Tata Motors recently unveiled the all-new Zica hatchback, scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2016. This time around, a heavily camouflaged test mule of its compact SUV has been spotted. Based on the Zest / Bolt platform, this compact SUV, code-named Osprey / X104 is likely to hit the showrooms either by late 2016 or early 2017 (link to news article).

Some reports suggest that the production version will resemble the Nexon concept, showcased at the Auto Expo 2014. From the images, we can spot the honeycomb smiling front grill and fog lamps. The visible circular headlamps are a temporary addition which will not be present in the final production version. The ORVMs with integrated turn indicators resemble the Bolt & the Zest and so do the door handles. The car appears taller than a Ritz. Not much can be identified on the side or rear apart from the wide tyres and 16 / 17" steel wheels and the rear fog lamp. It has a raised stance and we can expect high ground clearance, befitting its SUV image.

While not much can be identified on the interiors, the steering wheel and door handles / locks are identical to the ones on the Bolt / Zest. We can safely expect a lot of parts sharing between the cars.

Engine and transmission options remain a speculation as of now, but we can expect a 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Autocar reports that a new in-house developed 1.5 litre diesel motor (110 BHP) with a 6-speed manual transmission will also make its debut with this SUV.

Image Source: AutoColumn

Thank you to BHPian Doge and Pankaj Sharma for sending in these images. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing them with other enthusiasts!

The upcoming compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki, codenamed YBA, has been caught testing once again, this time in the city of Shimla. This time the interiors of the car have been revealed.

The spy images suggest that the YBA gets a black dashboard with silver inserts. Parts like the steering wheel, touchscreen infotainment system and gear knob, among others, appear to be borrowed from other Maruti cars. There is a piano black insert around the central air-conditioner vents and infotainment system.

The climate control system has a digital display and no dials, only buttons to control the unit. There is a storage space under the climate control unit, ahead of the gear lever. The seats are upholstered in fabric and there is a cup holder next to the handbrake. The front door pads are black as well with silver door inserts and chrome door handles.

The YBA is based on the Suzuki iV-4 concept, which was showcased at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor. It is expected to be powered by Maruti's current range of petrol and diesel engines including the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol units and the 1.3-litre, Fiat-sourced diesel power plant. Maruti could also use an in-house developed 1.5-litre diesel engine to power the vehicle at a later stage.

The top variant of the YBA is expected to be equipped with safety features such airbags and reverse parking sensors and camera.

The YBA is believed to be in the final stages of testing and could be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo.

Maruti Suzuki has been testing a compact SUV, codenamed YBA, in India for a year now. The car is expected to measure less than 4 metres in length and will be a rival for the Ford EcoSport.  According to a media report, the car is in the final stages of testing and could be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo.

The YBA's styling is influenced by the Suzuki iV-4 concept, which was displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. The YBA is more compact than the2015 Vitara, which was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2014. It has a raked windscreen and tapering side windows, the greenhouse of the SUV looks remarkably similar to that of the Swift hatchback.

Maruti is expected to use its current range of petrol and diesel engines to power the YBA. Engine options could include both 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol units and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel power plant. Maruti has been reported to be developing a 1.5-litre diesel engine for the vehicle as well. However, this engine is not expected to be ready before 2018.

The YBA is expected to be equipped with features such as alloy wheels, SmartPlay infotainment system, airbags and ABS.

Source: Autocar India

Tata Motors had displayed a concept compact SUV at the 2014 Auto Expo called the Nexon. Now, the company is rumoured to be planning a production version of the car.

The new vehicle will be based on the Zest / Bolt platform and is likely to come in both petrol and diesel versions. It is believed to be codenamed Osprey. It is being reported that the vehicle will use the same engines as the Zest and Bolt and will be available in manual and AMT variants.

Like most new Tata products, the Osprey is also expected to be loaded with features. Tata Motors might consider a seven-seater configuration for the car as well.

With this new SUV, Tata Motors will try to grab a share of the compact SUV market that is proving to be lucrative. The segment consists of vehicles such as the Ford EcoSport and the recently launched Mahindra TUV300. Marui Suzuki is also expected to jump in the fray with a new model based on the XA Alpha concept.

The Osprey is not expected to hit the market before late 2016 or early 2017.

Source: ZigWheels

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Honda has imported components for the BR-V compact SUV into India. These part have come from Indonesia, where the car is manufactured.

The move indicates that the company might start manufacturing the car in India soon. It is also possible that the parts have been imported for having a trial production run.

Honda unveiled the BR-V prototype at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show earlier this year, (click here to read report). The company then went on to release images of the production version of the vehicle (click here to read report).

The BR-V Earlier is expected to be powered by the 1.5-litre, i-VTEC petrol engine that is found in the City. The unit produces 118 BHP @ 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque @ 4,600 Nm of torque.

There are also rumours of a 1.6-litre diesel engine being developed for the car.

Honda is rumoured to be considering the use of a new 1.6-litre diesel engine in its products such as the City, Amaze, Mobilio and Jazz. The engine could also be used in the upcoming BR-V compact SUV.

