Maruti unveiled the India-spec version of the S-Cross at the IIFA Awards on June 7, held in Malaysia. The India-spec car is slightly different from its international sibling, and will be powered by a Fiat-sourced 1.6-litre diesel engine.
In terms of styling, the S-Cross features black body cladding, faux skid plates at the front, back and both flanks, raised ground clearance, projector headlamps with daytime running lights, a new dual-slat chrome grille instead of the plain looking unit on the international model and new 16-inch alloy wheels. The production S-Cross will also not wear the Maruti Suzuki or Suzuki badge when it goes on sale; but will carry only the model name and a badge showing the engine specification on the tail-gate.
Inside, the Maruti S-Cross gets an all-black interior with silver inserts, climate control, rear air-con vents, a multi-function steering wheel and Maruti SmartPlay touch-screen infotainment system.
Under the hood, the S-Cross is powered by a Fiat-sourced 1.6-litre diesel engine developing 118bhp and 32kgm of torque, which will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
The S-Cross will be sold alongside the Ciaz at Maruti’s new Nexa dealerships. The Nexa dealerships focus solely on the premium offerings from Maruti, with the Ciaz already being offered at said dealerships. The Nexa dealerships are also expected to offer the YBA compact SUV and YRA premium hatchback when they go on sale in 2016.