The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, will reveal the price of its new mid-size SUV, the Victoris, on September 15. It was unveiled on September 3 with bookings opening on the same day for a token amount of Rs 11,000.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 65th SIAM Annual Convention, Maruti's Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales, Partho Banerjee, said that the Victoris price will be announced on September 15.
While the company has already said that it will pass on the benefits of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation to the car buyers, the updated prices are expected to come after the Victoris price reveal.
The Victoris brings two firsts for the company, becoming the first Maruti car to offer Dolby Atmos audio and Level-2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). It also introduces an underbody CNG tank, almost 15 years after Maruti launched CNG technology in India in 2010.
Unlike the Fronx, Grand Vitara and Jimny, which are sold through the Nexa chain, the Victoris will be retailed from Maruti's Arena showrooms, where the Brezza is also sold. For reference, there are over 4,000 Arena showrooms across the world.
The mid-size SUV market is dominated by the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Other players in this space include the Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and MG Astor. Most of these models are heavily equipped with features, and many already offer Level-2 ADAS.
To remain competitive, Maruti has also loaded the Victoris with a long list of features. The new SUV comes with a powered tailgate with gesture control, Alexa voice assistant, front ventilated seats, an electrically adjustable driver seat, a fully digital instrument cluster, 64-colour ambient lighting, a PM 2.5 air purifier and a panoramic sunroof. It is also offered with Suzuki Connect, which provides more than 60 connected car features.
On the safety front, the Victoris has become Maruti's second car to secure a 5-star rating under Bharat NCAP after the Dzire. It scored 31.66 points out of 32 in adult occupant protection and 43 points out of 49 in child occupant protection. Safety equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, hill hold assist and seatbelt reminders for all seats. Higher variants further get a 360-degree camera, head-up display and Level-2 ADAS.
The Victoris shares its powertrain options with the Grand Vitara. It is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 103PS and 139Nm, paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic torque converter. The CNG variant delivers 88PS and 121Nm and is offered with a 5-speed manual. There is also a 1.5-litre strong hybrid option that generates a combined 116PS and 141Nm, mated to an e-CVT gearbox. The SUV additionally gets the ALLGRIP Select all-wheel-drive system.
Maruti has confirmed that apart from the domestic market, the Victoris will also be exported to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
