Here are more details about Maruti Suzuki's SX4 crossover

Maruti Suzuki's much awaited entry into the SUV segment on the lower side of the Grand Vitara will happen in early 2015, with the SX4 crossover, which was unveiled globally in recent times. New information about this crossover, codenamed the YAD, continues to trickle in from various sources. The new information relating to the SX4 crossover involves the yearly production volume, its engines and production facility. 

The SX4 crossover is likely to feature two turbo diesel engines: A 1.3 liter VGT version of the Fiat Multijet engine and a 1.6 liter Multijet unit. The 1.3 liter diesel engine will be built by Maruti Suzuki at Suzuki Powertrain Limited while the 1.6 liter Multijet engine will be imported. Internationally, the SX4 crossover is also available with a 1.6 liter petrol engine. It remains to be seen if Maruti Suzuki outfits the India-spec SX4 crossover with a petrol engine considering the diesel happy nature of the car market here.

Maruti Suzuki's sales estimates for the SX4 crossover, at 30,000 annual units, suggest that the crossover would be priced near the Mahindra XUV500. In that light, the SX4 crossover is more of a sub-Grand Vitara model rather than a product aimed at higher volumes like those generated by the likes of the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster. Clearly, Maruti Suzuki wants to keep room vacant for slipping in the XA-Alpha based compact SUV to compete in the sub-10 lakh rupees segment. 

The SX4 crossover is likely to be built at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar factory, a facility that has recently seen an expansion in capacity, of an additional 250,000 units/annum. The SX4 crossover is a five seater, a replacement to the current generation SX4, which is available in sedan guise in India and hatchback guise internationally. With the SX4 name-plate not proving very successful for Maruti Suzuki, it remains to be seen if the car maker would use the same badge on the new crossover. 

Source AutocarPro