Maruti Suzuki MPV spied

Spy shots of what seems to be the production version of the Maruti Suzuki RIII have surfaced the internet.

A team-bhp member’s friend managed to click the rear, dashboard and seats of the upcoming Maruti Suzuki MPV (Multi-purpose vehicle).

Sources say that Maruti Suzuki has developed this vehicle in-house and are planning to transport the vehicle to Japan for final testing before it is launched in India.

The spy photos hinted that the RIII model clicked was the top-end ZDI, diesel variant which had ABS, a rear windscreen wiper, steering mounted audio controls, premium upholstery and captain seats in the middle row.

The variant caught on camera appears spacious and will likely seat six people in the 2 +2 +2 seating arrangement, while the lower variants such as LDI and VDI might have flat middle rows for accommodating up to seven people in the 2+3+2 seating arrangement. The built quality of the MPV appears promising and well put together.

The ‘ZDI’ badge on the MPV’s rear shows that the MPV will definitely have a diesel version. There are high expectations that Maruti Suzuki uses the same 1.3 litre DDiS diesel engine that powers the diesel versions of the Swift, Ritz and SX4 cars in the upcoming SUV. Also read: Maruti Suzuki may launch MPV based on R-III concept

It is now a well known fact that Maruti Suzuki is planning to launch an MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) by the end of this year to take on the Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo. The company had showcased a concept MPV dubbed the RIII at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo.

The production version of the upcoming MPV will have some of the design elements of the RIII concept and will likely be built on the SX4 sedan platform.

The RIII concept showcased looked like a blown-up Maruti Ritz, especially at the front. The concept had optimal interior space had been provided without compromising on the elegance and compact nature of the car.

The RIII concept has three rows with two seats per row, which allows six people to sit inside the car in comfort and the MPV caught on camera seemed to fit the bill pretty well. Also read: Maruti Suzuki RIII Photo Gallery

Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming MPV will likely be launched by the end of this year and will take on the likes of the Mahindra Xylo and Toyota Innova. The Innova too is powered by a 2.5 litre diesel motor that produces 102 bhp and 200 Nm of torque while the Xylo is powered by a 2.5 litre common-rail diesel engine that produces 112 bhp of power and 260 Nm of torque. Both the MPVs return a mileage of around 12.5 km/litre.

If Maruti manages to get the interiors, build quality and fuel efficiency right, the upcoming MPV could do some serious damage to Innova and Xylo sales. The MPV will likely sell in huge numbers owing to Maruti Suzuki’s service network and brand image in India.

(Courtesy: Team BHP)