Toyota Could Have a New Compact SUV Derived From a Suzuki

Both Toyota and Suzuki reportedly develop models together and it seems they will produce twin sports utility vehicles together.

According to MDZ, Toyota has an alliance with Suzuki to develop different car models together. Many of these cars will share a platform. Even today, it is already happening with the recent Urban Cruiser Hyryder, a compact SUV that could reach different markets in America. It was launched this year and co-developed by Maruti Suzuki and Toyota.

In the case of Suzuki, another model developed together with its partner Toyota brand is the new generation of the Grand Vitara. However, both brands would seem to continue along this path and could give life to two other car models together.

One of them will be Suzuki's YTB project. It is a compact SUV that will share several elements in common with the Baleno, although with a different silhouette, even in engines it will have a 1.0-liter engine with 100 hp and 15.3 kgm of torque, associated with a five-speed manual transmission. and front wheel drive.

Another of those chosen will be the 1.2 hybrid engine, related to a CVT-type automatic gearbox. The idea would be to position it in the middle of the Vitara family (Brezza and Grand Vitara). The approximate length would be 4.15 meters long.

The chosen name would be Baleno Cross. Beyond this story, according to the Gaadi Waadi site, it could have a twin model mounted on the DNGA platform (very similar name to Toyota's e-TNGA EV platform), but with the Toyota logo. For now, there are no official details, but there are high possibilities.

But don't get your hopes up if you think Toyota and Suzuki may introduce an electric vehicle together soon. Despite some hybrid offerings like the S-Cross SUV and Ignis city car, Suzuki doesn't have any electric cars on the market as of 2022, especially, since Toyota's Akio Toyoda recently announced that the Japanese car brand will stick to its hesitant EV course.

What do you think of the possibility of Toyota and Suziki developing a new SUV together, sharing the same platform and even an electric vehicle in the not-so-distant future? Please, share your opinion in the comments section below. Thanks for reading and sharing in your social media. In the meantime, big changes are coming to the 2023 Toyota Highlander as it gets new multimedia and displays.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Image source: Screenshot from MDZOL.