Maruti Suzuki S-Cross petrol hybrid could launch in the current fiscal with a new K15B 1.5-litre engine making 104.7 PS
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) launched the long-awaited facelifted version of Ciaz last month with revised exterior and a brand new petrol mild-hybrid engine. The same powertrain will more likely feature on the new generation Ertiga MPV as well and it is scheduled to enter the market in November.
The 1.5-litre petrol SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) unit was newly developed to be introduced in other Maruti Suzuki vehicles in the due course including S-Cross. It will help S-Cross more than any other model, as the new engine will expand the crossover’s range that currently stands at just four variants.
The base Maruti Suzuki S-Cross diesel has a starting price of around Rs. 8.6 lakh (ex-showroom), and the new petrol version will likely start from Rs. 8.1 lakh (ex-showroom). This enables the leading automaker in the country to position the S-Cross further aggressively while appealing for customers seeking an affordable petrol crossover.
Maruti Suzuki had so much faith in S-Cross that the Nexa inning was began with it. However, it did face tough times along the way as Baleno became the first true success from the premium dealership. The company realised the steep pricing and slashed it to attract more buyers along with departing 1.6-litre diesel engine.
Moreover, the facelift launched late last year with modern looks did receive positive response and aided S-Cross to average well over 4,000 unit sales monthly this past year. With the new mild-hybrid petrol engine, the S-Cross could become the most fuel-efficient petrol compact crossover in India.
The K15B mill with ideal start/stop technology will likely produce same power and torque figures as in the Ciaz – 104.7 PS at 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm of peak torque delivered at 4,400 rpm. It will be mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. We expect a fuel economy close to 20 kmpl in the S-Cross and it will likely go on sale within this current fiscal.