All-new Maruti WagonR hatchback spied testing in India

The all-new Maruti WagonR has been spied testing in the National Capital Region (NCR). The car will be launched in India next year. It will continue to be a tall-boy hatchback but will get a new exterior design for a more modern look and feel. Most other details about this car are not known for now.

We expect Maruti to keep the pricing and market-positioning of the new car similar to the current WagonR, which is a hugely popular car in India. The new car is also expected to be sold in both private buyer and cab segments. Maruti is expected to offer the WagonR in two body styles – a 5 seat model and a 7 seat model.

The 7 seat model will offer 3 rows of seats, and is expected to Maruti’s mini-MPV, with a sub-4 meter footprint. The  7 seat WagonR is likely to compete with the Datsun Go+ but is expected to come into the market after the 5 seat  model, which will come in during 2019.

Currently, the WagonR uses a 1 liter petrol engine with 5 speed manual and AMT options. CNG and LPG variants are also available with the same engine. The same combination is likely to be carried over to the new hatchback. Neither a turbocharged petrol engine nor a mild-hybrid option is likely on the new model although both options are expected to be ready for future use in the WagonR platform.

Maruti is also expected to develop the new car with an electric option also in mind for the future. For now though,  the cost conscious budget car market is expected to get a mechanically similar (to the older version) vehicle in the  new WagonR. The new car will also be ready to meet the tighter Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms, in addition to  the stricter safety norms under Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP).