Maruti Suzuki unveils the S-Presso

The success of the Renault Kwid really made Maruti batten down the 'hatches' and switch up the game. The S-Presso aims to shake up the entry-level car space by following the same formula that the Kwid pioneered: offering SUV-like proportions and stance in small car-sized package. The car also gets funky interiors to increase its appeal to younger buyers. The S-Presso will be launched at the end of this month on September 30.

Exterior

The exterior of the S-Presso sways a fair bit away from the 'Future S' concept that the company showcased earlier. The front gets a heavy dose of plastic cladding to make it look brawny. The grille takes inspiration from the Vitara Brezza, and is narrow with the Suzuki logo in the center flanked by four chrome elements. From the pictures, it looks like the car will get regular halogen headlamps with fog lamps in the bumper. There is some more plastic cladding on the sides along with slightly pronounced fenders. The rear of the car is not as detailed but we can see some plastic cladding on the rear bumper as well as reflector elements under the rear lights.

Interior

While the exterior is far from the concept they showcased, the interior takes a lot of inspiration from it. The center of attraction in the interior is the circular housing for the instrument cluster as well as the infotainment display, similar to the Future S concept (and very obviously inspired by the Mini Cooper). The speedometer is digital and is combined with a smaller digital readout for other information like fuel level and the odometer. The AC vents flank either side of the circular housing. Like the Kwid, the S-Presso gets its power electric window controls on the dash.The interior gets body coloured elements on the central console as well as the AC vents, and the seat fabric to throw a splash of colour. It gets the same steering wheel as some outgoing models with steering mounted controls , most likely on the higher-spec variants. The car also has dual-airbags as detailed in the pictures released.

Drivetrain

The S-Presso is based on Maruti's Heartect platform that will help with crash test ratings for the high riding hatchback while also giving it great structural rigidity. Mechanical details of the S-Presso are sparse but expect it to have Maruti's new 1-litre K10B petrol engine making the S-Presso the company's first BS6 offering in the market. The engine will produce 67bhp and 90Nm of torque. The interior pictures also confirm the availability of an AMT option in the S-Presso although it will come standard with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The S-Presso is here to steal the Kwid's thunder by giving customers similar functionality and convenience in a different body style. The car will come out by the end of this month just in time for the festive season and will also rival the Datsun redi-Go. Is the S-Presso your cup of tea?