Upcoming 2019 Maruti Wagon R To Be Most Fuel Efficient In Its Segment

wagon r 2018 (Upcoming 2019 Maruti Wagon R )

2019 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R will likely compete against new Hyundai Santro with more fuel-efficient engine; launch in coming months

Nearly twenty years ago, Maruti Suzuki introduced the Wagon R in the domestic market. With its tall design ensuring good interior space, economical engines meant it became one of the consistent sellers for the largest automaker in the country. Having achieved a milestone of two million sales mark in September 2017, the Wagon R did manage to average over 13,000 unit sales in the last one year.

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is finally getting a major makeover in the coming months as a new generation version is arriving to tackle the modern rivals. Its production in limited numbers has already begun at Manesar plant and we can expect it to launch in mid-December or early January.

It is worth noting that Maruti Suzuki has started road testing of the Wagon R EV this month ahead of planned debut in 2020. The third generation Wagon R is no stranger to global markets and it has been available in Japan since February 2017. It will spark the old rivalry with Hyundai Santro as the Korean hatchback had received a brand new avatar recently with a great deal of enthusiasm and fanfare.

The upcoming Wagon R will continue to have the signature tallboy design but the exterior will be heavily updated. It adorns a new front fascia with sharper headlamps, bolder bumper section, unique rear bumper integrated tail lamps, prominent grille area, etc. As much as the exterior, the cabin will also get a number of revisions.

2018 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Rendered 1
Rendering

It gains updated dashboard while becoming more premium as well. It is not expected to be based on a new platform that underpins the global model due to cost reasons. However, the existing architecture could be updated to meet new safety regulations. Features like dual airbags, speed alert function, ABS with EBD and reverse parking sensors could be offered as standard.

We can also expect the existing 1.0-litre K10B three-cylinder petrol engine from outgoing model to be updated to return more mileage. It currently develops 67 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 90 Nm of peak torque delivered at 3,500 rpm, and is connected to either a five-speed manual or an AMT. The regular MT and AMT versions are ARAI-certified to return 20.5 kmpl while the CNG variant returns 26.6 kmpl.