KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Maruti Grand Vitara likely to be the brand's first car to feature ADAS
- Toyota Hyryder to follow suit as well
- A move to keep its line-up at par with the rivals
Maruti Grand Vitara is the premium bet from the manufacturer in the compact SUV segment. While it impresses it with its looks and a strong hybrid powertrain, there is something that is making it a little lagging behind the competition. With rivals like Seltos offering ADAS, the Vitara buyers feel a little left out, but looks like this is going to change soon.
How? Well, according to some sources, Grand Vitara is all set to become the first ever Maruti to donn an ADAS suite of assistive features. Let's look at what this development means for users.
Maruti Grand Vitara: Very Likely To Be The First ADAS Equipped Maruti
Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to introduce the Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) to enhance safety features in its vehicles. The company plans to launch the ADAS-equipped Grand Vitara in the first quarter of the next financial year. This technology is expected to add Rs 50,000-75,000 to the top-end variants of the Smart Hybrid and Strong Hybrid versions of the midsize SUV. ADAS offers level 2 assist systems, including autonomous obstacle avoidance, autonomous parking, and more.
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Maruti Suzuki is aiming to leverage its extensive dealer network to introduce ADAS technology to a broader customer base. The company is in talks with the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) for test trials at the ICAT Manesar track to ensure the technology's effectiveness and safety. The launch of the ADAS-equipped Grand Vitara was initially planned for the third quarter of this year but has been delayed due to global semiconductor and component shortages.
The Grand Vitara, which is produced by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) as part of the collaboration between Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), will be manufactured at TKM's facility in Karnataka. Sources suggest that TKM may also introduce an ADAS-equipped Hyryder, though this hasn't been officially confirmed. The ADAS-loaded Grand Vitara will compete with vehicles such as Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Toyota Hyryder, and the upcoming facelifted Creta.
A Higher Pricing??
The upcoming ADAS-equipped Grand Vitara is expected to be priced at approximately Rs 50,000-75,000 higher than the top-end trims of the Smart Hybrid and Strong Hybrid versions of the midsize SUV. The current ex-showroom prices for the Maruti Grand Vitara range from Rs 10.70 lakh for the base version to Rs 19.20 lakh for the top-end trim.
Verdict
The upcoming (likely to be) ADAS-equipped Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, set to launch in early 2024, is poised to be a game-changer in the midsize SUV segment, making it more competitive against key rivals like the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. With advanced safety features and autonomous driving capabilities, it's a bold step forward in Maruti Suzuki's commitment to enhancing road safety. Also, If you are someone with a passion for engines mounted on wheels, you must join our Whatsapp Group Community of petrolheads to find out more exciting stuff about the Auto world.
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