Maruti plans to launch the latest version of its SUV Grand Vitara - the Suzuki Escudo - in India very soon. No firm dates are available as of writing this.

Maruti officials talked about the launch of the Escudo in India at the unveiling of the company's A3 class sedan, the Maruti SX4 in India. Globally, the Escudo is marketed as an urban cross-country vehicle that offers the riding comfort as a passenger car. That puts it in much the same class as a Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Chevrolet Forester - out of which only the CR-V is selling in any considerable numbers. The Escudo in India will also be compared to the Ford Endeavour which recently had a fresh go at the market. The expected engine options are a 2000cc petrol as well as a 2.7 litre diesel.

We expect the latest moel of the Escudo, with its clean-cut lines, to make the debut in India. As an SUV goes, it is pretty much what customers would expect - reasonably large and sophisticated, and moderate off-road capabilities.

Pricing details of the Maruti Escudo too are unavailable officially, though sources indicate that the SUV would be priced at Rs 12-15 lakhs ex-showroom in India. They also tell us that the expected launch will be in July 2007. Maruti had showcased the Escudo in the last Auto Expo in New Delhi, where it evoked considerable interest. The price, if true, will position it pretty much in the same price range as the Endeavour while keeping comfortably below the CR-V.

What we know so far is that the Maruti Escudo will be imported - mostly like as a compeltely built unit. Maruti can be expected to crank up the PR machinery before the launch - it's last SUV, the Grand Vitara, had a cold reception in India, and they company can be expected to pull out all stops to make sure the Escudo would not meet the same fate.

We have a few photos of the Japanese Escudo for you. Take a look at the photo gallery below, and do use the comments section to let us, as well as Maruti, know what you think about its upcoming SUV and what you want from it. Bookmark this page and come back later for more pictures in a while!

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