[aaggoswami]

Came across this news claiming that O2 van will be replacing Versao, so Omni is not touched as of now. Next, the price range expected is Rs. 6-8 lakhs, so not as affordable as Omni.

In this segment if they are able to put in diesel, then definitely they will have a lot of customers. Without that, this car is not going to get success.

Source : Maruti Suzuki to roll out a new MPV to replace Versa*-*WheelsUnplugged Automobile Industry News

Article :

On the sidelines of participating in 4th Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference & Exposition held in New Delhi, Maruti Suzuki, on 23rd November’09 India has told reporters that they are soon going to launch a brand new model to replace their aging model Versa. If speculation is to be believed, the country’s largest passenger vehiclemaker is likely to unveil the unchristened MPV at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo, scheduled from 5th-11th January, 2009. The company said that the new model would be launched within this fiscal year.

"We will be launching a new van by the end of this fiscal. This vehicle will replace the Versa, whose production has already been stopped," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Engineering) I. V. Rao told reporters on the sidelines of the Fourth Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference in New Delhi. He, however, did not give the price point of the soon-to-be launched vehicle. He concluded by saying, "The numbers were very low as it is for Versa and we were making the car only on demand," he said. "Now we have completely stopped production for the model."

The company, however, refused to divulge any details regarding its specifications and features, and other details. While the company is yet to take a call on pricing, industry sources indicate that it will be around Rs. 6-8 lakh. Media reports had earlier indicated that the MPV, codenamed O2, is currently at an advanced stage of design and would be rolled out from Maruti’s Gurgaon plant, where its microvan-Versa- was also manufactured (its production has been stopped now). Once launched, it would be pitted against other MPVs like Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Chevrolet Tavera, Tata Motors' upcoming 'Indicruz' etc. According to a blogsite, the MPV which may be christened as Eco, will be powered by a 1200cc BS-IV compliant engine (essentially the G12 series Petrol engine) and will have 7 & 5 seater options.

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal has reported that Maruti is looking to it make fresh investment at its manufacturing plants in Gurgaon and Manesar. "Our next board meeting is still two months away," I.V. Rao, managing executive officer for engineering at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., told reporters. "We are internally discussing fresh investment proposals, but a final decision will be taken at the board meeting (in January)." However, he declined to elaborate on the planned investment, but India's largest car maker by sales but said Maruti will likely touch one million unit annual car production by March. The company is also working on hybrid and electric vehicles for demo cars, but Rao said it has no plans for a full-fledged launch of vehicles with such alternative fuel technologies.

Read more: Maruti Suzuki to roll out a new MPV to replace Versa - WheelsUnplugged Automobile Industry News
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

[vijaythacker]

well, i guess if its same like versa with better built and handling, still needs to be below 7 lacs range, as there are other options of xylo,tavera up onwards with better space and engines.

[romeomidhun]

Maruti is delaying the launch of new van to the end of this fiscal because, I think, they are working hard to tweak the 1.3L G-series engine to BS-IV norms by that time to use in this new vehicle, and not the K-series engine.

[ranc]

Versa or a versa look alike will not command 7 lakhs, it has to be the landis then only it will be able to compete with the Innova's & the Xylo's. It cant be a small vehicle like the Versa.

[Sudan_NFS]

If it is going to be soon lanuched,why no test mules have been spotted by us and why no great scoop from scoop master(sid).

[pradeew]

How about a Swift DZIRE Estate version with 3rd row seats? Both petrol & diesel versions are capable of hauling 7-8 people

[govigov]

Originally Posted by pradeew

How about a Swift DZIRE Estate version with 3rd row seats? Both petrol & diesel versions are capable of hauling 7-8 people

Now this is one concept that i fail to understand. why are there no affordable stationwagons in india? agreed that there is the marina, but where is the competition. i for one would love to own a stationwagon similar to the altura.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by govigov

why are there no affordable stationwagons in india?

