Maruti Suzuki Fronx Hybrid Spotted On Test For The First Time
The Maruti Fronx has been a successful product for the company’s Indian vertical. The automotive giant is known to be working on a significant facelift to the crossover. One of the key attractions expected on the new Fronx is a series hybrid powertrain. The new Fronx is being tested under the codename YTB.
The spy shots of the Fronx hybrid come from Gurgaon. Interestingly, the car has been spotted without any camouflage. There are no major design changes to be spotted on the vehicle being tested. Everything remains the same as a regular Fronx, except for a ‘Hybrid’ badge on the tailgate. We have seen similar badges on the Invicto and Grand Vitara as well.
It could be the case that Maruti Suzuki is testing the hybrid powertrain on the existing car. The actual debut of the powertrain could happen on the facelifted car, which is expected to feature a reworked design and more features. Previous spy shots had confirmed that the new Fronx will come with ADAS as well. It will then become the first Maruti Suzuki model to get this feature.
The Series Hybrid Powertrain On Upcoming Fronx: Details
The new Fronx facelift will feature a series-hybrid powertrain, based on the Z12E engine. This is the same engine that recently debuted on the fourth-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift. It is a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 81 bhp and 108 Nm.
The outgoing Fronx comes with 3 engine options- 1.2L, 4-cylinder (K12N Dualjet) Petrol, 1.2L, 4-cylinder CNG and a 1.0K, 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (available on the Turbo variants alone). The naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 89.73 PS and 113 Nm, while the 1.0L turbo-petrol makes 100.06 PS and 147.6 Nm. The CNG version has 77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm on offer.
In the series hybrid setup, this engine will work in harmony with electric motors. These electric motors will be driving the wheels, and the engine will run to generate power to operate the motors- in other words, it will function as a generator to charge the EV battery. There won’t be a direct connection (drive) between the engine and the wheels. Series hybrids could deliver a mileage of more than 35 km per litre (kpl). The ARAI fuel of the regular Z12E engine on the Swift is 25.75 Kmpl.
Series hybrids will have a price advantage over regular strong hybrids as they will slot in on the more affordable side of things. Owing to its simple construction, series hybrids will be easier to manufacture than strong hybrid cars. After making its debut on the Fronx, the series hybrid powertrain will also make its way to other popular Maruti Suzuki models like the Baleno, Swift and more.
The setup is also called the ‘Range Extender’ as it helps to maximise the mileage and the range that can be travelled on a full tank of fuel. In other words, series hybrids minimize if not eliminate range anxiety.
Globally many manufacturers have long been using series hybrid tech on multiple models. Nissan for example, has employed the same on the Note hatchback. Previously, Nissan India had tested the Note hybrid in the country for some time, but turns out they trashed the launch plans later.
Circling back to the Fronx facelift, we expect the market launch to happen sometime in 2026, most likely in the second half.
Source: Nitin, Team BHP