Maruti Vitara Brezza AMT: New TVC out

Maruti Suzuki has come up with a new television commercial for the Vitara Brezza AMT. Last year, the automated manual transmission (AMT) version of the Brezza was launched in India. The Brezza AMT is the only automatic SUV sold by India’s largest automaker. Average ex-showroom prices of the Brezza AMT start from Rs. 8.9 lakhs. Meanwhile, here’s the new TVC.

The Maruti Brezza AMT is powered by the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel engine with 89 Bhp-200 Nm. The gearbox is a five speed unit that’s been automated by a Magneti Marelli sourced AMT unit. Since AMTs essentially automate the gear shifting action of the manual gearbox, the high fuel efficiency of the manual gearbox is more or less retained. This means that the mileage figure claimed for the Maruti Brezza AMT is identical to the manual gearbox equipped version, at 24.29 Kmpl.

This combination of convenience and high fuel efficiency has made AMT cars very popular in India. Apart from the Maruti Brezza, the Tata Nexon and the Mahindra TUV300 offer AMT options on diesel engined sub-4meter compact SUVs. The upcoming Mahindra XUV300 is also expected to get an AMT option.

In 2019, a facelifted version of the Maruti Brezza is likely for the Indian market. Along with a facelift, the compact SUV is likely to gain a petrol engine. The 1.5 liter K-Series motor offered on the Ciaz and Ertiga – with outputs of 104 Bhp-138 Nm is one such engine that could be offered on the petrol powered Brezza.

Another possible engine option for the compact SUV is the 1 liter-3 cylinder turbocharged petrol unit called the BoosterJet. Offered on the Baleno RS, this motor makes 101 Bhp-150 Nm. Both engine get 5 speed manual gearboxes as standard while the 1.5 liter K-Series unit is also available with a 4 speed torque converter automatic option.

Another major change in the facelifted Brezza’s powertrain department is likely to be the replacement of the 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet diesel engine with a newly developed, in-house 1.5 liter diesel. The new diesel engine will allow the Maruti Brezza meet the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 emission norms. However, there might be a steep increase in prices due to the additional emission compliance equipment needed. The Brezza Diesel’s prices could go up by at least Rs. 1 lakhs thanks to the new emission control equipment added for BS6 compliance. In such a situation, a petrol version of the Brezza is expected to be quite attractive to most buyers.

Maruti Suzuki could also add a hybrid engine option on the Brezza in the coming years. The petrol-hybrid version of the Maruti Brezza could be about Rs. 1.5 lakhs pricier than the petrol powered version, which is likely to start from Rs. 7 lakhs. The idea behind the petrol-hybrid version of the Brezza is to replace the diesel powered version in the long run. Tightening emission norms are expected to slowly kill off diesels completely, and petrol-hybrids and all-electric cars are expected to take the place of diesels.