Maruti YRA edging closer towards production

Maruti upcoming premium hatchback, the YRA, has been seen testing wearing minimal camouflage. This new hatchback by Maruti will slot in above the Swift and will rival the Hyundai i20 and the upcoming Honda Jazz. This new hatchback was revealed first by Autocar India last year. 

In terms of styling, the front end is similar to that of the iK-2 concept that was unveiled in Geneva, this year. The headlamps are placed at far corners and the wide grille is likely to get Maruti’s honeycomb treatment. The grille gets a V-shaped chrome surround at the bottom. The front bumper gets conservative styling with a wide air-intake inlet flanked by foglamps on either side. The rear styling sees a dramatic change from other Maruti hatchbacks with the YRA doing away with the upright C-pillar to give it a more streamlined look. The YRA's side reveals pronounced haunches and a window line that rises towards the rear, along with chrome door-handle to make it seem more premium.

Talking about dimensions, the YRA will be larger than the Swift. The international model is expected to be over four metres in length, while the Indian variant is going to be cut to size and will be squeezed under the four-metre mark to benefit from excise cuts.

Inside, the YRA is expected to get Maruti’s new SmartPlay infotainment system with USB, aux and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to features like climate control and keyless entry and go.

In terms of engine power, the YRA is expected to receive a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine. The two petrol motors are expected to be the new 1.0-litre Boosterjet direct injection turbocharged unit that made its debut in the iK-2 concept, along with the tried and tested 1.2-litre K-series petrol and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine. Power output is expected to be around the 100bhp mark.

The YRA premium hatchback is expected to go on sale in India sometime early next year with Maruti expected to offer it alongside the Ciaz and upcoming S-Cross at its new Nexa premium dealerships.

Image source