It was only recently that the auto-enthusiasts in the country got the first glimpse of Maruti's upcoming compact SUV, codenamed YBA. Now the latest news that is doing rounds on the internet is that this model is likely to get a much-powerful engine in India, along with Suzuki's AllGrip All-Wheel-Drive.

Maruti Compact SUV YBA Likely to Get 1.5 Diesel Engine and AWD: Report
Maruti Compact SUV YBA Likely to Get 1.5 Diesel Engine and AWD: Reportwww.autocarindia.com

If the reports are to be believed, Maruti YBA, which is expected to hit the Indian roads in May 2016, will feature 1.5-litre diesel engine in lieu of 1.3 Multijet engine.

The 1.5 litre diesel engine, also sourced from Fiat, is the down-sized version 1.6 litre JTD engine. Though the company has been coy about the details of the new YBA SUV, rumours suggest that the petrol model of the car will continue to feature the existing K12 and K14.

Further, the report also notes that, considering the competition in the market, the new Maruti SUV could also feature Suzuki's AllGrip All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system to give the car a different definition from what others are offering.

Maruti's upcoming YBA will be competing with Ford's popular SUV EcoSport in India when launched. If Maruti can get the styling and performance for YBA right from the start, the next big challenge for the country's largest car maker would be the pricing. Going by the previous rumours, the car is likely to pegged above ₹5.5 lakh.

Likely to be monikered as Maruti iV4, the upcoming SUV will be a sub-four-metre SUV. The previous spy shots have suggested that the car would get angular tail lamps and new smaller grille with horizontal slats. The SUV is also expected to come with all whistles and bells to put up good fight with its rivals in the country.