Of course there is : The Tata Marina! Can't get more affordable than that. However, the failure of the Corsa Swing, Octavia Combi, Baleno Altura and even the Marina has sealed the fate of station wagons in India. The Marina is the only one that really sold, but that too in its initial weeks of release. Potential Indigo buyers must have gone "wow, all that space for only 20,000 more". Only to eventually realise they don't need that space (a majority don't), its tougher to park, the air-con takes longer to cool and estates lack image. Finito!

[Sudan_NFS]

Maruti Suzuki will introduce the Suzuki APV as a replacement for the Versa whose production recently was halted. Maruti is looking at pitching this MPV as a contender in the ring that is seeing hot battle between Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova and Chevrolet Tavera.
The Suzuki APV is already flooding the market in Pakistan, Indonesia and even Australia, where it comes with a 1.6-liter engine and dual front airbags. The Indian version is most likely to come with a 1.2-liter K-Series engine along with the established 1.3-liter Multi-jet engine.
The overall length of the vehicle is a little over 4 metres and it would be a good idea to tinker it to under 4 metres for added cost benefit.
Further details are not available at this point. Our sources add Maruti is looking at the Auto Expo as a good platform to let this one loose.

source:http://***************.com/2009/11/maruti-suzuki-apv

[diwa]

Originally Posted by GTO

Of course there is : The Tata Marina! Can't get more affordable than that. However, the failure of the Corsa Swing, Octavia Combi, Baleno Altura and even the Marina has sealed the fate of station wagons in India. The Marina is the only one that really sold, but that too in its initial weeks of release. Potential Indigo buyers must have gone "wow, all that space for only 20,000 more". Only to eventually realise they don't need that space (a majority don't), its tougher to park, the air-con takes longer to cool and estates lack image. Finito!

If am right Tata Estate sold quiet well here. I think it sold more numbers compared to the Marina.

[GTO]

^^ We have to understand that the Estate came as a breath of fresh air. A diesel Mercedes-looking car when the only other alternatives were Maruti, Fiat and HM. The market conditions were entirely different in 1990. Today, one is spoilt for choice. Literally

[misquitas]

Originally Posted by GTO

Of course there is : The Tata Marina! Can't get more affordable than that. However, the failure of the Corsa Swing, Octavia Combi, Baleno Altura and even the Marina has sealed the fate of station wagons in India. The Marina is the only one that really sold, but that too in its initial weeks of release. Potential Indigo buyers must have gone "wow, all that space for only 20,000 more". Only to eventually realise they don't need that space (a majority don't), its tougher to park, the air-con takes longer to cool and estates lack image. Finito!

Could a Toyota Innova be considered a "station wagon", as it certainly has the body of one. If so, this "station wagon" has been selling in good numbers (despite the premium price for a "station wagon") at least here in Goa.

Talking about a Tata Estate, my dad owned one of those great vehicles (at the time) between 1995 and 2003. I never had a dull moment in that vehicle. Enjoyed the space, comfort and almost everything that came with the package (again, at the time). And talking about space, when my wife and I got married in 2000, we literally carried a dining table from my parent's house to our flat in the Tata Estate. Beat that. Unfortunately, the beauty began to give considerable problems by 2002 and in 2003 the parting was inevitable.

Responding to another related post, I too wish Maruti had a decent estate on offer. For inter-state touring, picking/dropping someone from/to the airport/train/bus or during one of those 'mega-discount' days at Big Bazaar, no car can beat the space of an estate.

Just my opinion.
Regards,
Melvyn

[fx45]

Suzuki APV for 5-6 lakh woudl be selling great.. but is 1.3L diesel enough for it.? i feel it might be sluggish

[harishnair]

Originally Posted by misquitas

Could a Toyota Innova be considered a "station wagon", as it certainly has the body of one. If so, this "station wagon" has been selling in good numbers (despite the premium price for a "station wagon") at least here in Goa.

The Toyota Innova is an MPV ( as its got a high stance).

The Tata Marina, Tata Estate, Opel Corsa (don't remember the variant), Skoda Octavia combi, Maruti Altura,Ford Forester (to some extent) etc. are/were some of the station wagons available in India.

[Ramon]

Add Fiat siena week end to the above and at some point even Amby station wagons were there