The entire country is anticipating the launch of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, however, Maruti’s Japanese collaborative partner Toyota Motor Corporation is also reportedly gearing up to launch another car on the same platform later this year. According to reports the company will be utilizing the same Heartect platform used in the Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza, and Maruti Fronx (Codename YTB Baleno Cross) as the base for this forthcoming vehicle. Additionally, the company is also working on its own version of the more affordable MPV based on the Ertiga currently one of the most popular Maruti vehicles.
It is believed that the forthcoming vehicle from Toyota which will be based on the Heartect platform will have similar dimensions to Maruti’s Fronx although it will get a more creative coupe-like SUV styling. Reportedly Toyota has internally codenamed this vehicle A15 and it could be launched in the country by the end of this year.
Also read: 5 upcoming Maruti cars: Baleno Facelift to all-new Vitara Brezza
Most likely the A15 will utilize the same 1.0 liter, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that was once available with the Baleno RS. This engine generates 100 Ps and 150 Nm of peak torque. There is even a possibility that Toyota could power this vehicle with Maruti Suzuki’s same 1.2 litre NA petrol engine that currently powers the Baleno and Glanza. Additionally it could also get an AWD system as well.
Apart from this another major talking of point of the recent report is that Toyota is also working on the development of an MPV which will be based on the Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga. This new MPV will slot below the more expensive and newly launched Innova Hycross. Toyota with this new MPV is looking to target a more affordable MPV segment and lock in the success in MPV segment in the country. According to reports this MPV has also been given a codename internally and that is D23. Reportedly this MPV will be breaking the cover in the middle of this year.
Like the previous models Urban Cruiser, Glanza and Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Toyota will be taking the humble Maruti Ertiga and will be giving it the Toyota flare by revamping both ends of the MPV with new bumpers. Although apart from these minor cosmetic changes not much will be changed on the interior and the mechanical side of things. And for these minor changes along with a better warranty program the new MPV could command a premium over the Maruti Ertiga.
In terms of the drivetrain of this new MPV it will most likely come powered by the same K15C 1.5-litre DualJet petrol engine with a smart hybrid system to boost fuel economy. The engine currently in the Maruti Ertiga produces 100 PS of max power and 136 Nm of peak torque. As standard, it would still get a 5-speed manual gearbox. If Toyota also decides to offer to a CNG variant of this vehicle it would provide a power output of 87 PS and 121 Nm of torque.
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The post Toyota to launch a coupe-like SUV based on Maruti Fronx, and Ertiga-based MPV this year first appeared on Cartoq.