We’re now just two weeks away from Auto Expo 2020 and a number of carmakers have already shed some light on what their stands at the motor show will be like. Today, it’s Maruti Suzuki’s turn; and India’s most successful carmaker has revealed the first sketch of its new concept – the Maruti Suzuki Futuro-e – ahead of its global premiere at the 2020 Auto Expo.
While the sketch doesn’t give much away, it gives us a fair idea of what the silhouette of the Maruti Futuro-e will be like. It is billed a design study, and what’s apparent is that the Futuro-e belongs to the new breed of coupe-SUVs; it’s the first coupe-SUV design from Maruti Suzuki.
Speaking to Autocar India, CV Raman, senior executive director (Engineering), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. highlighted how with the Futuro-e, the company’s designers were given a free hand to create something they’ve never done before.
“The SUV segment is growing, as people are upgrading from hatchbacks and sedans. We’ve looked at global design trends and also done a small study of India. Our designers have come up with a concept which is for the future; a coupé-style SUV. The Futuro-e is our vision for future e-mobility. It is a combination of design and technology and represents the kind of proportions that we can achieve in the future,” said Raman.
Raman also stated that while the Futuro-e will have a coupé-like sloping roofline, it will “still have the SUV appeal” with a high bonnet, a bold, wide face and will usher in a new design language for the brand.
“With the Futuro-e, we’re going away from conventional design language. This is our effort to experiment and bring a completely new offering for customers,” added Raman.
The company is likely to ready a petrol engine for the production-spec model – which will also be designed to accommodate an electric powertrain. And while Maruti Suzuki will halt production of diesel cars come April 2020, it could look at bringing back its 1.5-litre diesel with the production version of the Futuro-e, as most midsize SUVs will continue to offer the option of a diesel engine, even in the BS6 era.
Maruti Suzuki understands the growing demand for SUVs in India. The automaker already has the Vitara Brezza in the compact SUV space and the SUV-styled S-Presso making its presence felt in the budget car segment. With the production-spec Futuro-e, Maruti Suzuki is aiming squarely for the space witnessing the fiercest competition – the midsize SUV segment – which has, for long, been dominated by the Hyundai Creta (and now by the Kia Seltos), and is also luring carmakers from the world over.
Are you excited by the prospect of a Creta-sized SUV-coupé from Maruti Suzuki? Let us know in the comments.
Also see:
BS6 Maruti Suzuki Celerio launched at Rs 4.41 lakh
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso long term review, first report
BS6 Maruti Suzuki Eeco launched at Rs 3.81 lakh