Ertiga to Swift RS: New Maruti cars & SUVs for India

Maruti Suzuki is the nation’s largest carmaker and accounts for around half the cars sold in the country. However, Maruti isn’t keen on resting on its laurels and watch its rivals eat into its share of the Indian car market. In this post, we will examine 9 new cars and SUVs from Maruti that are expected to arrive in the next few years.

1. Ertiga
Launch Date: November 21

The Maruti Ertiga is the carmaker’s MUV for India and the second generation car is due to arrive in India on November 21. The second-generation Ertiga will bring with an updated design along with the new 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine that was first seen on the new Ciaz. The engine is rated for 102.5 Bhp and 138 Nm of torque. The new Eritga will retain its Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engine. Maruti is expected to be aggressive with the pricing of the new Ertiga considering the arrival of the new Marazzo from Mahindra.

2. WagonR
Expected launch: February 2019

Maruti Suzuki is also readying a new version of the WagonR for launch in India in around February 2019. The new WagonR will rival the all-new Hyundai Santro which arrives in India later this month. The new Maruti WagonR will be powered by the carmaker’s tried and tested 999cc K-Series petrol engine. The new WagonR will not be based on Maruti’s Heartect programme to help keep down costs.

3. WagonR Electric
Expected Launch: Early 2020

Maruti has already flagged off a set of test vehicles onto India’s roads. The Wagon R electric, unlike its fossil fuel chugging sibling, will be based on the Heartech platform. This should help keep the weight gained with the newly added battery packs.

4. Micro SUV for 2019 festive season
Expected Launch – Festive Season 2019

Maruti is currently working a micro SUV project that will see the revival of the iconic zen brand on Indian curses. The Zen SUV will compete against the likes of the Mahindra KUV100. The Zen SUV from Maruti Suzuki is expected to arrive in India during the Dusshera-Diwali festive season next year.

5. S-Cross Petrol
Expected Launch – Jan-March 2019

The S-Cross is currently Maruti’s largest crossover SUV currently on sale in India. However, while it does have a reliable yet powerful diesel engine, it lacks a petrol powerplant. However, that will change come first quarter of 2019 when the S-Cross gets a new petrol engine in the form of the 108 Bhp 1.5-litre turbo engine that debuted with the new Ciaz earlier this year.

6. Swift RS
Expected Launch: 2019

Maruti has made it quite clear that bringing the popular Swift Sport to India is not something it has planned. However recent images of a sportier version the hatchback suggest a sporty Swift could be on its way to India. Like the Sporty version of the Baleno, the go-faster Swift could bear the RS badge in India. The Swift RS is expected to draw power from the same 101 Bhp 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine that powers the Baleno RS in India and feature disc brakes on all four wheels. The Swift RS, if the reports are true, is expected to arrive in 2019.

7. All-new Alto
Expected Launch; February 2019

The Maruti Alto has remained unchanged for a long time now and its design looks more dated by the minute. Maruti is expected to launch the new Alto with a boxy design and a brand new 660 cc turbocharged petrol engine with around 51 Bhp on tap.

8. Vitara Brezza Petrol
Expected Launch: 2019

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is currently the only sub-4-metre compact SUV to not offer a petrol variant. The lack of a petrol engine hasn’t been that much of an issue for Maruti Suzuki as the Brezza has been a runaway success. However, since the arrival of the new 1.5-litre petrol mild-hybrid engine in the new Ciaz, reports have started floating around that the Brezza could get the new engine from the Ciaz. However, there are also conflicting reports suggesting that the Brezza could instead get the Boosterjet engine found on the Baleno RS. If Maruti does finally decide to plonk a petrol powerplant into the Brezza’s engine compartment, then expect it to arrive sometime next year.

9. Corolla Altis rebadged into Maruti
Expected Launch: 2019

Suzuki and Toyota recently signed an agreement that will see the two companies sell rebadged versions of each other cars in India. While the Baleno and Brezza will be cloned by Toyota, Maruti will benefit from a rebadged version of the Corolla to help it re-enter the D-segment for the first time since the Kizashi.