Upcoming Maruti Grand Vitara 7-Seat SUV: What It Could Look Like
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara was introduced in the Indian market against the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. The brand is now working on a 7-seater version of the mid-size SUV. Codenamed Y17, Maruti Suzuki will come to the Indian market by 2025.
The upcoming elongated version of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara will be available in two versions – 6-seater and 7-seater. This is a digital rendering image made by SRK Design, which exactly shows what the upcoming car might look like.
The render shows the upcoming Grand Vitara as a much more sharply designed product. It also looks longer than the current version of the car to accommodate the extra row of seats. Also, the body panels get deeper creases that add muscles and bulk. The window line though, looks inspired by the Scorpio-N.
There are a few changes on the front end too. The upcoming model also shows off the new, sharper grille with a similar-looking split headlamp set-up.
The upcoming Maruti Grand Vitara 7-seater will get a different name and will be available in a more premium 6-seat version too. The middle row seats in the 6-seater version will be captain seats instead of a bench.
Will take on XUV700, Alcazar and Safari
Once this new SUV is launched, it will compete with others like the Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar and Tata Safari. The 7-seater Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara (Y17) is likely to be the first to come out. It will have the company’s existing 1.5-litre four-cylinder K15C mild hybrid petrol and 1.5-litre three-cylinder strong hybrid petrol engines. For the drivetrain, this SUV might have two engine options, similar to the Grand Vitara. The first choice will be a mild hybrid, and the second will be a strong hybrid. The mild hybrid with manual transmission will be available, like the Grand all-wheel drive option. The Grand Vitara currently offers this powerplant with a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
The Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) mild hybrid unit supports the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder K15C petrol engine, which has 102 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. The mild hybrid also has an idle-stop system and brake energy regeneration. In December 2023, the current model of Grand Vitara sold 6988 units. The K15C Dual Jet Dual VVT Smart Hybrid petrol engine is anticipated for low and mid-spec variants, while the top-end trims may incorporate a more powerful hybrid engine sourced from Toyota. Notably, the 7-seater Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Urban Cruiser will be based on the Highrider, a sibling from Toyota.
Sources have claimed that the company will start producing this three-row SUV at Maruti’s brand-new facility in Kharkhoda, Haryana. By the year 2025, this new factory will be up and running, and this new SUV is expected to be the first product to be mass-manufactured there. The building and completion of this factory will cost over Rs 7,000 crore, according to Maruti Suzuki’s estimated budget for FY23.
Maruti Suzuki is investing heavily, as always, in this new Kharkhoda plant, and it is expected that it will begin producing 2,50,000 units annually after its commencement. By combining this with its Manesar and Gurugram manufacturing facilities, the company would have a total annual production capacity of two million automobiles by 2028. Sources have also added that the company is planning for a volume of over 1.2 lakh units per year for this SUV.