A new top end variant of Maruti’s popular MPV, the Ertiga, is on its way to India. The new trim was showcased in Indonesia a few months ago and has been christened Ertiga Sport. It is expected to carry the same name to the Indian markets as well.
Photos from the Indonesia launch show aggressive styling. The car now wears extended front and rear bumpers. Side skirts, faux rear skid plate and a high mounting rear spoiler add to the look. Particularly nice is the chrome embellished grille, and the diamond cut alloy wheels that lend the car a premium appeal.
The Indonesian spec Ertiga Sport features an all-black cab with smart faux wood interiors and a rather nice flat bottom steering wheel. The Indian spec is expected to have a 6-seat configuration in addition to the above, making it the first Maruti to come with middle row captain seats. The new variant is expected to be equipped similarly to the current top spec variant with features like SmartPlay system and auto climate control amongst others.
The newly introduced 1.5-litre diesel engine will do motoring duties, but there are speculations of a 1.5-litre 4-speed torque converter petrol engine too.
On the pricing front, there has been no official word yet, but we can look forward to a premium of Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000 over the current top of the line Z+ variants. Also, it is yet to be known if the new model will be sold through the same Arena chain that retails the current Ertiga or through the more premium Nexa channel.
