IAB Picks - 6 new Maruti products coming by end of this fiscal year
This calendar year, Maruti's lone new offering was the Celerio. Where arch rival Hyundai have launched two new all-products in high volume segments (Xcent and Elite i20), Maruti has remained relatively quiet.
All that is about to change though, as Indian Autos Blog learns that half a dozen launches are planned for the remaining part of this financial year (ends on March 31, 2015).
1. Maruti Ciaz
The Ciaz is due to launch on October 10 (tentative), and will kickstart the festive season celebrations for the brand. Set to rival the Honda City, the Ciaz will be offered with a 1.4-liter petrol engine and a 1.3-liter diesel engine. Pre-launch bookings for the sedan were initiated on September 3, and the company has already received between 5,000 to 10,000 orders.
2. Maruti Swift Facelift
The B-hatchback segment in India has seen plenty of action this year with new launches like the Avventura, Elite i20 and refreshed Polo. Going forth, new products like the Jazz and Bolt are further expected to ruffle the feathers of the Swift.
3. Maruti Swift Dzire Facelift
For the Dzire, Maruti will include new features like power-folding wing mirrors and keyless entry with an engine starter button like the refreshed Swift. That aside, new alloy wheel patterns and tinted headlights with a chrome grille will also be seen on the compact sedan. Production is well underway, and a launch is expected shortly.
4. New Maruti Alto K10
The new K10 will use the Alto 800's body, though its peppy 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine will continue unchanged. It will however, stand to benefit from the automated manual transmission (AMT) seen on the Celerio, and revised interiors. Like the Dzire, Maruti has already started making the new K10, and a launch should take place by end of this year.
5. Maruti SX4 S-Cross
Set to launch early next year, the S-Cross will take on the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Mahindra Scorpio. The compact crossover from Maruti will get power from petrol and diesel engines, and a CNG option is also under consideration.
6. Maruti Y9T LCV
Maruti's foray into the commercial segment is important from the technology perspective as the Y9T (codename) will be powered by the company's first self-developed diesel engine. The reported 800 cc two-cylinder unit will later find application in small passenger cars like the Celerio. The Ace-rivaling Y9T is expected to launch next calendar year.
7. Maruti Celerio Diesel
The Celerio diesel will be the first passenger vehicle from Maruti Suzuki to use the self-developed diesel engine. A prototype of the Celerio diesel was spotted in Japan last month, and Indian road tests are being conducted as well. Expect the Celerio diesel, which launches by end of this financial year, to deliver class-leading efficiency.