Passenger car market leader introduces latest iteration of popular family hatchback with 1.0 and 1.2-litre engines, enhanced safety and connectivity.
23 Jan 2019 | 15040 Views | By Autocar Pro News Desk
The wait for the third-generation Maruti Wagon R is over. Maruti Suzuki India today launched the newest iteration of the popular hatchback in New Delhi, in seven variants, with prices starting at Rs 419,000 for the base LXi and going up to Rs 569,000 for the 1.2L ZXi auto.
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The wait for the third-generation Maruti Wagon R is over. Maruti Suzuki India today launched the newest iteration of the popular hatchback in New Delhi, in seven variants, with prices starting at Rs 419,000 for the base LXi and going up to Rs 569,000 for the 1.2L ZXi auto.
Maruti Suzuki India is aiming to draw buyers with its design, enhanced space, comfort, new infotainment system and advanced K-series engine offering top-notch fuel efficiency and driving pleasure.
The new Wagon R sticks to its tall-boy roots, but it’s quite different from the outgoing model – there’s a new platform, new design, more room on the inside and the option of a more powerful engine.
Like its siblings Ertiga, Ignis, Baleno and Swift, the new Swift and Dzire, the new Wagon R is engineered and built on the fifth-generation Heartect platform, making it lighter than the older model and capable of meeting upcoming crash test norms. The platform, according to the company, increases safety of occupants through effective absorption of impact and dispersion of crash energy and assures stability. Use of 40 percent high-tensile steel provides better strength, safety, rigidity and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance.
In addition to the proven 1.0-litre engine, the new Wagon R comes with a 1.2-litre engine, both offering high fuel efficiency – 21.5kpl for the 1.2L variant and 22.5kpl for the 1.0L variant, which is nearly 10 percent higher than the outgoing model.
Speaking at the new model launch, Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “We are delighted to present the latest generation of one of our most successful models. We are confident that the new Wagon R with its all new robust design, dynamically crafted and spacious interiors, SmartPlay Studio, strong Heartect platform and Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology will become the choice of many more Indian families.”
Maruti Suzuki and its partners have invested approximately Rs 670 crore for development of the Wagon R. The new hatchback promises enhanced safety for its occupants. Use of high-tensile steel helps to improve overall safety, rigidity and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance. Safety features including driver airbag, ABS (antilock braking system) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution), front seat belts reminder, speed alert system and rear parking sensors are standard across variants. Maruti Suzuki India says the Wagon R meets all applicable regulations including offset, side crash and pedestrian safety norms.
On the connectivity front, the new Wagon R comes with a SmartPlay Studio 17.78 cm infotainment system that combines smartphone, vehicle and cloud-based services.
Since its debut in 1999, the Wagon R has been bought by over 2.2 million customers in India and is a regular in the Top 5 best-selling cars for nearly two decades. According to Kenichi Ayukawa, "For nearly half of these customers, the Wagon R was their first car and many families have bought the Wagon R repeatedly. One of the obvious reasons is because of the superior functionality of the Wagon R as a great family car."
According to R S Kalsi, senior executive director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, “The objective for the new Wagon R is to retain the DNA of space and practicality while appealing to evolving needs of the contemporary Indian buyer.”
"The Wagon R has seen a CAGR of 12.6 percent since its launch in 1999. The popular hatchback has a 20 percent segment share," said Kalsi.