The S-Cross Plug-in Hybrid could arrive early next decade following the debut of the technology in Vitara SUV
Maruti Suzuki is investing big money to develop electrified vehicles for India in association with Toyota as the partnership has domestic as well as global importance. The leading automaker in the country is not swaying away from hybridised models either, as the switch from conventional IC engines to pure electric mode of mobility will take some time to come into fruition.
Amidst planning to launch the all-electric Wagon R in 2020, Maruti Suzuki is also keen on expanding the reach of the recently introduced 1.5-litre K15B petrol mild-hybrid engine and it could find its way to S-Cross sooner rather than later. In Europe, Suzuki is gradually opting towards plug-in hybrids and the Vitara SUV will be the first model to adopt it early next decade.
Suzuki United Kingdom’s Managing Director, Dale Wyatt, has confirmed that electrifying its models is a key priority in the coming years for future growth. The report surfaced on AutoExpress further said Suzuki would use 12 V systems on smaller models while larger vehicles would get 48 V mild-hybrid systems up until 2020.
The plug-in hybrid units would only feature in bigger models like S-Cross and Vitara as the subsequent pricing incurred due to electrification for smaller Swift and Celerio would make them achingly expensive. Wyatt quoted that up to £10,000 (Rs. 9.54 lakh approximately) will be the cost of electrification, which bigger model may more or less absorb without digging a deeper hole in customers’ pockets.
Suzuki could narrow down its European range in the future and further streamline the operations by positioning a single model in a particular segment rather than two. We can expect the plug-in hybrid technology to trickle into countries like India and the next generation S-Cross hinted to arrive early next decade could feature it from the get-go.
Maruti Suzuki is currently working on a new 1.5-litre diesel engine that would replace the existing 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced unit. It would more likely be BSVI compliant and enter into the product range later next year. Moreover, the facelifted Ciaz was the first Maruti Suzuki to get a dual battery setup, emphasising the probable arrival of 48 V mild-hybrid system in the near future on Indian models.