The BR-V is also expected to use the 1.5-litre, i-VTEC petrol engine that is found in the City. The unit produces 118 BHP @ 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque @ 4,600 Nm of torque.

Honda is expected to bring the BR-V to India in 2016. The company is likely to manufacture the vehicle at its Tapukara facility. The plant has an annual capacity of 1,20,000 units. Honda has announced an investment of Rs. 380 crore to expand the capacity to 1,80,000 units. The additional capacity is scheduled to be ready by middle of 2016.

Honda is planning to roll out 36,000 units of the BR-V annually.

Source: Autocar Professional

Earlier this year, Honda unveiled the Honda BR-V prototype at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. Now, the company has released images of the production version of the vehicle.

In the images, the BR-V is seen in an Urban Titanium (metallic grey) shade. The car is almost identical to the prototype. The only noticeable differences are the different alloy wheels and missing silver trim pieces on the front bumper and sides of the car.

In Indonesia, the BR-V will be powered by a 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine which produces 118 BHP @ 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque @ 4,600 rpm. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

For India, Honda is likely to use a 1.5-litre, i-DTEC diesel engine as well. This is the same unit that is found in other cars from the company's line-up.

Renault will launch the Kwid in India during the upcoming festive season. The company has revealed that it could introduce more cars in the sub-Rs. 10 lakh market in India.

The Kwid, Renault's entry-level hatchback, uses the Common Module Family - Affordable (CMF-A) platform from the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Renault is planning more cars on this platform. The company believes it can make as many as seven car types or body styles on it.

Renault is considering the CMF-A platform for a sub-4 metre compact sedan, a 7-seater MPV and a compact SUV. The three segments are very lucrative in India and at present, Renault does not have an offering for the compact sedan and compact SUV segments. The recently-launched Lodgy MPV has not been able to dent the sales of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga or Toyota Innova.

For a long time, the Duster has been the only vehicle from Renault that has sold in decent numbers. With players like Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki introducing more modern products, the Duster's sales have also been hit. Renault plans to have a 5% share of the Indian automobile market by 2017. The company will hope the Kwid and upcoming offerings will be more successful than its current offerings.

Source: Economic Times

Mahindra is introducing a new alphanumeric naming system for its vehicles based on their body construction and the class in which they will be placed.

Under the new system, the alphabets "XUV" will stand for Crossover Utility Vehicle and will be used for vehicles that use a monocoque construction. "TUV" will stand for Tough Utility Vehicle and will be used for vehicles using a body-on-frame construction. The numbers 100, 300 and 500 will signify the size and price bracket that the car will be placed in. 100 will be used for the smallest and least expensive model, while 500 will signify the largest and most expensive ones.

Thus, the XUV500 can be assumed to be the largest and most expensive crossover that the company will produce.

Mahindra is reported to have registered the internet domain www.mahindraxuv100.com. This could mean that the S101 compact SUV, which has been spotted testing on numerous occasions, will be called the XUV100.

The XUV100 will be Mahindra's rival for the Ford EcoSport. It is expected to measure less than 4 metres in length, which will make it eligible for excise duty concessions in India.

On the inside, the XUV100 could get a 2+1 seating configuration at the front and 3 seats at the rear. It will have a dual-tone interior with a multifunction steering wheel and silver accents at various places.

The XUV100 is likely to come with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines. Both the engines are expected to be mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. However, like the TUV300, the diesel XUV100 could be available with an optional automated manual transmission as well.

Source: Carwale - Report 1, Report 2

The Honda BR-V prototype has been globally unveiled at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2015. This is an all-new crossover that will get 7-seats and will go on to join the pseudo SUV bandwagon, when launched.

On first impression, the exteriors appear larger compared to the current compact SUVs that we have seen in India like the Duster or the Creta. It carries a Honda family face with a chunky chrome grill and CR-V / City-like front headlamps with projectors and LEDs, dominating its face. Living upto the crossover standards, this car wears black body cladding all-around, silver skid plates (front and back) and has roof rails too. The side profile feature 16" alloy wheels and a similar kink in the window line that we have seen in the Mobilio. The rear gets a chunky chrome number plate garnish and a rear spoiler. The tail-lamps are LEDs with a strip connecting the two sides.

Interiors of the BR-V bears a lot of resemblance with its siblings. Part-sharing with the Jazz, Mobilio and the City is evident. It even features a rear air-con vents.

In Indonesia, this vehicle will be powered by a 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine which produces 120 HP @ 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of max torque @ 4,600 rpm. There will be a 6-speed manual or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) mated to the engine.

On the safety front, the car gets dual airbags, ABS + EBD, vehicle stability assist and hill start assist.

The BR-V will go into production in January 2016 and is scheduled to launch in Indonesia early next year first, followed by other countries. It is likely to be priced between Rp 230 million and Rp 265 million in Indonesia (Rs. 11.04 - Rs. 12.72 lakhs).

image source: IAB, Pautan, Autonetmagz