New Delhi: Toyota recently launched the new Glanza based on the Baleno and the Urban Cruiser Hyryder SUV in the country. The company has quietly discontinued the Urban Cruiser compact SUV, which is based on the older Suzuki Vitara Brezza. In fact, the Japanese automaker has now removed the Urban Cruiser from its official website.
Toyota Urban Cruiser sales
Toyota Urban Cruiser sales fell to zero in October 2022, which also suggests that the compact SUV is no longer on sale. It is expected that the company has no plans to introduce a new generation model based on the new Brezza. Additionally, Toyota is said to be working on a new crossover based on the new Baleno/Glanza hatchback. The new crossover is expected to be launched sometime in 2023.
Maruti Suzuki will introduce a new crossover based on the Baleno, internally called the Maruti YTB in the first quarter of 2023. The new Baleno Cross is scheduled to be launched at the 2023 Auto Expo and will be sold exclusively through the NEXA dealer network.
The Toyota crossover will be a facelifted version of the upcoming Maruti YTB. However, the crossover will have different front and rear styling, likely to be inspired by the Toyota Yaris Cross.
‘Taisor’
Toyota also has a trademark on the ‘Taisor’ nameplate in India. It is expected that the new label could be used to name the upcoming crossover. Toyota has already begun testing the new crossover, which is expected to hit the market sometime early next year.
The new version of the Toyota Baleno Cross will be designed and developed on the lightweight Suzuki HEARTECT platform, which underpins the new Baleno and Glanza.
The new Toyota crossover is likely to be powered by Suzuki’s 1.0-liter 3-cylinder Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine with mild hybrid technology.
This engine is expected to produce 100 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque. Transmission options are likely to include a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. The crossover could also use a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with manual and AMT gearboxes.