The Ertiga concept unveiled at 2019 GIIAS could influence the cross variant bound for India next month
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will be introducing the cross variant of the Ertiga next month. It could carry a different name altogether and will be retailed from the brand’s Nexa premium dealerships to give it a distinction as an upmarket offering. It is part of Maruti Suzuki’s push to utilise the popularity of the best-selling MPV.
Hot on the heels of the speculations, Suzuki’s Indonesia division has taken the veils off what has been dubbed the “all-new Ertiga Concept” at the ongoing 2019 GIIAS. With plenty of exterior changes compared to the second generation Ertiga, the concept is tipped to spawn the cross variant for India and could influence the design cues on the production model.
Up front, the concept features a pronounced grille section with bigger dual horizontal slats and the bumper portion has aggressive housing with the wider central air inlet. The Ertiga concept is more of an aftermarket custom job meaning that nothing everything you see will enter assembly lines. It rides on a set of bigger wheels with bolder design compared to the regular MPV.
Other cosmetic details include a larger roof-integrated spoiler, a thick strip at the back connecting the C-shaped LED tail lamps, LED Daytime Running Lights, projector headlamps, round-shaped fog lamps, blacked-out pillars, side and lower body kit for enhanced overall appeal.
The Ertiga Cross will reportedly have second-row captain seating arrangement upon arrival in India and the concept has the same configuration. The beige interior theme of the concept does bode well with the exterior updates and we can expect its influence to be present on the India-bound Ertiga Cross. As for the performance, the regular 1.5-litre four-cylinder K15B smart hybrid petrol engine is the likely option.
Without any mechanical changes, it is expected to deliver 104.7 PS and 138 Nm and is connected to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Concepts based on the Ertiga are common in Asian motor shows but the latest edition has all the probabilities to be taken seriously as it will likely give birth to the cross variant.
