The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross has been on test ever since it was first showcased at the Auto Expo in February this year, while the launch is scheduled in early 2015.
Maruti Suzuki is certainly upping its ante with the new range of premium products set to hit the market in the coming months. With the kind of positive sentiment the Ciaz has managed to garner, the country’s largest automaker seems confident enough now to launch more products in the premium space after having failed miserably in the past with the Kizashi, Grand Vitara and partially the SX4. Leaving no stone unturned, Maruti has been extensively testing the upcoming S-Cross which was caught most recently by our eagle eyed reader Karan Singh Gill in Chandigarh still in a disguised form which makes us wonder, is the S-Cross Maruti’s most tested car on Indian roads? Maruti usually doesn’t test its cars much, no one saw camouflaged Swifts on test prior to launch.
Although the S-Cross is on sale internationally for quite some time now, Maruti Suzuki first showcased the model on Indian soil at the Auto Expo in February earlier this year. Announcing its plans to launch the model in the very popular compact SUV space, the new S-Cross was immediately put through the testing phase with changes made to adapt the vehicle to the Indian market. The first spy shots emerged from the mountains of Manali and since then the S-Cross has toured the length and breadth of the country through cities, highways, plains and plateaus.
It is also important for Maruti to get the S-Cross right in the first time and to not be declared as a one hit wonder. While the company is unshakeable in the mass market space, it is equally volatile in the premium end of the market. Furthermore, the S-Cross will be competing against the likes of Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and the Ford EcoSport that have managed to form a cult following within a very short time in the domestic market offering a full sized SUV feel, imposing road presence and a value for money factor. In contrast, the S-Cross is essentially a crossover based on the SX4 sedan, but will come well laden high on creature comforts, equipment and frugal engine options.
With the launch scheduled in early 2015, we do know some details about the new Maruti S-Cross despite the company keeping the model under wraps extensively. The S-Cross gets a revised front fascia compared to the international version, while projector headlamps and LED DRLs will be a standard fitment. In addition, the S-Cross will come loaded with features including reverse parking sensors, start-stop system, automatic climate control, multi-function steering wheel, updated infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity. In terms of engine options though, the crossover is likely to get the 1.3-litre and an all-new 1.6-litre MultiJet diesel, while a petrol engine may be given a miss.
