IAB Report - Suzuki's premium hatchback (India-bound Maruti YRA) starts testing

To be positioned between the Swift and the S-Cross.

Spy photographers have caught the Suzuki Baleno/Maruti YRA hatchback undergoing preliminary testing, further confirming that Suzuki is indeed working on a brand new vehicle.

The upcoming hatchback will sit above the regional-favorite Swift, and will compete with new rivals like the 2015 Hyundai Elite i20 and the 2014 Honda Jazz/Fit. From the spyshots, it's clear that the YRA will sport a larger trunk and longer wheelbase for more leg-room, giving it a mini MPV look. It will also come with a premium interior and features to justify its position above the Swift.

The YRA is expected to be powered by a 1.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine, in a bid to downsize its engines for better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. Power output is targeted at 90 bhp, and will be coupled to either a manual transmission or the AMT from the Celerio.

Also Read: Maruti Swift range-extender (hybrid) showcased at Auto Expo

Judging by the amount of protective cladding the mule has, the hatchback is in its premature testing period. Sources told Financial Express newspaper a few months ago that production in India will start in the second half of 2015, and production for European markets will be at the Hungarian plant that currently makes the Swift, Ritz, SX4 and SX4 S-Cross.

[You can see the spyshots at WorldCarFans.com]