India-bound Suzuki Ignis spotted testing in Europe

Remember the Ignis Concept that Maruti Suzuki showed off at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo last February, a few months after it made its global debut in Tokyo? If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to it, worry not, because the compact SUV is on track to be launched in the country sometime around the festive season.   

The latest sighting of the Ignis – branded just a Suzuki in international markets – comes all the way from France where it was spotted doing its testing rounds donning dark black drapes all around. As seen during the Delhi Auto Expo, the Ignis measures 3,700 mm long, 1,660 mm wide and 1,595 mm tall. It has a 2,435 mm long wheelbase and ground clearance of 180 mm. It will be Maruti’s new competitor in the compact SUV/crossover space that is already garnering high traction in the country.

Already available in markets like Japan, the car is driven by either a 1.2-litre petrol unit or the 1.3-litre 4-cylinder diesel unit sourced from Fiat. Power is transmitted from both engines via 5-speed manual gearboxes. Expect Maruti to ensure high fuel efficiency of whichever mill it plans to bring to India.

Set to rival the likes of the Mahindra KUV100 and Renault Kwid when it lands here, the Ignis is based on the same platform as the Baleno. That said, the design of the Ignis will be remarkably different from other Maruti cars, accentuated by sporty projector headlamps and massive bumpers.

The Ignis will be sold in India through Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa sub-brand at a base price of around Rs 5-6 lakh.