Maruti Suzuki Vitara Spotted Testing in India; Time for a Comeback?

• Published On: 15 July 2019
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A new report suggests that Maruti Suzuki might be planning to re-launch Grand Vitara SUV in India.

India’s largest carmaker by volume, Maruti Suzuki has had an interesting history with SUVs in the Indian market. While the Gypsy SUV of the brand went on to achieve cult status in the country and Vitara Brezza has been ruling the roost in the compact SUV segment ever since it was launched in the Indian market. Other products from the brand like the S-Cross (more of a crossover) have seen limited success in the market and another product the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara was an outright failure for the brand. Now that the company is looking at launching new products in the Indian market once again, there are speculations that the Vitara will make a comeback in the Indian market. To let you know, the brand already sells the SUV in the international markets and it was only discontinued in the Indian market.

The coming times will also see the launch of the production version of Future S Concept, but the Vitara is the one that has caught the fancy of the automotive community in the Indian market. A lot has been said about how the Grand Vitara was launched in the Indian market at a time when the car scene of the country was still developing. However, now that the SUVs are the only segment that is showing growth among the vehicle sector in the country, it might be a bad idea for the brand to bring the Vitara back to India.

Recent spyshots have also come up that show the Vitara being tested in the country sans camouflage. The spyshots show the Vitara without any camouflage and grille and with temp number plates. There are hopes that the brand is testing the vehicle before it will be finally launched in the Indian market. As we have already mentioned, Vitara Brezza, the sub-4-meter compact SUV from the brand has been absolutely ruling the sales charts and this might have encouraged the Indian maker to bring back the Vitara SUV to the Indian market.

Talking of the Vitara, it comes with 3 engine options in the global market. The first is a 1L turbo petrol engine rated to deliver 111 Bhp and 170 Nm. Then comes the 1.4L turbo petrol model rated for 140 PS and 220 Nm. The third and the last option is a 1.6L petrol engine rated for 117 Bhp and 156 Nm. However, there is no report on the engine configuration of Vitara in India, if the vehicle is launched here at all. The Vitara will take on the likes of all-new Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier and even the MG Hector. However, the Vitara will be directly competing with the upcoming all-new Hyundai Creta, which is likely to be launched in the Indian market next year.