Modified by Sonny at 10:41 AM on December 1, 2021

Maruti will launch a series of new products next year, eight to be precise. Some of them have been discovered during testing, revealing details related to the design. One such element is particularly interesting-a new touch screen infotainment system.

Current Maruti cars-from Alto to S-Cross-offer the same Smartplay Studio infotainment system and 7-inch touch screen display. Although automakers usually keep their technology consistent across their portfolios, this cross-price commonality makes the high-end Maruti seem obsolete.

But the car manufacturer seems to have recognized this shortcoming, which brings us back to the new system we monitored on some upcoming models (such as the facelifted Baleno or the new Vitara Brezza). It may even be limited to models that compete at high prices, including Arena and Nexa cars. We also saw a version of this new infotainment system on the new Suzuki S-Cross for the European market.

The following are our expectations for Maruti's new infotainment system:

The most obvious change is that the new system will be equipped with a larger touch screen display. Although 7-inch units are acceptable on budget-centric compact devices, the size of other market segments has increased, and Maruti needs to catch up. For example, Hyundai Motor, its biggest competitor, now offers 8-inch touch screen devices from Grand i10 Nios to Verna, while i20 and Creta offer 10.25-inch displays. Even the new Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite have an 8-inch unit. According to the monitoring unit, it is fair to assume that Maruti's new infotainment system is also larger and may be the 9-inch display that debuted on the new S-Cross.

Advanced connected car technology with remote function

Connected car technology has only recently been introduced to the mass market, but it has become the main product of any premium car top model. Maruti's current technology suite, Suzuki Connect, provides telematics services such as vehicle tracking, security and safety alerts, vehicle information and driving analysis. This information can be tracked through the corresponding smartphone app. The Smartplay system also provides additional services such as navigation, music, news, sports, and finding points of interest (PoI) through the installation of cooperative applications.

The new system should add remote functions to the list of connected car technology functions. It will include operating climate control, engine start/stop, door lock/unlock, and horn and lights via smartphone apps. The infotainment system may be able to update navigation and other built-in applications over the air.

Maruti's new infotainment system should expand some vehicle functions to support voice functions. This may include setting climate control, opening skylights, asking for news, setting navigation destinations, and controlling media playback. These are features provided by competitors in the same market segment that Maruti competes with. For example, modern connected car technology can be activated through the "Hello Blue Link" voice prompt, and Honda has integrated Amazon Alexa into the city's connected car technology suite. 

The new infotainment system should support wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay like the new Euro-spec S-Cross, making it easier to use. It has become common in recent models and is usually used as a standard configuration for infotainment systems. The current Smartplay Studio still requires you to connect your smartphone via a USB cable to use these functions. It not only helps to organize the center console area, but also creates an inclusive experience for all passengers in the car. Maruti may even provide a wireless charging pad, which is another feature that most competitors already provide.

The dashboards of the upcoming Baleno and Vitara Brezza with the new infotainment system look very similar. Although the current Smartplay system is usually installed in the dashboard, the display of the new system adopts a stand-alone design and is located on the top of the central air-conditioning vent. This change in the positioning and shape of the new infotainment system has given it a completely new understanding of the current system. At the same time, Maruti is likely to adopt a new system UI design theme similar to the current Smartplay Studio to keep buyers familiar with the brand.

As we get closer and closer to the release of its new models, more details about Maruti's new infotainment system will definitely surface. Although we know that eight cars are planned to be launched in 2022, we don't know in what order they will arrive. This new system may make its debut on the revamped Baleno or India's new Vitara Brezza, and then be launched on other advanced products such as Ciaz, S-Cross and upcoming Hyundai Creta competitors.

Also read: 7 features of the new Maruti Vitara Brezza

1 out of 1 found this helpful