Image source: Motoarc
Maruti Suzuki’s Fronx might arrive in Australia by the fourth quarter of 2024, as per Drive. The Fronx, which is expected to be released in early 2025, will fill the gap left by the discontinuation of the Baleno hatchback two years ago.
It’s interesting to note that Australia will only receive the Fronx as a mild hybrid. In India, the Fronx only provides a mild-hybrid option (“Smart Hybrid”) with the 1.0L turbo petrol engine. The Fronx will run on a 1.5L petrol engine in Australia, which will be paired with a tiny electric motor and a 12-volt battery. There will be a six-speed automatic and a five-speed manual transmission available.
The news comes after Swift’s recent Australian debut. But the Australian Swift is exported from Japan, not India. Suzuki’s recent launch of the Swift in Australia, which uses mild-hybrid technology similar to the upcoming Fronx, represents the company’s first move towards electrification in the Australian market.
Maruti Suzuki’s hybrid strategy in Australia goes beyond the Swift and Fronx. Within the following year, the company expects to launch hybrid tech Vitara and S-Cross SUVs in Australia.
Suzuki offers these vehicles in Europe in both mild-hybrid and full-hybrid configurations. Full hybrids may move the vehicle fully on electric power, providing greater fuel economy than mild hybrids, which just help the engine.
