Maruti engineers are working hard on the R3, a three-row multi-purpose vehicle that will try diverting Toyota Innova customers into Maruti Suzuki showrooms next year. Some reports point at an end-2011 while others predict an early 2012 as starting date of R3′s production.
Whichever the case, we expect Maruti Suzuki to showcase the production model at Auto Expo 2012. Test mules must be out on the roads by June or July this year.
More news comes from overseas publication Go Auto Australia. We have already reported on the exports possibility of the SX4-based R3 from India. Maruti Suzuki manufactures the Alto (A-Star) for the entire world. The R3 MPV might be one such high-volume export project going to places as far as Australia.
Within a year or so from the local launch, an export specification model will be ready meeting stringent crash test standards and Euro 5 emission standards. Maruti Suzuki will nix the R3 badge and the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and 1.3-litre Multi-jet turbo-diesel engines sending drive to the front wheels are the nominees under the hood.
For the export version, there’s the likelihood of the 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine from VW’s inventory. Flat fold seats and detachable captain seats could be part of the spacious interior. Generous use of high strength steel, ESP and airbags will make the export model safer, while the Indian model designed for fuel economy, lacks such weight adding elements. LPG and CNG variants for fuel conscious buyers could also be planned for a later date.
Maruti will not carry over the futuristic tailgate or the rear-hinged rear doors on the production model. One can expect a car very loosely based on the R3 concept showcased at the Auto Expo last year. If the A-Star concept to production transition is anything to go by, we expect nothing special in design.
Source – Goauto.com.au
[...] is a 600cc car that will take up the Maruti 800′s place once it slips into retirement. The R3 could be the global vehicle while the YE3 could be the full body change model on say the Alto’s [...]
hi, the maruti R3 is basically Opel/Vauxhall Meriva launched in 2010, the basic design and doors. may be this is a sort of design exchange which is done between GM and Suzuki as Suzuki wagon r is sold as opel agila before 2008 and now suzuki splash.ritz is rebadged as opel agila. have a look to vauxhall meriva Uk site you will get to see the similarity between Maruti r3 and meriva. and definetly its bigger car would be needing 1.6 VVT engine used in SX4 for petrol and for deisel it would what fiat has to offer for SX4. the R3 could do good in india if its offered in deisel also plus the 2nd and 3rd row are very flexible so that when more are required to seat it can become ypical 7 seater but if require luggage more than 2nd and 3rd row seats are adjusted.
Sharwan, do you really thing Maruti’s 1.2 petrol head would able to serve such a big car? won’t that be good to have some better engine like 1.4 or 1.6 petrol heads with 100+ bhp a good option?
Also looking at the size I feel it would be just like Toyota’s Avenza. Don’t it be? Final question don’t we have any spy shots yet?
[...] 2012, Toyota should start work on a compact MPV that will take on the likes of the Maruti R3 and GM’s Chinese MPV. This will mark the company’s re-entry into the inexpensive MPV [...]