Maruti Suzuki teases compact SUV Vitara Brezza | Auto Expo 2016

Maruti Suzuki teases compact SUV Vitara Brezza launch 2016

Ahead of the 13th Delhi Auto Expo in February, Maruti Suzuki has started building up the hype by teasing its much awaited compact SUV, the Vitara Brezza.

Though a new product named YBA was expected, Maruti has tried to revive the crossover badge Vitara, and will unveil the car globally at Delhi Auto Expo in early February.

Brezza, which is Italian for “fresh breeze”, has taken some good design cues from the Swift, though the silhouette strikes a closer resemblance to the stance of an X3 (minus the polished German engineering of course). But the compact SUV looks stylish and energetic, with which the carmaker aims to appeal the urban SUV customer.

Maruti teases the Vitara Brezza; to debut at the Auto Expo 2016

The Brezza designers believe the “square wheel arches, short overhangs, high ground clearance and upright hood” give the car a “dynamic posture”.

Brezza will also mark the beginning of a new line of vehicles engineered majorly in India. MSIL chairman R C Bhargava had said in 2015 that royalty paid by the company to parent Suzuki for the compact SUV would be around four per cent.

Also staring with this compact SUV, MSIL will pay royalty to Suzuki in Indian rupee instead of yen for all new models, a move expected to raise the average royalty rate of five per cent of net sales as compared to 5.6 to 6% for the existing models, when paid in yen.

S-Cross vs Vitara Brezza

And not just this. Brezza will also be crucial in Maruti Suzuki ‘go-premium’ campaign, especially after their crossover/compact SUV S-Cross failed to provide the thrust that Nexa, its new chain of premium showrooms needed at launch in July 2015. And with major auto makers like Ford, Mahindra and Hyundai hitting the right notes in this segment, Brezza is a “must-do-well” car for MSIL.

But will that be enough?

We think what goes under the hood in this one will matter more, after most auto enthusiasts felt the premium hatchback Baleno was underpowered. Only at the Delhi Auto Expo in February we will know for sure where this car will fit in the wide portfolio of Maruti Suzuki. Or will it replace S-Cross altogether?

Maruti Suzuki, Vitara Brezza, Compact SUV, Delhi Auto Expo, S-Cross

Source : PTI