YBA / VITARA BREZZA

The "YBA" is an SUV currently being jointly developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation and it's Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki. The car is expected to be called "Vitara Brezza", and will be aimed at emerging markets, with India as it's main focus. It will be no more than 4 meter long, which means that in India, it will benefit from a lower excise duty, giving way for more competitive pricing.

The "YBA" will be a slightly smaller version of the All New Vitara ("YAD"). The two models will share similar design language and styling cues, previewed by the iV4 concept car. But while the Vitara is positioned as Suzuki's flagship compact SUV model, YBA will be more of a budget friendly alternative aimed at the emerging markets.

India will be a very important market for the YBA, which will be part of Maruti Suzuki's extensive expansion to India's growing SUV segment, which begun with the introduction of the S-Cross crossover in mid-2015, and will be followed by the Ignis crossover (codenamed "YJC"), and possibly the full-sized Vitara as their flagship model.

Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha Concept

The story of "YBA" began when Maruti Suzuki displayed a crossover SUV concept called the XA Alpha Concept at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

The concept car shows Maruti Suzuki's intention to expand their presence to the growing utility vehicle segment to strengthen their dominance in the Indian market, although they did not give any official statement about whether the concept will make it to production or not.



The XA Alpha Concept was based on the Swift platform, which also underpinned the DZire sub-4 meter sedan, and the Ertiga MPV, both were developed with India as one of their key markets.

The XA Alpha caught the public's attention. Both the visitors of the Auto Expo and the Indian automotive media gave positive response to the concept car's appearance. Production version of the car has since been highly anticipated.

Production Model

It was then learned that an SUV which is said to be based on the XA Alpha Concept is being developed under the codename "YBA". It was first expected to be unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, two years since the introduction of the concept car, but it didn't appear.

Maruti Suzuki has taken a very long time turning the model from concept to production form. It appears that Maruti might want the YBA to be available with their own 1.5litre diesel engine, currently still in development, from launch.

Autocar India's Spy Shot

In late 2014, spy shots of the YBA began to emerge. The first couple of spy shots came from Autocar India, revealing both the front and rear end of the production model with some camouflage. A few weeks later, a couple other spy photos were posted online by GaadiWaadi.com, this time with a bit more camouflage.

The shots revealed that the YBA will have styling influences not only from the XA Alpha Concept, but also from the iV4 Concept (first unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show). At a glance, the car looks like a slightly shrunken version of the All-New Vitara, another car which it shares some styling cues with.

 

The spy shots shows that the YBA is currently in the final phase of development. Maruti Suzuki's Chariman, RC Bhargava, has confirmed that their sub-4-meter SUV will be launched in early 2016. We can expect more spy photos and more details on the car to emerge soon.

Although it is designed with India as it's key market, we can expect the YBA to be exported to various other markets as well, particularly South East Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where Maruti Suzuki currently export their existing products.

In 2015, more spy shots of the YBA emerged, some revealing more details than ever before, including it's interior design. Here is what we've learned about the "YBA" so far:

• It will share lots of styling cues and design language with the Vitara.
• It is NOT based on the Swift's platform, which, according to internal sources from Maruti, could not accommodate the larger wheel arches of the "YBA" as Maruti Suzuki intended to give the car a more "SUV'ish" look. It will instead be based on a modulation of a platform, possibly the Vitara/S Cross platform.
• It will be powered by the 90PS VGT version of the D13A engine, a diesel mill commonly used in Maruti's existing line up. A petrol version will also be available, although which engine will be used has not been confirmed.
• Suzuki's in-house 1.5litre diesel engine will not make it at launch, but likely to be introduced during the model's mid-life update/facelift around 2-3 years after the launch.
• Will not be available with automatic transmission or Auto Gear Shift at launch. All wheel drive option unlikely to be available, at least at launch.
• Top spec version will be fully loaded with up market features such as touch screen infotainment system, steering wheel audio controls, automatic air conditioning, LED DRLs, and a decent amount of safety kits.
• Likely to be sold through the regular Maruti Suzuki dealership network instead of the NEXA network.
• Likely to be aggressively priced. Expect high level of value for money.

Click here for our latest posts on the YBA

Spy Shots Gallery