So far Maruti Suzuki Ignis has been rumoured to rival against the Mahindra KUV100 in the mini-SUV segment. However emerging reports indicate that the Ignis may actually rival Renault India's popular entry-level hatchback, the Kwid.
A report in ET Auto says the Ignis will counter Renault's Kwid. India's largest car maker has been experiencing heat from the Renault Kwid in the entry-level, hatchback segment. Unlike with another ordinary product, Maruti Suzuki plans to take on challenge from Kwid with a premium offering at very competitive pricing.
Maruti Suzuki is yet to announce the prices of Ignis, though it may get a shocking price tag of around Rs 4 lakh, ET Auto reports. The Ignis has been confirmed with a starting price lower than the Baleno sold via Nexa channel. It has an ex-showroom entry price of Rs 5.3 lakh and Maruti Suzuki will maintain a significant buffer between two products.
Despite being a product with a competitive pricing, the Ignis will boast of airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) as standard. The company will also offer number of customisation features on the vehicle.
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 (AMT) transmission options.
The Ignis 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. 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.
Maruti Suzuki will launch the Ignis on January 13 and bookings will be open from January 1.
