IN EARLY 2019, TOYOTA announced a joint product development effort with Suzuki, including technology transfer by bringing together Toyota’s strength in electrification and Suzuki’s mastery in developing compact vehicles. While we haven’t seen an electrified Maruti Suzuki yet, as a part of this partnership, we have already seen the Toyota Glanza, a rebadged Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Now with the Vitara Brezza being supplied to Toyota and rebadged as the Urban Cruiser, Toyota will be able to gain a foothold in the crowded compact SUV segment.
How different is it?
At first glance, the Toyota and Suzuki appear identical, however look really closely and subtle differences are visible. The Vitara Brezza’s grille has been swapped for Toyota’s own dual-slat version, clearly inspired by the Fortuner’s. The front bumper has been redesigned and so have the (faux) skid plates (at both ends) along with chrome fog lamp surrounds. Together, these changes do make the Urban Cruiser a wee bit more SUV-like. The alloys get the Toyota logo and the thick chrome plate on the boot lid now reads Urban Cruiser in a font similar to Land Cruiser. These really are very subtle changes and it will be very hard to differentiate the Urban Cruiser from the Vitara Brezza at first glance unless you’re an automotive nerd.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
“Stellantis is a huge opportunity for PSA and FCA”
Speaking to Citroen India’s Senior VPs Roland Bouchara (SVP sales and marketing) Eric Apode (SVP) and Saurabh Vatsa (Sr director, marketing) on the C5 Aircross, dealership ramp-up, the C-Cubed program and synergies with FCA
McLAREN V2.0
McLaren’s first decade was a whirlwind of super and hypercars, highs and lows, and endless special editions. Now the Artura’s here to start the next chapter
Citroen C5 Aircross
Citroen kicks off its Indian innings with its Compass and Tucson rival
Meet the new boss
The 992-gen GT3 eschews big power gains for improvements where it really matters. Here’s everything you need to know
TANGERINE SCREAM
As the first of AMG’s GT Black Series lands on Indian shores, we hit a near-freezing track for one wild ride
BIJOY KUMAR Y
Aren’t electric cars worthy of a ‘clean-slate’ design approach?
Mahindra XUV300 Petrol AutoShift
Mahindra marries an AMT to the XUV300’s turbo-petrol engine and it isn’t a match made in heaven
CZECH MATE
With styling tweaks, optional accessories and minor under-the-skin upgrades, the 2021 Jawa 42 gets a whole lot better
50 PER CENT OF WHAT WE LAUNCH THIS YEAR WILL BE AMGS
Talking to Mercedes-Benz India’s VP of sales and marketing Santosh Iyer on AMG’s plans for 2021
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
BMW’s four-door coupe is like Dr Banner when you want to chill, but packs a Hulk-sized punch when you don’t
How Toyota Dodged The Chip Shortage
As rivals shutter plants, the automaker’s close monitoring of its supply chain gives it an edge
2021 SUV OF THE YEAR
Enter the battleground
Auto chip shortage may have domino effect in smartphone industry
Auto industry leaders are experiencing disruptions, with estimated production shortfalls in single-digit percentage range in the first quarter of 2021.
CHASING SQUIRRELS
“ There is a hole here,” I said, gazing through the lime green tubing as the front passenger tire inched closer to the hole. “Uh-huh,” he replied.
The Top 5: If you're building a 4x4, then these should be the first items on your list
I was listening to my buddies Verne Simons and Trent McGee on a podcast the other day, and one of the hosts asked them, “What’s the best off-road upgrade you’ve made to a 4x4?” I won’t divulge their answers because, in my opinionated opinion, only one of them answered correctly.
First time ‘in charge'
You would expect some lessons were to be learned on extended trailer trip
AUTOART - 2018 TOYOTA CENTURY
1:18 | $230 | no. 78762
TRAVEL TOY
Snow, sand, and mud—Joel Lawrence’s 4Runner does it all with an M101 trailer in tow
THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA
Suzuki said the first Hayabusa invented a new category called Ultimate Sport. We said, “Yeah, right,”…until we rode it.
UNPRECEDENTED CONSTRUCTION
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing’s Huntsville, Ala. assembly plant overcomes multiple challenges to build safely and environmentally responsibly..