More stories

  • in

    Maruti Solido, Espaco, Libertas Car Names For New SUV, MPV, Electric ?

    Maruti Suzuki has planned slew of new car launches in India by 2022-23
    Providing a glimpse of what Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio might look like in the near future, trademark names of some of the company’s upcoming cars have been leaked online. The names revealed in the trademarks journal are Espaco, Libertas and Solido.

    All the names were filed by Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) on August 13 and approved on September 14. The trademarks are applicable for Class 12 products and the description reveals that the names are to be used for “vehicle; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water”.
    Next-gen products or all-electric variants?
    It is possible that these new names could be used for all new cars and SUVs the company is planning to launch in the near future. There is a higher probability that these new names could be used for all-electric variants of Alto, Celerio and WagonR. The names come across as youthful and trendy and will go well with all-electric cars. Something like that will be really surprising, as bestselling products usually don’t go for a name change.
    Maruti Libertas
    At this stage, it would be too early to predict which new name will be used for which car. However, there’s no harm in a little guesswork. While Espaco and Libertas are entirely new names, Solido sounds similar to Solio, which is a mini MPV produced by Suzuki since 1997.
    Maruti Solido
    As Solio looks like a larger and more premium version of WagonR. It is possible that the new name Solido could be applied to the all-electric variant of WagonR. The name could also be given to the 7-seater WagonR MPV that Maruti is expected to launch in the coming months.
    Maruti Solido
    Other line of thought says that Solid could be an SUV. Considering that it has the word Solid in the name, which probably suits more to an SUV, than a hathback. Solido could be used for the Toyota-Maruti SUV, which will rival the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. This is expected to be launched by 2022.
    Maruti ESPACO
    Similarly, Espaco could be the name of Toyota-Maruti MPVs electric version. As the name somewhat implies that the car has to do something with ‘space’ – it more suits an MPV. We all know that Toyota and Maruti are planning to launch an MPV in 2023, which will sit above the Ertiga in company line-up. This new next gen Maruti Toyota MPV could come in electric as well, and thus the name eSpaco.
    Maruti ESPACO
    Maruti continues to dominate the Indian auto industry with close to 50% market share in passenger vehicle (PV) segment. However, it cannot stay immune to the new challenges that are coming its way. Things can change pretty fast in the auto industry, as we have seen with new products such as MG Hector, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Sonet. We have already seen Maruti Brezza’s dominance in compact SUV space cut short with new rival products. Something similar can happen in other segments as well.
    The battle to dominate EV space
    If it wants, Maruti can emerge as a major player in the all-electric segment over the next 5-10 years. The company is yet to launch a product in this space, but considering its capabilities and wide dealer network, it could easily catch up with rivals. As of now, there are primarily three fully-electric cars in the Indian market – Hyundai Kona, MG ZS and Tata Nexon EV.
    All-electric WagonR could be launched as an affordable EV with decent range for city needs. The same applies to electric versions of Alto and Celerio. With cool sounding names such as Espaco, Libertas and Solido, Maruti could be on its way to create a new breed of bestsellers in the Indian automotive space. More

  • in

    Suzuki Jimny based Electric Hybrid Concept – Created by Students

    This design study has been created by students of IED Turin in association with Suzuki
    Over the decades, the Suzuki Jimny has grown into an iconic automobile, thanks to its simplicity, compact foot print and impressive abilities off the road. The Japanese automaker has managed to stick to the nameplate’s core characters every time it came up with a new generation of the mini SUV. No wonder that in most markets, the little Jimny has a waiting period stretching out to several months.
    Design students tribute to the Jimny

    Having a cult status with distinct design identity naturally puts the Suzuki Jimny in the radar of aspiring automotive designers. IED Turin students Raffaele Anile, Nicolo Bettinelli, Fiorenzo Fiorentino and Fabrizio Luciano found the Jimny’s raw character so fascinating that they decided to pay tribute to the vehicle through their dissertation design concept.
    The Suzuki U:man concept created by the IED team derives inspiration from both Jimny and Vitara. The brief was to design an Suzuki SUV concept made for everyone rather going after extreme performance or resorting to over-designing.

