Maruti will be entering the LCV segment next year with the Suzuki Carry-based pickup codenamed 'Y9T'. The Y9T, which will be a Tata Ace rival, will enter production at Maruti's oldest plant in Gurgaon.
According to sources familiar with the development, the Y9T will be priced at about INR 4 lakhs for the diesel version and between INR 4.5-5 lakhs for the CNG version. The diesel engine to be used in the LCV will be a newly-developed 0.8-liter twin-cylinder motor developed by Suzuki. The engine will later on be used in small Maruti passenger vehicles, provided engineers are able to achieve satisfactory levels of NVH. The CNG engine of the Y9T will be a 1.2-liter motor.
While the Y9T is based on the Suzuki Carry, engineers have comprehensively redesigned the LCV to suit local requirements, says a source. However, a passenger carrying version (like the Tata Magic) is not being considered for now.
The source says that Maruti is yet to finalize on the name of the LCV, or even its distribution for that matter. Whether the company will sell it through dedicated all-new dealers, or through existing passenger car dealers, is something company officials are contemplating at the moment.
[Source - Business Standard]
