The Suzuki Solio has been spotted undergoing testing
on Indian roads once again. Recently, IAB reader Rajesh spotted the Suzuki
Solio in Faridabad. It's sighting in January led to multiple publications
speculating that it may play a role in the development of the 7-seat Maruti
Wagon R.
It’s actually a JDM-only ‘compact height wagon’
class model. The current generation Suzuki Solio was introduced in 2010 and
received a facelift in 2015, and the original model and facelifted model both
have been tested in India. There’s a Mitsubishi-badged version too, called
‘Delica D:2’.
The Suzuki Solio measures 3,710 mm in length, 1,625
mm in width and 1,745 mm in height. It has a 2,480 mm wheelbase and a 140 mm
ground clearance. Under the hood, is the K12C 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol
engine that produces 91 PS and 118 Nm of torque.
Suzuki does offer a mild-hybrid variant featuring
the WA05A electric motor (3.1 PS/50 Nm) powered by a 3 Ah Lithium-ion battery.
There’s even a full-hybrid variant, which uses the PB05A electric motor (13.6
PS/30 Nm) and a 4.4 Ah Lithium-ion battery. The combustion engine of both the
electrified variants is the same K12C unit.
The Suzuki Solio and Solio mild-hybrid have a CVT,
and they are available with a 4WD system optionally. The Suzuki Solio Hybrid
has a 5-speed automated manual transmission, and it is available exclusively in
a FWD drivetrain layout.
The Solio is underpinned by the Heartect platform.
The next-gen Maruti Wagon R and the 7-seat Maruti Wagon R won’t be based on the
Heartect platform because of cost concerns. Maruti Suzuki will utilise an
upgraded version of the outgoing model’s platform instead. The three-row
version will measure under four metres to avoid being levied a higher GST. It
will enter production in September 2018, and its launch should take place
around November 2018.
