Saar: It will also get a new 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid SHVS tech on board.

China-Spec Suzuki Alivio Pro

Launched in 2014, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz gave the competition sleepless nights for quite a while. Lately, however, the Ciaz has seen a decline in demand, primarily due to the upgraded competition. Time for Maruti Suzuki to fight back? Of course. According to a report by ETAuto, India’s largest carmaker will launch the Ciaz facelift in the first week of August 2018. The report also suggests that bookings will begin towards the end of the preceding month.

Ever since reports started surfacing that Maruti Suzuki is readying the mid-life update of the Ciaz, everyone speculated that the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engine will be replaced by a new 1.5-litre diesel mill developed solely by the Maruti Suzuki. The basis of speculation was not just reliant on the latter being the more powerful, but also due to the upcoming BS-VI norms which will become a mandate for all carmakers to comply with by April 2020.

Maruti Suzuki Aims To Sell 50 Lakh Vehicles Annually By 2030

China-Spec Suzuki Alivio Pro

But the report suggests otherwise. Maruti Suzuki will reportedly stick to the Fiat-sourced engine for the time being. Instead, it will up its game in the petrol engine department. The current 1.4-litre petrol engine will be replaced by a 1.5-litre motor which will not only be more powerful but also more fuel-efficient, thanks to the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) tech. With that under the hood, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift is likely to boast more than a 100 horses on tap.

As far as design is concerned, a bunch of cosmetic changes to the outside are expected. Those could include a revised front grille design, new front and rear bumpers and new alloy wheels. On the features front, we expect Maruti Suzuki to offer a sunroof, LED DRLs and cruise control as well. The layout of the cabin is expected to remain unaltered.

Maruti Suzuki Eritga Limited Edition Launched At Rs 7.80 Lakh

China-Spec Suzuki Alivio Pro

With a new petrol engine and more gadgets in the kitty, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz will cost more than the outgoing model. Currently, the prices range from Rs 7.83 – 11.62 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). With the new model, each variant’s price is likely to see a hike range between Rs 25,000 – 40,000.

Apart from the usual suspects – the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento – the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift will also face heat from the Toyota Yaris. Bookings for the Yaris began last month, with prices starting at Rs 8.75 lakh and going all the way up to Rs 14.07 lakh (ex-showroom).