India-made Maruti Suzuki Fronx to get ADAS, AWD in Japan

India-made Maruti Suzuki Fronx to get ADAS, AWD in Japan

by with No Comment car updates

By: HT Auto Desk
, updated on: 22 August 2024, 20:00 PM

  • The Suzuki Fronx for Japan will feature several changes compared to the India-spec version, especially in terms of the equipment available on it.
The Japanese-spec Suzuki Frontx features more equipment than the India-spec model, including ADAS, AWD and revised interiors

Suzuki is preparing to introduce the new Fronx subcompact coupe SUV in Japan later this year and the model is being exported to its home market from India. In fact, the India-made Fronx is the second model developed by Maruti Suzuki after the Baleno to be exported to Japan. While the first batch of shipments of the Japan-spec Fronx was recently dispatched from Gujarat, more details have emerged about what will be different in the car compared to the Indian version.

Japanese-spec Fronx: what’s different?

The Suzuki Fronx for Japan will feature several changes over the India-spec version, especially in terms of equipment on offer. The model is being produced at Suzuki Motor Group’s facility in Sanand, Gujarat, and shares its underpinnings with the Baleno. While the model sold in India gets 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol and 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine options, the Japanese model will get a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Begins Exports Of Made-In-India Frontx Coupe SUV To Japan

suzuki franks japan
The cabin of the Frontex in Japan will feature a dark grey and plum-themed colour scheme, while the Indian model features a plum and black theme

This is not surprising as there are no specific restrictions in Japan except for the kei segment. Moreover, Maruti Suzuki is already exporting the Fronx and its rebadged Toyota cousin (Starlet Cross) to South Africa with the same displacement engine.

However unlike the Indian version, which has only a front-wheel drive configuration, the Fronx for Japan will come with Suzuki’s AllGrip AWD technology for better traction. Most parts of Japan experience snowfall, which makes AWD an essential safety feature in such conditions. The AllGrip AWD system comes with multiple off-road modes including Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock. The rear suspension system on the Japanese Fronx has also been reworked with a rear torsion beam setup with a unique layout to accommodate the AWD system.

suzuki franks japan
The Japanese-spec Frontex will get a 1.5-litre petrol engine with manual and automatic transmission options

Japanese-spec vs India-spec frontx cabin

Additionally, the Japan-spec Fronx features a different interior with a dark brown and plum-themed layout. It is also a more plush cabin with soft-touch material on the door pads, and piano black finish on the door handles, steering wheel, and centre console. The seats are made of fabric and faux leather for a premium look.

Also read: Maruti Suzuki Fronx Real Efficiency Tested. See How It Works

One of the major differences in the Japanese Fronx will be the addition of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which will offer lane-keeping assist, auto emergency braking, front parking sensors, auto cruise control, heated seats, electronic parking brake with hill hold, and more.

Bookings for the new Suzuki Fronx have begun in Japan, while the launch will take place sometime next month. Deliveries will begin later this year.

First Publication Date: 22 August 2024, 20:00 PM IST

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50% of Maruti Suzuki’s CNG sales come from Ertiga, more demand for larger cars: Shashank Srivastava

50% of Maruti Suzuki’s CNG sales come from Ertiga, more demand for larger cars: Shashank Srivastava

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Maruti Suzuki India is the market leader in the passenger vehicle segment and the company holds a market share of 75 per cent in the sale of CNG vehicles. Elaborating on the same, Shashank Srivastava, Sr Executive Officer- Sales & Marketing, Maruti Suzuki, revealed that the Ertiga CNG contributes over 50 per cent to overall CNG sales, while larger models like the Brezza, XL6 and Grand Vitara have a larger contribution to overall volumes. The sales reflect the growing demand for larger vehicles across the industry as entry hatchbacks lose market share.

By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 10 Nov 2023, 15:44 PM

The Ertiga CNG contributes about 50% to Maruti Suzuki’s overall CNG volumes. The expects about 30-35% of sales to come from CNG cars by 2030

Maruti Suzuki is one of the pioneers in bringing CNG vehicles to the market and sold 328,800 cars in FY2023. The company has sold about 270,000 vehicles so far in this fiscal and is aiming to close the year with over 500,000 CNG vehicles sold. Maruti has 15 CNG models on sale including the Super Carry LCV, but its premium CNG portfolio only expanded in the last year with the arrival of new models.

Also Read : How Maruti Suzuki jumped to the top of the SUV sales chart

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG is available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, bringing lower running costs to the premium SUV

Speaking to the media, Shashank Srivastava said, “Smaller cars actually have a lower penetration of CNG. It is the larger cars which have the more penetration, In fact, the Alto penetration is just around 7 per cent compared with the Ertiga, which is more than 50 per cent. The Brezza alone, if you see, is about 24 per cent and the Grand Vitara is about 14 per cent. So larger vehicles actually are seeing much higher penetration than the smaller costs now.”

Furthermore, Srivastava explained that the acquisition cost difference between an entry-level CNG car and its petrol counterpart is about ₹90,000-95,000. So as a percentage of the initial price, these smaller cars actually have a lower penetration of CNG. Do note that Maruti also supplies its CNG cars to Toyota with a chunk of volumes coming from badge-engineered models like the Rumion (Ertiga) and Glanza (CNG), while the upcoming Fronx-based Toyota model is also expected to get a CNG variant.

The rising fuel prices in the last few years have led to the reemergence of CNG cars in India, prompting other carmakers including Hyundai and Tata Motors to expand their respective portfolio. The low running cost, coupled with better safety standards and wider availability of the filling stations have helped attract new demand.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
The demand for smaller cars has been on a decline and that’s reflected in the CNG sales as well

Srivastava revealed that CNG filling stations went up from 1,233 in 2016-17 to 5,710 in 2023-24 in a span of five years. This number is only expected to grow further to 17,000 in the coming five years. With a strong push from the central government in recent years in a bid to minimise crude oil imports, CNG is presently available in about 333 cities across 26 states, as opposed to just 13 states in 2016-17.

Also Read : New Maruti Suzuki Swift will be bigger than the outgoing model

By 2030, Maruti Suzuki expects about 15 per cent of its total sales to come from electric vehicles, followed by 25 per cent from hybrids, while the remaining 60 per cent will be contributed by flex fuel, CNG and bio-gas powertrain vehicles.

Srivastava says the company anticipates CNG vehicles to contribute roughly around 30-35 per cent to total volumes by the end of the decade. The number currently stands at about 28 per cent. It’ll be safe to say that CNG vehicles will continue to play an active role in Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio in the coming years. However, it needs to be seen if smaller hatchbacks will continue with CNG options in future iterations.

First Published Date: 10 Nov 2023, 15:44 PM IST


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