The Maruti YBA compact SUV could sport a new 1.5-litre diesel engine sourced from Fiat, while the top-end versions could get the Suzuki’s AllGrip AWD system.
Maruti Suzuki’s iteration of a compact SUV codenamed YBA was spotted earlier this week for the first time revealing major details on the upcoming vehicle. Taking a plunge into the booming segment, the automaker will be competing head-on against the likes of the Ford EcoSport that has kick started the idea of compact SUVs in the country with other automakers also joining the bandwagon. While details on the design have been speculated, more news comes in on the powertrain of the compact SUV that is expected to get an all-new engine under the hood.
Unlike Maruti’s existing range, the new YBA compact SUV will get a 1.5-litre diesel engine sourced from Fiat instead of the 1.3-litre motor that has been doing duties right from the Ritz to the new Ciaz sedan. The 1.5-litre engine is essentially a reworked version of the 1.6-litre MultiJet diesel motor offered internationally and will also comply with the sub 4-metre excise duty norms. In terms of power, the engine is expected to make a good 100 BHP and beats the EcoSport’s 1.5-litre unit that produces 90 BHP of power. In addition, the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and the 1.3-litre diesel will also be on offer.
The new engine has been under consideration for sometime now and could be a major upgrade for Maruti’s Indian lineup, especially for the more premium range of products. In addition to the new engine, reports also suggest that Maruti is planning to pull an ace out its sleeve by offering the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system on the new YBA compact SUV. Internationally, a range of Suzuki models come with the AllGrip AWD system which will make its debut on the S-Cross in India and could be equipped on the top-end variants of the YBA SUV.
Maruti is sure to offer the value for money quotient by offering a range of features, while undercutting the base price by a hefty margin compared to the EcoSport. You can also expect to see a lot of parts sharing from other products in the automaker’s stable that will help provide higher economies of scale. The YBA compact SUV is expected to be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo and could be called the Maruti iV4, taking its name from the concept.
Source – Autocar
