Maruti Suzuki could be planning to introduce the Fronx with a strong hybrid engine. According to media reports, Maruti Suzuki is likely to improve its hybrid portfolio in India looking at the demand for hybrid models. Currently, Maruti Suzuki retails the Grand Vitara Hybrid and the Invicto Hybrid in the Indian market.
According to reports, the Grand Vitara with the hybrid powertrain accounts for 15 – 20 % of the total sales. With the hybrid variant of the Fronx the brand will be able to accelerate the hybrid segment in the Indian market. Furthermore, media reports also report, in addition to the Fronx hybrid, the a three-row version of the Grand Vitara is likely to arrive in the Indian market by 2025.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx Hybrid
Powering the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is likely to be a Z12E 1.2-litre petrol mild-hybrid engine. The newly developed is also likely to come with a 1.5 to 2 kWh battery pack and electric motors on the front wheels. Thanks to the electric motors, the Fronx hybrid is likely to return a mileage of 35 kmpl.
Series Hybrid System
Reports suggest that Maruti Suzuki is likely to bring the Series Hybrid vehicles in the Indian market. What happens in Series Hybrid is that the internal combustion engine does not directly power the vehicle. The ICE only charges the battery of the vehicle and the battery along with the electric motor propels the vehicle.
This means that the battery range is virtually endless. In turn, the range anxiety of the customers also goes away with the Series Hybrid system. However, on fast highways the engine needs to work harder to generate more power for the electric motors. This can be solved using parallel hybrid engines. However, the transmission systems on the parallel hybrid vehicles are more complex and thus the car is more expensive.
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