Maruti's Ford EcoSport rival will share engines with the Swift.
Maruti's next major launch after that of the Baleno will be the 'YBA' (codename), a sub-4 meter SUV that will challenge the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Mahindra TUV300. Road tests of the YBA are underway in India, as a launch is scheduled to take place at the Auto Expo 2016 in February 2016.
Multiple sources confirmed to Indian Autos Blog that the YBA will not be based on the Swift platform, as reported earlier. One person involved in the development said - "For an SUV-like appearance, we need to give the product large wheel wells, so as to accommodate 16-inch wheels. The Swift platform has a limit for the wheel arch size. So it is not based on Swift." The person said that the YBA will be a 'modulation' of a platform.
While it may not share platforms with the Swift, the YBA will share engines with the hatchback. Sources have confirmed that the YBA will be powered by the same 1.2-liter K-Series petrol and 1.3-liter DDiS diesel engines as the Swift, as these are the most powerful engines for Maruti that take benefit of small car excise duty regulations. The petrol could be paired to a CVT, like in the Baleno, whereas the diesel will get a manual transmission.
While its launch will take place at the Auto Expo, sources indicate a media presentation prior to the biennial event.
