Maruti Suzuki released the teaser of the Maruti
Future S concept this week. Based on the teaser, CarToq has created a
rendering to show how the production Maruti Future S may look like.
The Maruti Future S concept is not a mere design
study. Maruti Suzuki will develop it further to create a production mini SUV.
This model, codenamed Maruti Y1K, will slot below the Maruti Vitara Brezza as
the company’s entry-level SUV. It will replace the aged Maruti Alto in the
A-segment and go against the highly successful Renault Kwid.
With the BNVSAP program set to start from this year,
cars like the Maruti Alto may not have a long time before getting phased out
because of poor safety performance. The Maruti Y1K will arrive just in time as
its successor, offering higher safety and many more enhancements. It will ride
on the lightweight and rigid Heartect platform that underpins JDM-only mini
SUVs such as the Suzuki Xbee as well.
A recent report said that Maruti Suzuki could offer
the Maruti Future S concept’s production version with an electrified 1.2-litre
petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. However, as the idea is to
introduce it as a Maruti Alto successor positioned below the Maruti Vitara
Brezza, the latter seems highly unlikely. An earlier report has said that the
Maruti Y1K could have a 660 cc engine option.
The Maruti Future S concept will have its world
premiere at Auto Expo 2018 next month. Its production version is expected to
arrive by the festive season next year.