Details of Maruti Suzuki’s new MPV are out
MARUTI-SUZUKI’S NEW COMPACT MPV will be called the ‘Ertiga’ and, as we had reported in this section last month, it would be based on the RIII concept that the company had showcased at the Auto Expo 2010.
Unlike the humble Eeco, this car-like people mover will be an upmarket offering with strong hints of the Ritz in its design, more pronounced in the front. The rear has a fl at, drop-down tailgate, a common feature in this class. The beige coloured interior of this MPV is similar to the new Swift’s. It has a three-row seating with a capacity of seven passengers in the base variant and six in the top-end one, while the boot space can be expanded by folding the last row of seats.
The Ertiga will be front-wheel driven, powered by a new 1.4 litre K-series petrol engine with VVT, producing close to 100 PS of power. The diesel variant will get the 1.3-litre DDiS motor. The length of the car is over four metres, excluding it from the low excise duty segment.
Once out, the Ertiga will compete with the Mahindra Xylo, Chevrolet Tavera and Toyota Innova, but will be priced lower, between Rs 6 and Rs 9 lakh. Maruti Suzuki are expected to launch the Ertiga at the forthcoming Auto Expo 2012.
