Maruti has already begun road-testing its upcoming WagonR for the Indian market that is slated to hit Maruti Suzuki Arena showrooms early next year. This new iteration, just like the outgoing model, will continue with its trademark slab-sided ‘tall-boy’ design, as an initial set of spy shots have revealed.

As ever, you can expect it to offer incredible space for its small footprint, as well as a decent-sized luggage bay. While the latest-gen WagonR is already on sale in Japan, the India-spec car will sport a different look. You can expect toned-down styling and perhaps a comparatively longer bonnet that'll mean it can accommodate the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine. The engine will be offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox and there will be an AMT option as well. Maruti has also announced its plan to launch an all-electric version of the new WagonR in 2020.

Interestingly, sources tell us the new car will not be built on Suzuki’s new Heartect platform to help keep costs in check. With the new Hyundai Santro promising to up the game in terms of features, expect Maruti to offer an extensive equipment list on the new WagonR, with ABS and two airbags set to be offered as standard across the range.

When it is launched early in 2019, the new Maruti WagonR will compete with the Tata Tiago, Renault Kwid, Maruti’s own Celerio and the new Hyundai Santro. And Maruti Suzuki expects big things of the new WagonR - Autocar India has learnt from component suppliers involved in the project that Maruti’s sales estimate for the new WagonR is 18,000 cars a month, a figure that will once again make it one of Maruti's best-sellers.