The Maruti Suzuki Fronx facelift is expected to be the first model to receive the in-house developed HEV system and it will launch sometime next year in India
Maruti Suzuki is said to be developing a range of new passenger cars and electric vehicles for the domestic market. It already sells mild-hybrid and a couple of strong hybrid cars, the Invicto and Grand Vitara. However, moving forward, the company is reportedly working on an in-house developed HEV system.
Thus, the upcoming seven-seater Grand Vitara, bound for next year, will be the final model to feature the Toyota-sourced strong hybrid technology. The Maruti Suzuki HEV system will debut in the facelifted Fronx next year and it will be followed by the use of the technology in the next generation Baleno in 2026 and the future generation of the Swift.
This system will include a petrol engine serving as a range extender as it doesn’t directly power the wheels but acts as a generator to produce electricity, which in turn powers the electric motor that drives the wheels. The 1.2L Z series three-cylinder mill, which will debut in the new Swift and Dzire will play a significant role in the HEV tech.
Yes, you’re right. Maruti Suzuki’s HEV system does share similarities with Nissan’s e-Power technology. Both systems prioritize electric propulsion, with the internal combustion engine acting solely as a generator to charge the battery and provide electricity to the electric motor. This simpler design results in lower production and maintenance costs compared to traditional hybrid setups.
The Fronx compact SUV coupe has been well received by customers since its market debut launch year and is currently sold in 1.2L NA petrol and 1.0L turbo petrol guises. While the new-gen Swift and Dzire will arrive in the coming months, the aforementioned HEV system will be only available in their next iterations down the line.
Reports indicate that the estimated annual production for the next generation Baleno is 60,000 units and is internally codenamed YTA. The hybrid tech will enable a claimed fuel efficiency of more than 35 kmpl, making the range more fuel efficient than the models they succeed while compensating for the absence of diesel engines in the affordable segments with high frugality.