2 Super-Hyped Wagon-Rs That Maruti Never Built
The Maruti Wagon-R needs no introduction among Indians. First launched in 1999, this tallboy hatchback sold over 3 million (30 lakh) units in the decades that followed. In August this year, Maruti Suzuki confirmed sales of 3.1 million Wagon Rs in India alone. The hatchback has had three generations and multiple facelifts during the period. The outgoing model is the facelifted third generation. Interestingly, Suzuki has rolled out market-specific adaptations of the Wagon-R in many countries. Even in India, we had the Stingray on sale. The carmaker also showcased various other concepts based on the hatchback, which never made it to production. Here are two such super-hyped Wagon-Rs that were never built...
Image Source: Autocar India
In 2013, Suzuki surprised everyone by showcasing a 7-seater MPV based on the Wagon R at the Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS). It was called the Suzuki Karimun Wagon R 3 Rows Concept. It had an overall length of under four meters. The idea of basing a compact MPV on a hatchback was quite new in the Indian market back then.
Sub-compact MPVs did exist, though. We had the Mahindra Quanto, which went on sale in 2012, and had a length of less than four meters. Furthermore, the Wagon-R was an extremely popular model in India. Anticipations around a production version of the Karimun Wagon-R 3 Rows Concept soon started brewing in our country.
Image Source: Autocar India
The Wagon-R MPV had the same wheelbase as the five-seater hatchback. It was slightly longer than the regular hatchback and the additional length was added just after the rear wheels. To make life easier for the third-row passengers, the concept had a fairly large rear quarter glass.
At the Expo, Suzuki clarified that the seven-seater Wagon-R was still a concept and the company hadn’t decided on putting it into production. Back then, the MPV winds were intensifying in India, and if pulled off well, the production form would give strong fights to sub-compact MPVs like Datsun Go+ and Renault Triber, launched in 2015 and 2019, respectively.
Image Source: Youtube
Reports also suggested that the MPV could launch in Indonesia first, and could later be brought to the Indian shores as well. However, the seven-seat Wagon-R never made it to the production line. In July 2020, however, a test mule of what looks like an evolution of the seven-seater Wagon-R was spied testing in the outskirts of New Delhi. This brought the spotlight back to the project. There has, however, been no further update on the project yet.
Today, we know that the first electric vehicle from Maruti Suzuki will be the eVitara SUV. Back in 2020, however, rumours had it that the carmaker’s first EV would be based on the Wagon R. A test mule of the electric hatchback was even spotted on test near Gurugram. The electric version of the hatchback was expected to be limited to the fleet segment alone, at least initially. Reports suggested that the market launch of this electric hatchback could happen in 2021-22. This, however, did not happen.
Suzuki showed the eWX concept at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show. It previewed an upcoming all-electric Kei car for the Japenese market. The production version is expected to be launched in multiple global markets, including India.
It had compact proportions and EV-specific details like a blanked-off grille, funky wheels and vertically stacked lamps. Reports suggested that the production guise could come with a battery pack that would be capable of delivering a range of 230km per charge.
If it goes on sale in India, the production form of eWX will compete with the likes of MG Comet and Tata Tiago.EV. The production-spec eWX will likely be a spiritual successor of the Wagon-R’s production form.