Maruti’s upcoming crossover can be hybrid

According to Team-BHP, Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming crossover would be a strong or a full hybrid vehicle. The new vehicle would be launched next year. It could be the 2022 S-Cross that has been unveiled globally as the report says that the new crossover will sit above Brezza and will only be offered through Maruti’s Nexa dealerships.

The new S-Cross debuted with the 1.4-litre turbocharged BoosterJet petrol engine. It is the same engine that Suzuki uses on its Swift Sport. It produces 130 PS of max power and 235 Nm of peak torque.

Suzuki upgraded its hybrid system from a 12V one to a 48V one. It comes with torque assist functionality that provides a torque boost. When the vehicle is decelerating, the engine starts idling instead of revving. Both of these helps in saving fuel and increasing fuel economy. Moreover, there is also an idle engine start/stop. So, when the vehicle comes to a stop, the engine shuts off and as soon as the driver presses the clutch or accelerator, the engine starts again.

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In the global markets, Suzuki will sell the S-Cross with a 6-speed manual gearbox. There will also be a new 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox which replaces the ageing 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

Having said that, we do not expect Maruti to use this engine in the S-Cross that will come to India. It is likely that it will continue to come with the same 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine that we have on current Maruti vehicles. It produces 104 PS of max power and 138 Nm of peak torque.

Maruti might upgrade the hybrid system from 12V to a 48V one but as of now, nothing is known. It will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. We hope that Maruti finally upgrades to a 6-speed torque converter unit in India also.

In the global market, Suzuki offers the S-Cross with its AllGrip all-wheel-drive system. There are four AllGrip modes on offer. There is Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock. Auto prioritizes fuel economy. It only sends the power to all four wheels when a slip is detected. In Sport, torque is sent to the rear wheels but it is still dependent on throttle position and engine response. So, it is still not a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. In Snow, the torque is optimized for slippery surfaces. Then there is the Lock in which maximum torque is sent to the rear wheels.

Design 

The 2022 S-Cross looks more like a SUV than a crossover. This was one of the key factors that did not let the sales of S-Cross increase. All the rivals like Kia Seltos, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta are designed to be a SUV whereas the S-Cross was the only one that looked like a crossover. This decreased the road presence of the S-Cross significantly when compared to its competitors.

Features

Suzuki also added a lot of features to the new S-Cross. There is a new larger floating touchscreen infotainment system, 360-degree parking camera, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, adjustable rear seats, panoramic sunroof and a lot more.

S-Cross now also comes with ADAS features such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Prevention and Warning, Blind Spot Monitor and Automated Emergency Braking.

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