Maruti Suzuki Ignis update in the works

A handful of Nexa dealers – which retail Maruti Suzuki cars like the Ignis and Baleno hatchbacks, S-cross crossover and the Ciaz sedan – have reported that the carmaker has begun work on giving the Ignis a mid-cycle update. Dealer sources have also confirmed that the production of the current Ignis (which has been on sale for more than two years) has come to an end. There is no official communication from Maruti Suzuki regarding the new model and dealers have been asked to continue accepting bookings for the previous one.

The refreshed Ignis is likely to get the same treatment as the recently updated Baleno. This means a mild design tweak for the bumpers, new-look alloy wheels and subtly updated interiors. Additionally, the Ignis will also get Maruti Suzuki's new SmartPlay Studio infotainment system that made its debut on the Wagon R, and is now also available on the Baleno facelift. Also, just like the refreshed Baleno, Maruti Suzuki is likely to add more features in the lower variants too, especially the stylish LED projector headlamps that are currently available only on the higher variants.

The tall and quirky hatchback has been on sale since 2017, but has not been doing too well for Maruti Suzuki, with sales hovering in the range of 3,500 units per month (December 2017-November 2018) – a figure that is on the lower end of the spectrum for a car from this brand. The Ignis diesel trims were discontinued back in June 2018 due to low demand and the model is currently only available with the 83hp, 1.2-litre K12 petrol engine; a motor that is shared with many other Maruti Suzuki models.

The refreshed Ignis is expected to arrive in Nexa showrooms in the coming months.