Maruti to launch rugged, Ertiga-based MPV & 7 Seat WagonR

Maruti is planning to launch a rugged MPV in India next year. It will be positioned as a crossover utility vehicle and will be based on the Ertiga platform. Since the Ertiga is moving to the HEARTECT platform, we think that the rugged MPV will also use the same. The project is code-named the YHB and is expected to have 7 seats. It is expected to take on the Honda BR-V, another 7 seat vehicle that looks like an SUV but is based on the Mobilio MPV platform.

The YHB codenamed Maruti is expected to be an MPV with some design elements that give it the rugged appeal of an SUV or a crossover. Since it will share its platform with the next-generation Ertiga, we expect it to be a light weight model with a lot of use of high strength steel. It may also use newly developed 1.5 liter petrol and turbocharged diesel engines. Both manual and automatic transmissions are likely to be offered.

Advanced infotainment options including Smartphone syncing systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Navigation and voice commands are expected to be offered. It is very likely to offer airbags and ABS as standard even on the base variants. Though the exact time of launch is yet to be revealed, it will be safe to expect the rugged MPV to be launched either late in 2018 or in early 2019.

The company will launch another 7 seat car, but at a much cheaper price. The other car is the WagonR R3, which will be a competitor of the Datsun Go+. The WagonR R3 will first go on sale in Indonesia, where MPVs are very popular. The R3 is a stretched version of the WagonR that features three rows of seats. Like on the Datsun Go+, the last row may be good enough only for children or small-built adults. The WagonR R3 is expected to share engines, gearboxes, features and safety options with the regular WagonR. Even the design is expected to be similar.

Via ETAuto

Render Courtesy IAB