Future planning always helps and Maruti Suzuki is doing just that. Maruti Suzuki started the small car trend in India and look what we have now. Every other car manufacturer is leaving no stones unturned to have at least one small car in its inventory. And now, Maruti Suzuki is looking at bringing a new multi purpose passenger car in 2011.

The new car, which is better known as the RIII, was first launched at Delhi Auto Expo in January 2010 as a concept car. And as the pressure to hold on to its dear market share mounts, the car maker will get into the production of the RIII as soon as possible.

“We don’t show a concept car unless we plan to produce it at some time. The A-star quite resembles its concept shown last time. Typically, the RIII concept should take around two-and-a-half years to come into production, depending upon the interest we see in the model,” Mr Mayank Parikh, Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki, said.

According to some very reliable sources, Maruti has already sent a request to its vendors for the RIII. And since the RIII is being considered for massive exports to other countries, Maruti is quoting high volumes to its vendors. Latin America and East Europe are among the primary target countries which will be treated with this car from Maruti.

It is speculated that the Suzuki Concept RIII will be based on a stretched SX4 platform. Maruti Suzuki has not revealed any information regarding the engine choices for the RIII. Currently, Maruti does not have an engine in its inventory which is powerful enough to pull the 7-seater MPV – other than the top end engine featured in the SX4. But considering the Suzuki-Volkswagen alliance, Maruti may source an engine from the powerful diesel engine range of the German car manufacturer.

Pricing of the Maruti RIII would be another important factor. Maruti Suzuki is blessed with the trust of the Indians, and, hence, if the pricing is right along the lines of Mahindra Xylo or the Toyota Innova, sales would definitely be good.

The Maruti RIII is likely to be manufactured at the company’s Gurgaon plant initially before production shifts to an expanded Manesar plant subsequently. Even though Maruti is counting big on this car for exports, production would be concentrated only in India with fully built units or knocked down kits exported to other markets.

Volkswagen, which holds a significant stake in Suzuki, can come to the front for the assembling of the car for the Latin America. And VW is already assessing the pros and cons of this. Suzuki also plans to bring the RIII to markets such as Brazil, but will decide after the outcome of the study from Volkswagen that will decide on the RIII being assembled at Volkswagen plants in Brazil.