Slowly, the Philippines is on its foray into electrification. While other brands have already gone straight on to full-electric vehicles, some are still midway in the form of hybrid automobiles.
Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH) is among those car brands that will be venturing into offering hybrid vehicles in their lineups. More importantly, the Japanese automaker gives Filipinos of a sneak peek of its hybrid offering at the 2022 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).
Present at SPH’s booth is the hybrid version of its famous nameplate, the Ertiga. Launched in Indonesia recently, the Ertiga Hybrid is the first MPV in the region to have an electric motor complementing the conventional internal combustion engine.
In Indonesia, the 2023 Ertiga Hybrid is powered by a new 1.5-liter K15C Smart Hybrid engine with 102hp and 137Nm of torque. It’s connected to either a 6-speed automatic transmission that uses a traditional torque converter with paddle shifters or a 5-speed manual transmission. Suzuki claims that the Ertiga Hybrid is capable of yielding 20.3 km/l for the automatic variants. That, and of course some updates when it comes to exterior and interior design for the refreshed model.
SPH said that the Ertiga Hybrid preview is what it is – a preview of what the company could offer in the future. However, this doesn’t mean that this is a confirmation that the Ertiga Hybrid will be officially sold here. What’s sure is that a Suzuki hybrid vehicle will arrive in the imminent future, and the Ertiga is one of the probable candidates.
If brought here, the Ertiga will be the first small MPV with a hybrid powertrain, undercutting segment stalwarts such as the Toyota Avanza and Mitsubishi Xpander.
Other Suzuki hybrid vehicles available globally include the mild-hybrid Vitara, mild-hybrid Swift, and the Swace hybrid hatchback.
Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid
SPH also showcases the rest of its lineup at the 2022 PIMS, namely the Dzire sedan, XL7 MPV, S-Presso SE hatchback, Jimny mini SUV, and the all-new Celerio hatchback.
The Philippine International Motor Show is a biennial auto show that showcases the biggest launches and brands in the local automotive industry. It went on a hiatus due to the pandemic and returns this year as restrictions have opened. The PIMS runs from September 15-18, 2022, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.