seen however is if it can keep the three rows of seats with the gas tank in place.
Due to the stretched wheelbase, this car is not likely to duck into the sub four meter small car class, and Maruti will be looking at a more premium customer with this car. So the interiors are expected to be as well specified as a Swift or Ritz and this will be a feature rich model as well. Bootspace on this Maruti for the extended family however won’t be great.
Maruti is currently looking at building a new plant to expand its capacity, and that's something it will need when this car is launched towards the latter half of this year.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by phoenix_rising

Source: autocarindia.com

Maruti’s new R III mini-MPV spied

You spotted this thread for the 1st time? This is what is being discussed in all the 12 pages. The same pictures are uploaded in page 5 of this thread.

[vb-saan]

Autocar India website have some more images / details of the RIII. Here is the relevant link. Looks quite promising!
More details on Maruti

Information & pictures courtesy: www.autocarindia.com

Size and engine info from the news piece

Maruti has stretched the wheelbase to 2740mm which is 380mm more than that of the Ritz, and they have also added an additional rear overhang.
The length of the RIII at 4265mm is well over the critical four-metre length, which means that the RIII won’t qualify for a small-car excise cut. Additionally, the people-mover will get an all-new 1372cc K14 petrol engine which churns out a decent 95bhp and produces 13kgm of torque. Also on the cards is the Fiat-designed, VGT-equipped 89bhp DDiS motor from the SX4.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Autocar India website have some more images / details of the RIII. Here is the relevant link. Looks quite promising!

More details on Maruti

Enhanced front nose of the Ritz with a very nice rear design as well! Very proportionate profile.

[swiftnfurious]

The front looks really nice. I feel a bit of similarity with Getz [the headlight part]. I hope the next Gen Ritz also get the same front. The car does look too long and rear is quite bland IMO. And no excise cuts means pricing above 6.5L+ ex showroom for the top end I guess.

Edit:: Is the second pic an original one? The alloys look different!

[muni]

If the R III ends up looking like that, I would say it would be one of most neutral and pleasing designs from Maruti inside out with its simple and elegant design cues.

The wheels seem at least of 16inches and the ground clearance also seems pretty decent.Earlier doubts that it cannot be under 4 Mtrs has been confirmed.

Asking prices of around 8Lakhs on road seems very much likely.
I feel it's got a lot of potential to succeed with the most optimum diesel and petrol engines selected by Maruti.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by muni

Asking prices of around 8Lakhs on road seems very much likely.
I feel it's got a lot of potential to succeed with the most optimum diesel and petrol engines selected by Maruti.

Potential to succeed? It has the potential to break all records on the 'waiting period'! With the utility value and diesel heart, it will be hit both among taxi segment and general buyers.

[romeomidhun]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Is the second pic an original one? The alloys look different!

Not only the second picture, but the first one also is a Photoshopped one.

I still believe that the RIII will be of under 4m length.

Also, instead of the arched roof of Ritz, RIII will have a flat / drooping roof like Wagon-R.

IMO, the RIII will look very different from what you see here in this page - headlamps will be different, grill will be of a different shape, and the front wind-shield will be much steeper than this.

[ajay0612]

Originally Posted by Guna

Potential to succeed? It has the potential to break all records on the 'waiting period'! With the utility value and diesel heart, it will be hit both among taxi segment and general buyers.

Maruti will outprice the diesel version to avoid TAXI segment. My guess: Petrol version (6.49-7.49Lakhs). Diesel Version (7.99-8.99L).

[bala80]

I hope what you say doesnt come true

I like the way it looks in the photos above, it looks good and proportionate.

Originally Posted by romeomidhun

IMO, the RIII will look very different from what you see here in this page - headlamps will be different, grill will be of a different shape, and the front wind-shield will be much steeper than this.

[MaserQ]

No doubt pleasant to look at but the car in pic 1 looks slightly different from pic 2. Have a look at the rear quarter glass area and the RVM housing - different in each case.

[the VTEC guy]

Originally Posted by ajay0612

Maruti will outprice the diesel version to avoid TAXI segment. My guess: Petrol version (6.49-7.49Lakhs). Diesel Version (7.99-8.99L).

Pricing will not stop taxi owners from considering its a MPV from Maruti. I mean many other costly cars are used as taxi's so that should not matter.

[C300]

Elegant and classy. Actually looks like transformed avatar of Ritz. Parternship with VW bringing in some design sense. It has all the potential to break sales records. MUL will do well if they price it below 8 OTR.