Spied: 2017 Suzuki S-Cross spotted at factory
No, this isn't the BMW X1 facelift that you are seeing here. It is the facelifted Suzuki S-Cross. A couple of months ago, there were rendered images of the new Suzuki S-Cross facelift floating around. This new spy image, however, claims to have been clicked at the assembly line.
From the look of it, the S-Cross facelift looks like a doppelganger of the X1. The front has the famous kidney grille appearance but without the partition. The bumpers also look all-new, with the fog lamps having a chrome strip below. We had a grouse with the current S-Cross' alloys as they looked like wheel caps. This seems to have been taken care off with this refreshed avatar. While there is no rear shot of this car, we don't expect many changes in that department.
Inside the cabin, the current S-Cross was upto the segment standards and there may be no change at all, except for the addition of a sunroof and a rear AC vent. The current diesel engines will also continue to soldier on, but the S-Cross' 1.3l and 1.6l powerplants will promise more fuel efficiency like the other Maruti Suzuki facelifts for India. Maruti may also bring in the dual-clutch transmission which is available internationally with the S-Cross 1.6 diesel. The all-new 1.5-litre petrol engine with a manual transmission may also make a debut in this car followed by the Vitara Brezza.
The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross had a slow start in the Indian market primarily due to its hatchback-like looks and a high asking price. Maruti Suzuki did some damage control with a revised pricing and sales did see some good numbers. At present, there are no discounts on any S-Cross variants. Being sold exclusively through the Nexa range of dealerships also ensures that the customers get a premium sales as well as service experience. The Vitara Brezza, which feels more like an SUV, commands an eight-month long waiting period, and these customers are gravitating towards the S-Cross.
A facelift within a year of launch seems like a fancy idea. However, several manufacturers including Volkswagen have started toeing this trend. It though remains to be seen if Maruti can actually attract more customers to its fold with the updated S-Cross or drive them away. The new Suzuki S-Cross will most likely be displayed at the Paris Motor Show 2016 and should be launched shortly thereafter in India.
Image source: Gaadiwaadi