Maruti Suzuki Ignis: What to Expect
As the competition in the hatchback segment grows increasingly tougher, manufacturers have had to be on their toes, not just to keep themselves tuned to market trends but also to combat the ever-sharpening competition from rival brands.
By Ishan Raghava
Maruti goes funky with the upcoming Ignis with the aim of luring in a newer audience.
As the competition in the hatchback segment grows increasingly tougher, manufacturers have had to be on their toes, not just to keep themselves tuned to market trends but also to combat the ever-sharpening competition from rival brands. So, to keep themselves close to the craze for SUV’s or at least SUV-like vehicles, Maruti Suzuki is looking to make a radical impact with their latest product – the Ignis.
With the Ignis, the manufacturer’s aim is quite straightforward, they’re looking to target the younger section of customers, and the first step to attract that crowd is to give the car a funky and unique design. With its wheel at each corner, the Ignis has a tall, SUV-like stance, with the sharply raked boot giving it a distinctive look. The large 15-inch wheels, paired with bold wheel arches give the car a pretty confident stance and give it quite a bit of road presence. The engineering focus is also quite evident when it comes to the space management, with the Ignis offering ample space for tall passengers and a 260-litre boot.
On the powertrain front, the Ignis will feature Maruti’s tried-and-tested range of engines, with the 1.2 petrol and 1.3 diesel being the two options. Interestingly, both engines will be offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes, a first in its segment. Maruti has also paid special attention to ever growing concerns about safety, and the Ignis will feature ABS and dual airbags as standard across all variants. Also adding to the appeal of the car is a radical departure in interior design, with the Ignis featuring a large tablet-like center infotainment display and the center console featuring toggle style switches to make the car more stylish. And keeping up with the times, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be offered as standard fitment on the Ignis’ entertainment system.
The Ignis will be sold through Maruti’s Nexa outlets, making it the entry-level product of the Nexa range. However, the prime focus of the Ignis is to not only vastly increase the sales volume of Nexa outlets, but target a newer audience by offering them a premium experience, something that might be needed to target a newer set of customers.
