Maruti Suzuki has launched the next-gen 2022 Brezza dropping Vitara from the moniker. The latest version of the compact SUV features new styling, new interiors, new technology and a new engine.
The BS-VI petrol Vitara Brezza is powered by 1.5 litre K-series engine with 5-speed manual and automatic transmission options with smart hybrid, the company said in a statement.
The sub-4-metre SUV should share many components with the Vitara Brezza Facelift.
"Designed and developed by the team at Maruti Suzuki using Suzuki core technology, Vitara Brezza struck the right chord with Indian customers," MSI Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) Shashank Srivastava said in a statement.
The Indian automobile manufacturer has made subtle revisions to the car’s design and is expected to offer it with a BSVI-compliant petrol engine.
The Vitara Brezza should be offered with a BSVI 1.5-litre, K15B petrol unit which currently powers the Ertiga MPV.
Right up till the launch of the Hyundai Venue, the Vitara Brezza enjoyed the top position in compact SUV sales.
The UK-based group conducted crash tests on the standard variant of Brezza which comes with dual airbags and standard variant of Lodgy which comes without airbags.
The maker of the Baleno compact hatchback and the Vitara Brezza compact SUV dominates the Indian market through its majority stake in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country's largest automaker.
Overall Maruti Suzuki has recorded highest ever monthly sales in July 2017 with 1.65 lakh units marking a 20% growth. The UV segment grew by 48.3% to 25,781 units as compared to 17,382 units in the corresponding month last year.
The car market leader has opened the first Nexa service workshop at Gurugram. "NEXA was a first, important step in Maruti Suzuki’s transformation journey. It has been appreciated by customers. Listening to customers, we have now created Nexa Service to take forward that promise," MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said in a statement.
From beginning to work on minor changes on erstwhile model Zen in 2000 to a full body change of small car Alto in 2008-09 and ultimately being asked to develop a vehicle on a given platform and an engine, MSI has been enhancing capability of its engineers.
Launched in a highly competitive segment, the KUV100 has made its presence felt with 50,288 units being sold till date, M&M said in a statement.
According to data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) had only six models in the top ten list in 2015-16.
Maruti Suzuki, long considered the minnow in the SUV market, is riding high on the success of the Vitara Brezza which has emerged as the highest selling SUV in the country.
The model which was launched in March last year currently has pending bookings of over 50,000 units with waiting period of around 20 weeks depending on variant.
Japanese carmaker Honda is pinning hopes on its upcoming compact crossover WR-V and the new City sedan to rev up its India sales in the next fiscal.
Vitara Brezza was designed and developed in India by MSI R&D team using Suzuki's core technology and global vehicle development processes.
Suzuki-controlled home-grown carmaker Maruti Suzuki is sprucing up its product development capabilities, aiming to become an end-to-end manufacturer and reducing dependence on its parent company.
According to a report by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), during the April to December period of current fiscal, UV volumes grew by 33 percent as compared with a mere 2.5 percent for cars, while the overall growth rate for passenger vehicles (PVs) stood at 8.6 percent.
As automobile industry came to terms with the aftereffects of demonetisation, 10 passenger car brands including the likes of Maruti Suzuki‘s Swift, Hyundai's Grand i10 and Renault's Kwid showed resilience in November and December.
The company, which launched its premium urban compact vehicle IGNIS targeted at the millennials and priced between Rs 4.59 lakh and Rs 7.8 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), said it is critical that the company was "alive to the present and ready for the future," retaining the positives from the past.
At present, the two models have a waiting period ranging between 20-24 weeks depending upon the variants.
Statistics suggest that Maruti have received more than 1.72 lakh bookings for the Vitara Brezza since its launch in March 2016.
Prayesh Jain of IIFL sees no major demand revival in Ashok Leyland'd products. On Maruti's weak sales numbers for October, Jain says it may be due to the high number of festive holidays in the month.