For years, Maruti Suzuki has been the leading standard for automobiles in India. Year after year, they set the bar high, pioneering the way for a better driving experience with each car that they launch. From the Swift to the Vitara Brezza, Maruti Suzuki has captured the imagination of the average Indian driver and has always catered to the needs of the customers, designing sleek and long-lasting vehicles, while simultaneously maintaining a price that does not burn a hole in the pockets of the customers, thus making sure that they are the leaders in the market when it comes to cost-effective cars.
After already cementing their places as the leaders of cars in the hatchback segment, Maruti Suzuki now plans to take this expansion to the next level, and that way is entering into the SUV space and making a lasting impression in a market that could be anybodys for the taking. While the company is in the process of launching a few rides in the market, the one making a lot of waves in the circuit is the Baleno Crossover SUV. The vehicle, which was due to be launched this year, is now expected to be launched somewhere around early next year, with the delay attributed to the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected industries across the globe.
The Baleno Crossover is expected to be the company’s second sub-4 meter SUV after the Brezza. It is expected to be a tad less expensive than the Vitara Brezza model, giving the consumer flexibility to choose from the two. This SUV will be built on the Heartrect platform, which will help the company save a lot on development costs, which ensures that the car can be sold at a lesser price, making it more affordable. It is also expected that the SUV will be different in appearance from the actual Baleno sedan, with the model to be based on a coupe-like design.
As far as designations are concerned, the company has given it the codename YTB and the SUV is expected to have all the features that were given in the Maruti Suzuki Baleno sedan. In addition, it is expected to have a heads-up display, 360-degree camera, SmartPlay touch infotainment system, cruise control, and rain-sensing wipers. For safety, features like 6 airbags, hill assist, ESP will be seen. In the SUV, you can get the 1.2-liter K12N naturally aspirated petrol engine which has been taken from the Baleno. This engine produces 89 bhp power and 113 Nm peak torque. This engine can come with a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT gearbox.