Maruti YFG & Maruti YTB SUVs to come with hybrid technology – Report

A new Maruti mid-size SUV codenamed ‘Maruti YFG’ is in the works, as per an exclusive report from livemint.com. Last month, livemint.com said in another exclusive piece that a ‘Maruti YTB’ compact SUV is in the pipeline and both models are likely to be part of the Maruti Mission Green Million strategy and feature hybrid technology, and thus, partially electric vehicles.

Maruti YFG Hybrid car

The Maruti YFG will be a four metre+ B-segment SUV. The Hyundai Creta has ruled this segment for over 5 years, and the success of the recently launched Kia Seltos is minting money for Hyundai Motor Group. Maruti Suzuki wants a real slice of the pie as well, and hence the YFG which in all probability would replace the under-performing S-Cross.

Sources have told Mint that the Maruti YFG is based on the Suzuki Grand Vitara. However, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is a much bigger off-road model that, simply put, would be too expensive for our market, and even more so if renewed for a new generation. However, Maruti Suzuki could call the YFG Grand Vitara to leverage the famed nameplate and make it perceivable as a product bigger and more premium than the Brezza. Perhaps, the design would have some inspiration from the original SUV.

Maruti YTB with Hybrid

The Maruti YTB, as per Mint’s report, will be a compact SUV. So, one can expect a new length-restricted B-segment SUV measuring no more than 4,000 mm in length. The report says that it is likely to be designed as a coupe or a mini crossover and makes it very clear that it’s not talking about the next-gen Maruti Vitara Brezza (codename: Maruti YXA). Maruti Suzuki is also plotting a 5-door Maruti Jimny (codename: Maruti YWD) in the same segment. So, in all, the company would have three sub-4 metre SUVs in its pipeline in the coming years, as per media reports.

Common to the upcoming Maruti SUVs should be the availability of a hybrid system. A 12V SHVS mild-hybrid system is already available in India. Internationally, there’s a new and higher-power 48V SHVS mild-hybrid system running since 2019, which in addition to the older system’s functions, offers electric motor idling and torque-fill control functions. Some of the upcoming Maruti SUVs could make use of this more advanced version of SHVS.

The YFG is reportedly based on Daihatsu’s DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform, which is a low-cost version of Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. Unlike any other Maruti SUV till date, it is likely to have a full-hybrid powertrain where the vehicle could run purely on electric power for a short distance and deliver unmatched fuel efficiency. Rest assured, the strong hybrid powertrain would be a locally adapted (and maybe rebranded) version of a THS (Toyota Hybrid System). The same powertrain could follow in the next-gen Maruti Ciaz as well.

While the Maruti YTB could be made alongside the Baleno at a Suzuki or Maruti Suzuki plant, the Maruti YFG’s production has been commissioned to Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The latter would be a sister model of an upcoming Toyota DNGA platform SUV belonging to the same segment and production of the mechanically related models would take place at a TKM factory in Karnataka. Expect the Maruti YFG to break cover next year and hit showrooms before the Maruti YTB. In between, we may see even the next-gen Maruti Vitara Brezza and the 5-door Suzuki Jimny going on sale.

Featured Image Source: Suzuki