2017 Maruti Suzuki S-Cross facelift hits the roads for testing ahead of Diwali launch; what to expect

Ahead of its expected launch in the country in 2017, the new S-Cross has been spotted testing on Indian terrains. Following revisions made to the automaker Maruti Suzuki's premium crossover, the shutterbugs at GaadiWaadi now share what are believed to be the first set of images of the model.

The new S-Cross facelift as seen is in its early stages of testing and is draped in massive camouflage, obscuring any closer scrutiny. Thus auto enthusiasts may have to wait till the festive season to see the model if rumours of it being a part of Diwali launch hold true.

Introduced in the country in 2015, S-Cross took to the roads with high expectations as the harbinger of Maruti Suzuki's premium car segment aspirations. But it was not to be. The high pricing ensued the take off was not entirely a smooth one. Forced back to the meeting board, Maruti Suzuki would officially cut the prices of the S-Cross by up to Rs. 2 lakh before the premium cross could witness growth. The S-Cross recently touched its milestone figure of 50,000 sales in India. Incidentally, the S-Cross crossover was Maruti's first offering through Nexa dealerships.

In the new avatar, S-Cross bound for the Indian market is likely to have similar changes as evident in the international model. The crossover is expected to don a re-styled front bumper and a larger radiator grille along with new projector headlamps. The headlamp unit of the S-Cross is likely to feature daytime running lamps and at the back, expect the S-Cross facelift to have a slightly redesigned tail lamps and bumper.

Inside the cabin, the S-Cross in its facelifted avatar is likely to get minimal changes such as new instrument cluster dials with MID and new seat upholstery with contrast stitching.

As for the engines of the S-Cross, the company is expected to offer the same 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre diesel units of the current model. The 1.3-litre diesel motor churns out 89bhp power and 200Nm torque and 1.6-litre diesel engine tuned to pump out 118bhp and 320Nm. There are rumours that the S-Cross could get 1.4-litre K-Series petrol engine in India.

In the international market the S-Cross facelift gets 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol engine with four-wheel drive (4WD). For the pricing, we expect the S-Cross facelift to carry a price tag slightly higher than the current model sold at a price range of Rs. 8.79 lakh and Rs. 12.03 lakh.

Source: GaadiWaadi