Live Mint reports that the Maruti Y1K, as it is
known internally, is under development at MSIL's research facility in Rohtak,
Haryana, and is expected to reach showroom floors in 2020. The
Maruti Y1K will be sandwiched by the Alto and Wagon R. The new model is likely
to be the production version of the Maruti Future-S Concept that debuted at the
Auto Expo in February 2018. The design could adopt a crossover approach with a
flat-ish bonnet and increased ground clearance compared to the Alto. The Y1K
appears to be the Maruti entry-level crossover that has been a subject of
speculation for more than a year now.
The Maruti Y1K will assume the Alto K10's position
in the company's lineup. It will, in all probability, use a 1.0 L petrol
engine. An AMT option, apart from a regular 5-speed manual transmission, could
be on the cards as well. That the upcoming Maruti small car will comply with
future crash test norms and come equipped with mandatory safety equipment like
dual front airbags and ABS, is a given. It will have the Renault Kwid on its
crosshair.
MSIL engineers are hoping to get prototypes of the
Y1K on the road by early 2020. The launch of the production version of the
Maruti Y1K will take place later in the same year, perhaps during the festive
season. If a report from June is right, the Y1K, which is the production
version of the Future-S Concept, will revive the Maruti Zen nameplate.
The Maruti Y1K codename has been associated with the
next-gen Maruti Alto in past media reports. However, as per LiveMint, the Y1K
is a separate model that will sit above the Alto 800. Further, the report adds
that Maruti is lining up the Alto for a refresh, which is on track for a 2021
arrival.
