Maruti 'YBA' sub-4m SUV snapped on Indian roads - Spied

Expected to launch in this financial year.

Real world road tests of the Maruti 'YBA' (codename for Maruti's sub-4 meter SUV) have commenced with a prototype being snapped by an Autocar India reader recently. The YBA is expected to launch in the Indian market this financial year, with sources suggesting an introduction prior to the Auto Expo 2016.

The YBA will follow the S-Cross in the market, which is expected to launch towards late-July or in early-August. It will primarily rival the Ford EcoSport, though on price, pseudo-crossovers such as the Hyundai i20 Active, Fiat Avventura and Toyota Etios Cross would also compete with the new Maruti.

The YBA will borrow styling cues from the Suzuki iv-4 concept, what materialized into the Suzuki Vitara compact SUV. However, unlike the EcoSport or Avventura, the YBA is unlikely to get an externally-mounted spare wheel.

The YBA will come with petrol and diesel engines, the latter using the Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter MultiJet unit mated to a 5-speed transmission. The petrol variants of the YBA could be powered either by the 1.2-liter K-Series unit, or the all-new 1.0-liter Boosterjet turbocharged engine which will make its premiere on the YRA.

Also read: Maruti YRA spotted with mild camouflage

The YBA and S-Cross see Maruti enter all-new segments, and are expected to contribute towards the carmaker's target of selling 2 million units/annum in the next few years.

[Spyshot from AutocarIndia]