Maruti Suzuki will be heavily localising components on the new S-Cross that is scheduled for launch early next year and has been extensively testing the new model across the country.
Showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo earlier this year, the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross will be the company’s first offering in the very popular compact SUV segment in the country. While the model showcased at the Auto Expo was the European spec unit, the India spec S-Cross will be heavily localised and will also see subtle changes to the exteriors to make it more adaptable to Indian conditions. With the company extensively testing the crossover across the country, our eagle eyed reader Aditya Kapur managed to snap the test mule doing its rounds on the highway ahead of its official launch in the first half of 2015.
The India spec Maruti Suzuki S-Cross gets a revised two-slat bold grille that will be replacing the three-slat chrome unit seen on the international version. While the side profile will be largely the same, expect a mildly reworked rear fascia on the crossover. Maruti is most likely to keep the S-Cross feature laden with projector headlamps, fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels available right from the base variants. The higher variants will get LED daytime running lights, bigger 16-inch alloys, start-stop system, touchscreen infotainment unit and a host of other features along with fabric and leather upholstery. The suspension will also be tuned to suit Indian conditions.
Maruti will be doing a lot of parts sharing on the S-Cross in order to keep the prices competitive. In terms of interior aesthetics, dual-tone beige and black interiors are highly expected while we hope the company offers an all-black version to match the rugged appeal of the crossover. Under the hood will be the options of petrol and diesel engines that will be paired to either 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmissions. The Maruti S-Cross will be competing against the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano with prices expected to start from Rs. 8.5 lakhs (ex-showroom).
