Maruti Suzuki is prepping to expand its product portfolio in the country. The company seems to be working on a new compact crossover codenamed YTB. The vehicle will be based on the Baleno hatchback. Furthermore, it will be more of a crossover than an SUV. Also, the new model is internally being referred to as the 'sister car' of the Baleno. The reason behind using the Baleno platform is to save production costs and time spend on developing a brand-new product.
We can expect Maruti Suzuki to use the same strategy that was adopted to develop the XL6 6-seater MPV. Not many details have been revealed about the model yet. However, this new model will be the brand’s second offering in the sub-4-meter UV segment after Vitara Brezza. It is likely to be priced higher than the Baleno. We can expect it to fall in the price bracket of Rs 6 lakh - Rs 8 lakh (ex-showroom). The new model when launched will be sold via the ARENA dealerships.
Performance-wise, it is being speculated that the new Baleno-based crossover will feature the same 1.2-litre ‘Dualjet’ petrol engine as the Baleno. In the current form, the engine generates a maximum power of 90 bhp and a peak torque of 113 Nm. Further, the engine comes equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard along with a 5-speed AMT or a CVT as an option.
Apart from Maruti YTB compact crossover, the company is also likely to introduce Jimny 5-door, a new mid-sized SUV, next-gen Vitara Brezza, and an all-new C-segment SUV in the market. We can expect the new mid-sized SUV and the C-segment SUV to be jointly developed by Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corporation.
Source : The Mint
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