Suzuki unveils WagonR 3 Rows MPV concept in Indonesia

Japanese car maker Suzuki has unveiled an interesting concept car at the 2013 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in the form of the WagonR 3 Rows MPV concept. Demand for MPVs in the Indonesian car market is high and this is one reason as to why global car makers compete with each other to line up a slew of MPVs for Indonesia. The WagonR MPV concept represents the third new MPV unveiled at IIMS 2013, after the Datsun Go+ and the Honda Mobilio.  

Essentially, the Suzuki WagonR MPV concept is a new body style of the hugely popular compact hatchback that's sold in many countries across the world. The WagonR 7 seat MPV concept is a car that seems to have been readied up to take on Datsun's new low cost MPV, the Go+. The MPV based on the Go hatchback, is also an extended version that shares most parts with its hatchback sibling. In a similar vein, the WagonR 3 Rows MPV concept also shares most parts with its hatchback sibling.

This sharing includes the platform, interiors and the exterior styling. Official details about the 3 Rows MPV concept based on the WagonR remain scarce at the moment. KompasOtomotif reports that the wheelbase of the car remains unchanged, hinting that the concept is an long-body version of the hatchback. Engine and transmission details also remain unavailable currently although the grapevine suggests that the 1 liter-triple cylinder, K-Series petrol engine is a likely power train option. 

If the WagonR MPV concept does measure under 4 meters in length and make it to production, the hatchback will qualify for lower excise in India, under the sub-4 meter compact car category. For now though, the WagonR 3 Rows remains a concept and no information about the likely start of production is available. However, given the nature of demand for MPVs in the Indonesian car market and the advent of the Datsun Go+ low cost MPV, the chances of the WagonR 3 Rows MPV making it to the production floor remain high.

Notably, Suzuki engineers are engineering a range of turbo diesel engines, with capacities ranging between 0.8 liters and 1.4 liters. The 800 cc twin cylinder engine, likely to make its debut in the next generation 2014 Alto/YL7/A-Star, is also expected to be used on the WagonR hatchback. With Suzuki showcasing the WagonR-based 3 Row MPV concept at Indonesia, a low cost diesel MPV is another possibility. Such an MPV could play the role of a workhorse in the Indian car market, as an alternative to the Eeco.  

Select images courtesy Dapurpacu