Maruti Suzuki is likely to launch the Wagon R Stingray in India as early as this October. The car was recently spotted during a photo shoot; one that normally occurs close to a car’s release. The Stingray is currently sold in Japan and when introduced in the sub-continent will slot in above the existing Wagon R.
The Stingray flaunts a more refined and stylish look as compared to its standard sibling and inherits several design cues from the concept showcased at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. The most prominent additions include a broad front lip, new-raised bumpers, side skirts and projector headlamps. The inside of the car also gets refreshed black interiors with blue accents.
In the India spec car, the oily bits are expected to remain unchanged. This means that the car will retain the 1 litre-3 cylinder K-Series petrol engine that makes 68PS and 90 Nm. The five speed gear box will also be unchanged as Maruti is not expected to introduce the CVT gearbox offered in the Japanese market. The availability of LPG and CNG options on the stingray are expected to be revealed closer to the official launch.
It will be interesting to see how Maruti positions the Stingray for the Indian market as the model has been a relative success for the company ever since its launch 14 years before. With the competition in the hatchback segment stronger than ever before a refreshing facelift may come in handy to improve the tall-boy’s sales figures.