All you need to know about the new Suzuki Wagon R

Japan has finally got a new Wagon R after almost a decade and we certainly want it to drive down to India. And that is not only because the Wagon R here is also more than a decade old but also because it is built with modern technology and should be comfortable to start with. So here is all you need to know about the new Japanese Wagon R and what changes would it undergo on its way to India.

The Wagon R continues with the tall-boy boxy design but the new one gets aggressive and interesting cuts. The facial features have become bolder with a wide rectangular grille up front, a thick black slat across it and the vertically stacked twin-barrel headlamps. It might look like a baby Escalade from far and it is a good thing for the big-car loving markets. The profile is almost the same except for the weirdly cut B-pillar which might not suit everyone’s tastes especially the ones sitting in the back. The tail now resembles a yesteryear G-Wagen with its tiny horizontal tail lamps at the bottom of the plain creaseless tailgate.

On the inside, the Wagon R has gone the modular way with a centrally mounted instrument cluster. The cabin is a mix of modern elements with some retro styling. It gets a tablet touchscreen display for the infotainment system behind which you have the rectangular AC vents coming straight out of a vintage car. Even the gear-lever is mounted almost on the dash. It gets automatic climate control, steering mounted audio controls, electrically adjustable wing mirrors et al. The seats are foldable and has a bunch of storage spaces.

The JDM-spec Wagon R comes with a 660cc petrol engine. The naturally aspirated version develops 51bhp while the turbocharged 64bhp mill can be opted with a four-wheel drive system as well. The engines come mated to an automatic-CVT gearbox. When it comes to India, we would have nothing of the Japanese Kei car. What we will get is the front-wheel drive 1.0-litre K-Series engine with a five-speed manual and an AMT setup, a continuation of the existing configuration. Which also means there will be a CNG variant available as well.

The new Wagon R should ideally come to India and if it does, it will be by the end of this year at the earliest.