Auto Expo: Maruti Suzuki launches Concept Future S designed in India

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest car maker by volumes, unveiled its new concept known as Concept Future S which will translate into a new compact hatchback car.

The design for the new concept has been developed entirely in the research and development facility in India. The Concept Future S will be the second car after Vitara Brezza (a compact sports utility vehicle or SUV) to be designed entirely in India.

Maruti Suzuki first showcased its concept future in 2004 which translated to Swift (a hatchback).

“Compact is the natural choice of India’s car customers. Compact needs a fresh design language, one that is bold, confident and dynamic. Our designers have created this brand new design, aggressive on the outside, and bold and inviting interiors. Nothing like this has ever been attempted before on a vehicle this size. Concept Future S will define the next generation of design for compact vehicles in India,” said Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

“With its unique aggressive stance and posture and bold and exciting interiors, Concept Future S is set to redefine compact vehicle design in India. Designed in-house by Maruti Suzuki, Concept Future S epitomizes the next level of design evolution in terms of proportions, body sculpting and stimulating fusion of bold patterns and superior accent colours,” the company said in a press release.

Maruti Suzuki will start working on the Concept Future S based on the response the company elicits from potential customers at the Auto Expo.

The Delhi-based car maker has incorporated certain attributes of a compact SUV in the new concept as the company thinks growth in sales in the passenger vehicle segment will be driven by the utility vehicle segment.

e-Survivor

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd also showcased its first design concept of electric vehicle e-Survivor at the Auto Expo.

Maruti Suzuki’s parent Suzuki Motor Corporation plans to launch the first electric vehicle in India by 2020. It is currently developing electric vehicle technology with Toyota Motor Corporation.

Suzuki will also set up a lithium ion battery plant in Gujarat in a joint venture with Toshiba and Denso.

According to Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, the company is actively studying the factors that will improve acceptance of electric vehicles, and what consumers across India desire from EVs.

“Concept e-Survivor symbolizes our commitment to clean technologies of the future. Maruti Suzuki will launch its first Electric Vehicle in India in 2020. At the same time, we recognize that there is a larger vision behind electrification of powertrains,” Ayukawa said.

Maruti Suzuki also showcased a working model of the next generation hybrid technology of Suzuki as the company will work on a wide range of electrified products in the future.