Maruti Suzuki Ignis powertrains for India confirmed; bookings to start from January 1

Ignis will enter the market on January 13 via Maruti Suzuki's Nexa premium chain.

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is gearing up for the launch of its first compact crossover, Ignis. The launch of its third product via Nexa premium chain has been scheduled for January 13.

Ignis for India has been confirmed with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.3-litre diesel unit. The petrol engine is expected to churn out power output of 84bhp and 115Nm, while the diesel mill is expected with 74bhp of power and 190Nm peak torque. Both the engines will be mated to the choice of manual and automatic transmission options.

Ignis features a boxy design yet it looks distinct from other small cars in India. It comes with rectangular projector headlights with integrated DRLs, a sharper front bumper that houses fog lamps and a honeycomb front grille. The plastic faux vent in the bonnet adds premium feel on the exterior.

Maruti Suzuki will also offer dual-tone paint for the roof as well as varieties of wrap options at Nexa showrooms for Ignis. The sharply raked C-pillar with three stripes stamped apparently harks back to SC100 Whizzkid, a car Suzuki sold in the 80s.

On the interior, Ignis will feature unique toggle switches, large tab-like screen and sporty speedometer dial. Being a premium product, the company will offer interior trim pieces to customise with different colour options. The interior will also feature ISOFIX mounts for child seats, 260-litre boot space, high-end Harman Kardon audio system and safety features such as ABS with EBD and airbags.

"This will be an entry segment offering from Nexa – a premium urban compact vehicle for the millennials. Millennials have a desire to make a difference and want to stand out on the basis of the choices they make. First time job seekers, pursuing a passion in life, who stood up to differ, will experience Ignis," said RS Kalsi, Executive Director Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis is 3,700mm long, 1,660mm wide and 1,595mm tall. It comes with 2,435mm long wheelbase. It will also feature 180mm high ground-clearance which is spot on for small dose of off-roading.