Maruti to launch Ertiga Facelift Hybrid

Market leader seems to be highly determined to extend their advantage over the market and is leaving nothing to chance. Hybrid-tech has become its go-to weapon of choice in this war and the Numero-Uno car maker is rolling out as many models with this technology as it can.

Strong indicators are coming through that the Ertiga MPV is due to get the promising SHVS hybrid system this festive season.

What’s more, the Ertiga is also likely to get a facelift to pep things up on the sales front. Dealers are reporting a depletion in their stocks of the popular MPV that had witnessed a sharp dip in sales in the month that went by.

The facelifted Ertiga had already been unveiled in Indonesia and test mules had been spotted doing the rounds on various roads across India too. In-addition to the buzz created by the inclusion of SHVS tech (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki), the new Ertiga is said to come with a host of cosmetic embellishments. There’s going to be loads of chrome for starters (a Maruti favourite), along with a revised bumper up front and new fog-lamp slots. The side profile is expected to remain unchanged (in interest of keeping tooling costs to a minimum).

In-Car Entertainment should get a boost, and we are likely to see the addition of a start-stop button together with folding wing-mirrors.

The petrol variant shall only be getting the cosmetic upgrades, with the 1.4 litre power plant remaining unchanged with its 94 Bhp and 134 Nm torque figures. The 1.3 litre diesel on the other is the one to be paired with the SHVS technology (including the integrated starter generator, regenerative braking and a bigger battery, together with start-stop function). This is a bold move by Maruti as the Indian market has only been seeing petrol-hybrids so far.

By hooking up the diesel motor with mild-hybrid tech, Maruti’s Ertiga is only bound to improve upon its efficiency numbers and (on-demand) torque figures. Thus creating an absolute win-win situation for them.

With a launch due to be announced at the start of the festive season, just weeks away, Maruti may also throw one more surprise with lower than expected pricing – thanks to the subsidiaries and tax benefits for the mild-hybrid tech.