Maruti Suzuki currently sells only the Ertiga as an MPV in the Indian market. With an intention of providing an Indian consumer with a cheap entry-level compact MPV, the manufacturer is developing another seven-seater vehicle based on the Wagon R. This vehicle is expected to be launched as the third generation of the WagonR in 2017.
Interior
The Wagon R is gets a fairly decent interior and we can expect similar treatment to the cabin of the upcoming car. The major change will be the accommodation of the third row of seats which will be possible due to the space created by increasing the distance between the C and D pillars. With a slight variation in cabin and headroom, the company will create more space for the last row and by equipping the car with more utilitarian features, the practicality of the car should definitely go up.
Exterior
Suzuki will want to avail the excise duty benefits for a car of length under four metres, which will eventually help them price the car aggressively. With that in mind, the manufacturer will keep it under four metres in length and make changes to the design of the Wagon R accordingly. The tall-boy design hatchback has enough space in the cabin and the manufacturer should not find it much difficult to incorporate the third row of seats in the new MPV.
Nevertheless, the carmaker will borrow design cues from the seven-seater concept of the Wagon R showcased at the Indonesia International Motor Show in 2013. The distance between the C and D pillars of the concept exhibited at the event was increased showing a larger glass window between these pillars.
Engine and Gearbox
At present, the Wagon R is powered only by the petrol engine, but we expect the manufacturer to also start employing the diesel mill with the advent of this compact MPV. The current three cylinder 998cc K10B series engine produces 67bhp of power and 90Nm of torque which might seem an underpowered option for the bigger car. The 83bhp 1.2-litre petrol motor and 74bhp 1.3-litre diesel powerplant from the Swift can be a good option for the Wagon R MPV.
Expected Launch: August 2016
Expected Price: 5 - 6 lakh...
