The next big thing from Maruti is the Ignis hatchback, a micro SUV that will rival the Mahindra KUV100 in the Indian market. Showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo, a few more details about the car have surfaced, such as the car being equipped with an infotainment system powered by Harman. This American audio brand is a well-known name in the music industry and, in the Indian automotive world, is largely linked with Tata.
This system will focus on keeping the driver's attention on the road, and will feature an HMI (Human Machine Interface) which will have a simple smartphone integration process and navigation. The system will also support Apple CarPlay with voice commands, like the current Suzuki SmartPlay infotainment system.
Speaking a little more about the car, it is 3,700 mm long, 1,660 mm wide, 1,595 mm tall, and has a ground clearance of 180 mm. The fellow Mahindra manages to be wider and taller than the Ignis, which enables the six-seater layout. Ignis stands 10 mm higher above the ground than the KUV100 which helps it achieve a more SUV-ish stance. Looks are objective but we feel that the Ignis, with its boxy design, will appeal to a wider audience.
Inside too, this is an all new Maruti. The dashboard feels refreshed with an all-new capsule layout for the climate control display and switches. A flamboyant touchscreen unit is also present at the top-centre of the dashboard, which will most likely feature the said Harman audio system.
Engine options expected with the Ignis include both petrol and diesel variants. The popular 1.3-litre DDiS unit will take responsibility of the diesel variants whereas the gasoline variants are most likely to feature the 1.2-litre K12B engine, with the latter feature a CVT automatic option.
Expected to launch this year in the festive season, Ignis will be priced around INR 4.9 lakhs and will be retailed out of Nexa outlets. Maruti will be introducing the Ignis below the Baleno hatchback, and this might result in further drop in sales of the fellow Swift hatchback.
