The test mule spotted was a right-hand drive version that will be coming to India next year and will draw power from the 1.3-litre diesel engine and most likely the all-new 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor that is currently being developed by Suzuki.
Suzuki has been testing its all-new premium hatchback (codename YRA) and the new test mule was spotted some where in Southern Europe with heavy camouflage. To be positioned above the Swift in Suzuki’s product portfolio, the upcoming premium hatchback will be rivaling the likes of the Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and Renault Clio in the segment. The YRA hatchback is part of Suzuki’s new aggressive plan that will see the company launch a new product every year globally till the end of this decade.
While the heavily cladded test mule reveals very little about the design, you can expect a bold grille, long hood, sweptback headlights and sporty bumper, while the rear is expected to get LED tail lights. The side profile of the test mule does appear longer than the Swift and get longer rear doors that will allow easy ingress and egress. The test mule also sits lower than the Swift and was riding on alloy wheels (from the Swift Sport), hinting towards sporty handling and overwhelming driving dynamics.
While engine details have not been confirmed, it is believed that Suzuki will introduce its new 1.0-litre K10C turbo petrol engine on the YRA hatchback that is expected to produce over 90 BHP of power, while also delivering higher fuel economy and low carbon emissions. The other engine will be the tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS motor producing around 90 BHP of power. Both the engines will be paired to a 5-speed manual transmission, while the possibility of a petrol automatic cannot be ruled out. In India, Maruti Suzuki could also offer the 1.2-litre K-Series motor in a higher state of tune, apart from the new 1.0-litre unit.
The new YRA hatchback will be positioned between the Swift and the S-Cross SUV in Maruti’s lineup and could see a launch by mid-2015. The premium hatchback will also be manufactured in the country not only for India, but for the European markets as well. With heavy localization and manufacturing, expect the hatchback to be priced from Rs. 5 lakhs onwards for the base petrol version, going up to Rs. 8.5 lakhs for the top-end diesel (all prices ex-showroom).
Image Source – CarScoops