Is a Wagon R MPV in the works at Maruti Suzuki's stable?

Maruti Suzuki seems to be working on a 7-seater MPV version of its hatchback, the Wagon R which will be sold from its NEXA retail network and it may launch this year by June end, says a report by CarandBike.

The Indo-Japanese car manufacturer recently adopted a larger platform and new engines at the beginning of 2019. The main purpose for that was to get a larger wheelbase for the 3-row seating of the MPV. The vehicle is reportedly ready for launch and could be a Nexa exclusive. However, nothing can be confirmed about that yet.

It is also expected that the car will bear a new name instead of carrying over the Wagon R insignia. It could be named Solio, but there have been no official announcements about the same. The car is expected to lock horns against the upcoming Renault Triber, which is also a 7-seater MPV.

Though Maruti-Suzuki is looking to differentiate the MPV from the Wagon R, it is possible that the new model will share Wagon R K12M 1.2-litre petrol engine which makes 82BHP of maximum power and 113Nm of peak torque. It is also quite economical in terms of fuel efficiency. The engine could be mated to a 5-speed AMT gearbox, with the possibility of an optional Auto Gear Shift (AGS) gearbox as well.