Report - Maruti XA-Alpha mini SUV to launch in the first quarter of 2016

The larger SX4 S-Cross will launch first, early next year. 

Maruti's chairman, R C Bhargava, told Reuters that the company will launch a new SUV in the first quarter of 2016. Mr. Bhargava had earlier hinted to a publication that Maruti's SUV for 2016 would be a sub-4 meter model that will take on the Ford EcoSport.

The mini SUV bound for 2016 would be based on the Concept XA-Alpha shown at the 2012 edition of the Auto Expo. The four-meter-long concept measured 1.9 meters in width, 1.6 meters in height and 2.5 meters in wheelbase. At the time of the showcase, Maruti said that the concept was designed by five Maruti engineers along with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan, in a span of 9 months.

However, before the XA-Alpha is launched, Maruti will introduce the SX4 S-Cross crossover early next year, and position it against the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Mahindra Scorpio. The S-Cross measures more than 4 meters in length (4.3 meters), and has already started testing in India.

Als0 see: Rendering - Maruti YRA premium hatchback based on the Ciaz sedan

To further expand its SUV portfolio, Maruti is reportedly considering the Vitara mid-sized SUV sometime in 2017-18. The company has, according to a report, also commissioned a study for a 'micro-SUV', that would be the size of a Wagon R.

Competitors: Ford EcoSport, VW Taigun, Tata Nexon
Expected Price: INR 5.5-9 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch Date: Q1 2016

[Source - Reuters]