2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R will launch on January 23 with substantial exterior and interior changes
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will kick start the new year with a bang as a brand new generation of one of its popular models in the volume segments is scheduled for arrival on January 23. The Wagon R has long been a success story for the largest automaker in the country due to its spacious interior as well as fuel efficient powertrain.
The upcoming model is expected to take the proceedings to the next year and it will be sold across Arena showrooms as the outgoing Wagon R. Maruti Suzuki has already been spotted testing the Wagon R but we did not get to see any clear images yet. However, recent spy shots suggest that it won’t replicate the design found in the global model.
Instead, India will get specific treatment while retaining the signature silhouette with tall pillars. The 2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is believed to offer more interior space than the outgoing model while continuing with the same wheelbase. It has widely been reported not to be based on the Heartect platform due to cost reasons.
Unlike the bumper mounted tail lamps of the international model, the India-spec Wagon R will boast a vertically positioned unit right on the edges of the tailgate. Other important cosmetic updates include a prominent front grille section, sleeker headlamps, newly designed alloy wheels and a busy bumper up front.
The new-gen Wagon R will have its work cut out as it will have to face the revived Hyundai Santro. The bygone rivalry is firmly back on play from next month and it will be interesting to see how they stack up in the pecking order. The interior of the 2019 Wagon R will also be more upmarket courtesy of the presence of touchscreen infotainment system in the top-end variants.
No mechanical modifications are likely on the cards as the existing 1.0-litre K10B three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 67 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 90 Nm of peak torque delivered at 3,500 rpm, could be tuned for more frugality. It is connected to either a five-speed manual or an optional AMT gearbox.