Maruti brings S-Cross at Rs 8.34 lakh in Nexa outlets

The S-Cross has been built on a new platform at an investment of Rs 600 cr, with localisation of 97%

Maruti Suzuki launched a diesel-powered S-Cross, priced between Rs 8.34 lakh and Rs 13.74 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) to expand its premium range and populate Nexa, the recently launched premium dealerships.

This is the first crossover (a car with features of a sports utility vehicle) experiment by the country’s largest car maker. In fact, there are other firsts that Maruti is attempting with this. One, the S-Cross will be only retailed through Nexa outlets. Second, to appeal to premium customers, the company has dropped the Maruti Suzuki badge; the S-Cross will only sport the ‘S’ logo. It will also have a Nexa branding on the exterior body. Going forward, premium offerings of Maruti will only have the ‘S’ logo at the rear.

The Indian crossover market has seen some action in the recent past. Toyota launched the Etios Cross in May 2014, priced at Rs 6.23 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the entry-level petrol version and Rs 7.41 lakh for diesel. Fiat launched crossover Avventura in October 2014, priced at Rs 6.56 lakh (petrol) and Rs 7.32 lakh (diesel).  Volkswagen launched the Cross Polo in January this year for Rs 7.1 lakh (petrol) and Rs 8.4 lakh (diesel).

The S-Cross has been built on a new platform at an investment of Rs 600 crore, with localisation of 97 per cent, except for a top-end variant where the engine is being imported. In that variant, DDiS320 (1.6-litre), the localisation is 67 per cent. S-Cross boasts of cruise control, rain sending auto wipers, self-adjusting hydraulic clutch, rear seat recliner and dual air bags in all variants.

“It is a premium crossover category that we have created where the customer would be equally comfortable in taking the vehicle to the office or a party and to his weekend drives outside the city,” said R S Kalsi, executive director (marketing & sales). Technically, S-Cross is a crossover but will compete with SUVs such as the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano and Hyundai’s Creta. Maruti has got confirmed bookings for 6,000 vehicles of the S-Cross. Creta, launched on July 21, had confirmed bookings for 15,000 vehicles on the day of launch.

Maruti has 35 operational Nexa outlets in 23 cities. The number will go up to 100 by end-March. S-Cross and future premium offerings of Maruti will be, as mentioned earlier, sold exclusively through Nexa. The 1,650 regular dealerships, which will not get to stock and sell S-Cross and future premium products, will earn a referral commission by passing on a lead to a Nexa dealership.

While S-Cross will be sold through Nexa, it will rely on the existing service stations of regular dealerships for service and maintenance. Going forward, Nexa dealers will also open premium service stations.