Maruti's Range Extender Hybrid Cars Launching Soon: Fronx to WagonR Hybrids
Maruti Suzuki is betting big on the future of sustainable mobility with the help of hybrids and not electric cars. As a result, the company is currently developing a series hybrid powertrain which will be much different than the current strong hybrid cars which it offers. Here are all the details about the upcoming Maruti Suzuki cars that will be offered with the range extender series hybrid powertrain.
Before going into the details of the cars that will be getting the series hybrid powertrain, first let us explain to you what a series hybrid powertrain actually is. Unlike the strong hybrid powertrain which we currently see on the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Victoris, which includes an internal combustion engine which is supported by an electric motor and a small battery pack that powers the wheels.
The upcoming series hybrid powertrain will also be offered with the same. However, in the series hybrid system, the wheels draw their power from the electric motor which takes its power from the battery pack. As for the internal combustion engine, it only acts as a generator and produces electricity to power the motor and recharge the battery. This is why the series hybrid system is also called a “range extender”.
Now coming to the benefits, a series hybrid system offers a number of advantages. These include an EV-like driving experience. Since the power to the wheels is drawn from the electric motor, this powertrain offers instant torque, smooth acceleration, and a silent driving experience. It also offers high fuel efficiency, and it is believed that the Maruti Suzuki series hybrid will be offering an impressive mileage of 35 kmpl.
Also, unlike the standard strong hybrid models, the series hybrid cars will not have any complex power-split transmission like strong hybrids and will also have fewer mechanical linkages. They are also cheaper to manufacture, and they can be easily scaled down for cheaper small cars, making hybrids more accessible.
Maruti Suzuki will be using its 1.2-litre, Z12E, three-cylinder petrol engine as the base for its series hybrid powertrain. This engine is currently being offered with the Swift and the Dzire and makes 81 bhp and 108 Nm of torque. And in the series hybrid powertrain, it will act as a generator.
Now coming to the cars which will be getting the series hybrid powertrain, the Fronx will become the first vehicle to feature it. As per the reports, the Fronx series hybrid will be launched in the coming few months. It could be making its debut as early as May–June of this year.
The popular hatchback Swift was the first vehicle to feature the 1.2-litre Z12E engine, and as a result, it too will be getting the series hybrid powertrain. Most likely, it will be launched next year in 2027.
The current generation Dzire is also the second vehicle in the current Maruti Suzuki lineup to offer the 1.2-litre Z12E engine. It is believed that in 2027, Maruti Suzuki will be offering the Dzire with the series hybrid powertrain.
As the Fronx is based on the Baleno, it makes sense for the Baleno premium hatchback to get the series hybrid system. Like the Swift and the Dzire, the Baleno hybrid could also be making its debut next year.
Currently, the WagonR is one of the most hot-selling hatchbacks from the brand, and it is offered with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine and a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. However, next year it could be getting a series hybrid powertrain based on the 1.2-litre Z12E, three-cylinder petrol engine.
The last vehicle on this list is the smaller premium hatchback offering, the Ignis. Next year, Maruti Suzuki could offer the Ignis with the series hybrid powertrain in order to boost its slumping sales