Maruti Suzuki’s soon to be launched compact SUV will be the company’s first car to be designed, developed, built, validated and tested in India.
CV Raman, executive director, Engineering, MSIL said, “While the Indian R&D team works with the global team on various models, in case of Brezza all decisions and judgments on the car were taken by Maruti team and no validation of judgements were taken from the global team of Suzuki. Our R&D team which comprised of 300 members a decade ago is now 1,300 member and the majority of the addition has come over the last four to five years. The customers are transforming and the market is getting segmented. We have to address to every segment.”
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Sketch
The team started working on the SUV back in 2011. The cost benefits of developing the car here have not been disclosed yet. The financial part of it will be revealed at a later date.
The SUV is a sub-4 metre vehicle that will be based on an all-new platform. It is based on the XA Alpha concept showcased at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. The design of the new compact SUV will be based on the company’s new design language and will look similar to the Grand Vitara SUV. It has been code-named the YBA.
The Vitara Brezza will be powered by the same 1.3-litre Fiat sourced diesel engine that powers the Swift and other Maruti Suzuki vehicles. The engine will get the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) which made its debut in the Ciaz sedan. Power output is expected to be 75 bhp or 90 bhp. Expect Maruti Suzuki to offer a manual transmission as well as an automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive option will not be available. Petrol engines will be made available but it is unclear of it will be launched in India.
The equipment list is expected to be longer than its rivals. It will get projector headlamps, fog lamps, ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, keyless entry, push start-stop, an in-dash music system with Bluetooth, USB and AUX. It will also get a touch screen system with GPS and reverse parking camera.
Maruti Suzuki’s first ever sub-compact SUV will be launched at the Auto Expo next month and it will compete against the Premier Rio, Mahindra Quanto, Ford Ecosport and the Mahindra TUV 300. Prices are expected to start at around INR 6.5 lakhs (ex-showroom). This new SUV will be the first proper SUV in the company’s line-up in India. Maruti Suzuki does not sell any SUVs in India. The S-Cross is a crossover.
Source – Indian Express
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