Maruti Y1K (codename), a small car to be positioned above the Maruti Alto, is reported to be ready for a festive season launch next year. The upcoming model will be responsible to neutralize the Renault Kwid and Hyundai’s upcoming tall boy hatchback (spiritual successor to Santro).
According to Economic Times, the Maruti Y1K is the production version of Future-S Concept which made its premiere at the Auto Expo earlier this year. This means, the small car will adopt micro-SUV like body style which is in the vogue among Indian entry level B-segment audience. The Y1K will sit below the Maruti Ignis, thereby making Maruti’s SUV portfolio comprehensive.
Like the Kwid, the new Maruti compact car will essentially be a hatchback under the crossover-ish skin. This means, the platform will share a lot of components with the automaker’s assortment of brisk selling hatchbacks ranging from Alto to Swift. The powertrain of choice is expected to be the 1.0-litre three-cylinder K10B motor which is mated to a 5-MT or 5-AMT (AGS in Maruti’s lingo).
In its current state of tune, the petrol engine produces 68 PS and 90 Nm of torque. The motor has established itself as a zippy performer with impressive efficiency and reliability. Expect the Y1K to adopt an updated version of this unit (BS VI ready). The car will be equipped with standard dual front airbags, ABS and reverse parking sensors to comply with the upcoming safety regulations.
With Maruti’s well established vendor and dealership networks, economies of scale, and deep understanding of the market, one can expect the Maruti Y1K to offer excellent value for money.
It’s being speculated that the new small car could be reviving the Zen nameplate which has immense brand recall in the Indian market. If this is true, Maruti may save a significant portion of its marketing budget.
