Is Suzuki planning a three-row Solio for emerging markets?
If you had visited the Delhi Auto Expo, you may have seen a Wagon R lookalike Suzuki Japan offers as the Solio. The Solio, if we can trust Wikipedia, is built using the Wagon R's parts and is sold as an extension to the Wagon R.
According to SuzukiFan.com, Suzuki is planning to stretch the Solio to accommodate an extra row of seats. This makes the Solio a three-row mini MPV. SuzukiFan claims the plan is to make this a global model and not restrict it to the Japanese market. Indonesia is a probable production center if the report is to be believed.
Maruti Suzuki had put the Solio, MR Wagon and Pallete on display at the Expo to get India's thoughts on the models. As my team mate Kaustubh often writes in his stories, Maruti is the "king pin" of the small car market and is always looking for gaps where it can plug with variants or upgrades. The Maruti lineup has grown with the retention of the Swift Dzire even after the replacement was introduced.
The Solio could be the third model in the 3.5-5 lakh rupee price bracket (on top of A-Star and Wagon R). A stretched Solio could be India's first sub 4-meter family MPV if Maruti Suzuki decides to sell it.
[Source - SuzukiFan.com]