[dZired]

Maruti Suzuki is reportedly working on a new budget hatchback that will come with SUV-like design cues. This new offering will be the company's answer to the Renault Kwid, which has successfully managed to eat into the sales figures of Maruti's leading best-seller - the Alto.

While earlier reports had mentioned that Maruti was planning to design the next-gen Alto as a hatchback crossover to pit it against the Kwid, latest speculations point towards an all-new vehicle in the offing. This will likely be placed slightly above the Alto 800 and will compete head-on against the Kwid.

Details about the rumoured model are scarce at the moment, but it is expected to come with SUV-inspired design cues, including a higher ground clearance and body cladding. Powertrain options will likely include a 1.0-litre engine with manual transmission and an AMT.

Maruti is expected to unveil the new cross-hatch at the 2018 Auto Expo, while it will likely go on sale later next year.

Source: Autocar India

(Image used only for representation)

Link to Team-BHP News

[GTO]

I think we'll see the Kwid rival in a handful of years. Maruti is such a fighter that it won't give up on any volume segment. It might arrive late, but it dominates. After seeing the success of the EcoSport & Duster, they got the Vitara Brezza which is now the no.1 in the segment. Similar with a 'biggish' hatchback loaded with features, after the success of the Elite i20. The Ciaz has also fought successfully with the City - a sedan which was the no.1 in the C2 segment since its introduction in 1997.

Compared to a decade back, Maruti is now selling a lot of made-for-India products.

[audioholic]

Adding to GTO's post, this could also be due to the new Bharat NCAP regulations which are going to be introduced soon. I am really unsure if the Alto and other Made for India cars would pass the various standards. By then, if they have a new platform which is actually built from a safety perspective, it will help Maruti to phase out the existing non compliant models smoothly instead of having to do it by force or at the last moment. If they get this model up and selling parallely with the alto, they can slowly ramp down the alto sales just like how the 800 was phased out.

IMO, its a good move as long as my statement is true, and as long as they are not just building another car just keeping looks and shape in mind. At least the entry level buyers will be offered safer cars without any optmizations or hacks just to pass tests.

[arjab]

I sincerely hope that Suzuki revisits the styling once more and does something to this blobby, smily Doraemon type lines.

Looking at a 2018 launch, Maruti would do itself a favour to alter this kind of styling. It will not go down well with the new generation of buyers who would prefer crisper, smart, simple, yet dynamic lines.

The simpler the styling, the better it will age. Hope Suzuki realises it and moves out of this "blobby amoeba - on - wheels - look"

PS: Looks are purely subjective and views above are purely personal and not intended to impose on nor offend anyone. Apologies for causing any inadvertent heartburn.

[Maverick1977]

Originally Posted by GTO

The Ciaz has also fought successfully with the City - a sedan which was the no.1 in the C2 segment since its introduction in 1997.

Correct me if I am wrong but the City did loose its crown for a few years to Verna when the disparity in prices between Petrol & Diesel became significant and the Indian consumer finally realized that diesel vehicles had come of age.

Honda didn't offer the City with a diesel engine for quite some time. Of course when they introduced the City Diesel the crown immediately went back.

[shankar.balan]

Looks a lot like the old Jeepster and now the Renault Kaptur.
If they would give these exaggerated alloys and big wheels with it, and spec it up well, it would be lovely indeed!

[SmartCat]

This is how Brezza concept looked, and we know how Brezza eventually turned out to be.



So to get an idea about how the Kwid competitor will look, make the following design changes to the Suzuki Crosshiker concept - replace the large wheels with 13 inch steel wheels, replace the LED lights with clear lens halogen lights, replace the swoopy bumper with ordinary ones, add side view mirrors and finally, add 2 extra doors with normal flap type door handles

[romeomidhun]

Originally Posted by smartcat

This is how Brezza concept looked, and we know how Brezza eventually turned out to be.

This was the international vitara concept, and not the brezza concept. If not the actual car in its initial avatar, the vitara turbo version is equally impressive as this concept, imo.

[shankar.balan]

While this looks cool and futuristic, I just wish they would bring in the current gen Jimny and allow us to get a hold of that!

All these concept renderings look mouthwatering indeed but get so terribly watered down by the time they hit the streets that it gets disappointing...

Im sure that the Jimny
will do very well indeed if they bring it in!

Illustrating the dull thud when landing from concept to reality...in the case of the current Jimny itself and the Yeti too, just for comparo purposes...

[Jas21]

I believe and hope that Maruti is targeting not just Kwid but one segment higher cars, and they have an eye on upcoming Hyundai Santro, too.

Please make it a desirable product Maruti, and name it "Zen", I am sure, you'll have fun with it, then

[jaaz]

Hope it doesn't go the Ignis way. Nexa and premium pricing. Suzuki's core strength is in small cars and they've been doing well. I wish this Car is launched either in 2018 end or beginning of 2019, as Maruti is launching and upgrading most of it's models at a faster pace.

[volkman10]

Maruti Suzuki teases its new compact car,

New concept previews compact SUV to slot in below the Vitara Brezza; packaged for multiple powertrains (including electric); will be based on lightweight ‘Heartect’ platform.

The Future S will be positioned below the hugely popular Vitara Brezza!

The report also suggest that the Future S is over 200 mm shorter than Vitara Brezza in length and the car is expected to make its market debut in 2019. The segment will also ensure more volumes to the company.

According to the company, the Future S is a fresh design language for a new compact car segment and ‘represents the next level of design evolution’.

The Future S has a high bonnet line, near-vertical A-pillars and design cues that make it a more of a traditional SUV than a crossover. It’s a template that has worked with the universally-liked Vitara Brezza, and should appeal to the wide customer base Maruti has in mind for the production version of the Future S, which, according to sources, could enter showrooms later this year or in early 2019.

Production versions of the Future S will be built on Suzuki’s lightweight ‘Heartect’ platform, while engine options are likely to include the brilliant K-series 1.2-litre petrol with some form of electrification, and a future 1.5-litre diesel developed in-house.

Source

Here is the Press release of Future-S!

[volkman10]

Suzuki's just released X BEE is likely to be the Compact car (with modifications to suit the Indian market) It is of 3760 L which answers the < 200mm than Vitara Brezza ( as in report)

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Suzuki's just released X BEE is likely to be the Compact car (with modifications to suit the Indian market) It is of 3760 L which answers the < 200mm than Vitara Brezza ( as in report)


Attachment 1713964

Attachment 1713967

This looks bigger than Ignis, which is selling in the 5+ lakh range right now. Kwid starts at around 3 or so I guess, how will this thing fit into the lower price bracket? Or are they planning to push the Ignis down and replace the void it creates with this?