    U:man SUV concept
    The Suzuki U:man, just like the Jimny, adopts a simple boxy design. The roof section is kept simple with the B-pillar also doubling up as a roll hoop. A sporty front fascia with headlight displays represent modern technology while the bumper with neatly hidden tow hitch enhances functionality. The bulging wheel arches and six-spoke wheels add to the U:man’s character without going overboard. The whole glass roof gives a convertible feel while ensuring insulation from weather.
    While the exterior is all about preserving the classic identity, the interior is all about modern technology. The top part of the dashboard is made of displays that run across the full width of the cabin. The concept adopts an innovative HVAC which has blows air though gaps in the plastic panels of the dashboard. Features like wireless charging pad, advanced connectivity are on board.
    The team has opted for a four-seat configuration instead of a conventional five-seat setup in a bid to offer equal comfort to all the occupants. The place between the two rear seats has been used for luggage storage.
    The Suzuki U:man SUV concept is a design case study rather than a potential future model. So, the technical specifications of the vehicle have not been discussed by the creators aside from revealing that it has been designed for an electric hybrid powertrain.

    Source More

  • in

    Maruti 800 electric RWD with 378 Nm torque – Watch owner having fun

    Pune-based EV specialist Hemank Dabhade has reached the final stages of his Maruti 800 EV conversion project
    Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) discontinued the iconic Maruti 800 in 2010 as the hatchback could not meet the then-new emission norms and safety regulations. In the minds of Indian automotive enthusiasts, the ‘800’ holds a special place since it has got a strong nostalgia factor associated with it. We are sure that your family or someone close to your family might have had a Maruti 800 back in the day.

    In its last iteration, the Maruti Suzuki 800 came with a 796cc MPFI three-cylinder petrol motor churning out just about 37bhp and 59Nm while mated to a 4-speed gearbox. The higher 5-speed variant made roughly 47bhp and 62Nm of torque. Clean examples of the car still find decent value in the used car market. On the other hand, the original SS80 generation has already become a collector’s item.
    The current-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto BS6 fails to match the Maruti 800’s charm despite being its closest successor. This is purely due to the emotions surrounding the ‘800’ since the Alto is much more technically improved. Maruti Suzuki might never bring back the ‘800’ nameplate (at least in the foreseeable future), yet many Indians look forward to a modern-day avatar of the hatchback.

    Loaded with sports seats, sports steering, touchscreen and a lot more – Modified Maruti 800 electric
    How about an Maruti 800 modified Electric?
    It has been a while since Pune-based EV specialist Hemank Dabhade started working on an all-electric Maruti 800 with his team at Northway Motorsport. The project, dubbed ‘Maruti 800 EV’, has reached its final stages and Hemank has documented the same (one of four parts) on his YouTube channel. Over the months, we have also shared Hemank’s other interesting projects such as the Chevrolet Beat EV and Honda Activa EV.
    Northway Motorsport’s Maruti 800 modified Electric is essentially a two-seater RWD city car that promises ample performance and driving fun (watch the owner perform powerslides, thanks to 378 Nm torque, towards the end of the video below). Its real-world driving range is claimed to be about 150km on a full charge. This is purely a developmental or research project aimed to showcase the potential of electric powertrains in a familiar platform.

    [embedded content]

    The four-part YouTube series gives a rough idea of what goes into making an electric vehicle. It covers how the stock powertrain is stripped out from the petrol-powered Maruti 800, alterations done to the donor chassis, electric powertrain packaging, minor hiccups along the way, cosmetic enhancements (new six-spoke rims, front grille, steering wheel, etc.) and more.
    Key highlights
    Episode 4 starts with a brief recap of the processes mentioned above. The main electronics, battery-pack (an extra set lies in the ‘frunk’) and their cooling systems are placed at the rear, in place of a bench seat. This is covered by a flat luggage floor. At the front, Northway Motorsport has installed a custom touchscreen panel based on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. It incorporates real-time battery usage, motor and control temperature; output calibration and the basic drive modes: Forward, Neutral and Reverse.
    The main highlight is the addition of HHA (synonymously used with ‘Hill-start Assist’ nowadays). It helps the car remain stationary on a downward slope until the accelerator pedal is pressed. Finally, Hemank does some powerslides in his Maruti 800 EV — proving that small RWDs can be fun irrespective of the powertrain type. More