4 Upcoming SUVs From Maruti And Toyota Launching Soon
The Indo-Japanese automotive giants Maruti Suzuki India Limited and Toyota Kirloskar Motor have been working together as strategic partners for a while now. They have launched various models with the help of their partnership and have managed to bump up their sales. Now, in the coming 12 months, both of these companies are planning to launch new mid-size and electric SUVs. So, if you are interested in knowing the details of these upcoming SUVs, then you have come to the right spot.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara-based new mid-size SUV
The first SUV on this list is a new mid-size SUV, which is expected to make its debut by the festive season or before the end of this year. It has been reported that Maruti Suzuki will be naming this Grand Vitara-based SUV Escudo. At the moment, the exact name has not been confirmed by the brand.
This vehicle will be slightly less premium than the current Grand Vitara and will be sold via the Arena dealerships, unlike the GV, which is sold through Nexa dealerships. In terms of powertrain, this SUV will come equipped with three engine options — 1.5-litre NA mild-hybrid petrol, 1.5-litre strong-hybrid petrol, and CNG.
In terms of design, it will get Grand Vitara-inspired cues on the outside. On the inside, it will come equipped with features such as a floating touchscreen infotainment system, 360° camera, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, and electric sunroof. Pricing will be lower than the Grand Vitara.
Toyota’s mid-size SUV based on Escudo
Like the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Toyota will also be launching its very own badge-engineered version of the Escudo. This model will sit under the Urban Cruiser Hyryder in the lineup and will look different from the Hyryder as well as the Maruti Suzuki counterpart.
Mechanically, this SUV will remain the same as the Escudo. Over the years, Toyota has benefited from these badge-engineered models as they have helped the company achieve more sales. We can expect the Toyota counterpart of the Maruti Suzuki SUV to be launched a few weeks later.
Maruti Suzuki eVitara
Maruti Suzuki is currently gearing up for the launch of the eVitara, which has already been showcased in the country and is being frequently spotted undergoing final testing. The new eVitara will be Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle and will take on rivals like the Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6, and Tata Harrier.ev.
This SUV has been developed from scratch and has a born-EV architecture. It is expected to make its debut around September of this year. The eVitara will be offered in India with two battery pack options — a 49 kWh LFP battery, which will come mated to a 142 bhp and 192.5 Nm torque electric motor, offering a range of 346 km.
There will also be a 61 kWh LFP battery pack as well, which will come mated to a 172 bhp motor. As for the range, it will be around 428 km on a single full charge. The eVitara will also come with features such as twin floating screens, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 10-speaker Infinity audio, wireless charging pad, ventilated seats, and a sunroof.
Toyota Urban Cruiser Electric
Based on the eVitara, Toyota will also be launching its first electric SUV in India, which will be called the Urban Cruiser Electric. This SUV will boast a unique exterior design featuring a “Hammerhead” front look with LED headlamps and LED DRLs at the top. It will also get 18-inch alloy wheels and other unique details, which will help differentiate it from the eVitara.
Powertrain options and the interior will remain almost the same as the eVitara. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Electric will be built by Maruti Suzuki India Limited and will be sold via Toyota dealerships. The launch is expected to take place sometime next year.