2018 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza AGS launched: To take on Tata Nexon AMT

• Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza AMT range starts at Rs 8.54 lakh
• AMT version of the Vitara Brezza will be offered in VDi, ZDi and ZDi+ variants
• The compact SUV now gets new five twin-spoke alloy wheels finished in glossy black

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) launched 2018 Vitara Brezza compact SUV on Wednesday with the option of Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) option. The 2018 Vitara Brezza with Auto Gear Shift (Maruti Suzuki's version of AMT) will be offered in VDi, ZDi, and ZDi+ variants.

The new Vitara Brezza Auto Gear Shift (AGS) will compete against the Nexon AMT which Tata Motors launched last week. Tata Motors has priced the Nexon XZA+ petrol at Rs 9.41 lakh while the diesel version will cost Rs 10.3 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. It is offered only in top-spec variant while reports claim mid-spec Nexon AMT variants will be added to the range soon. Currently, the base Vitara AGS variant undercuts the price of Nexon AMT by a huge margin.

What's new in the new Vitara Brezza?

Along with the introduction of the AMT gearbox, Maruti Suzuki has also revamped the Vitara Brezza SUV. 2018 Vitara Brezza flaunts safety features such as ISOFIX child restraint system, high-speed warning alert, Dual Airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors and front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters as standard.

Visually the compact SUV gets new five twin-spoke alloy wheels finished in glossy black. The chrome finishes on the front grille and rear number plate garnish have made standard across all variants. On the interior, 2018 Vitara Brezza features all-black color scheme and complementing accents.

Maruti Suzuki has also introduced Autumn Orange with Pearl Arctic White roof dual-tone color option for the range-topping variant and Autumn Orange color option for other variants. Maruti Suzuki compact SUV will continue to be offered in Blazing Red with Midnight Black roof, Fiery Yellow with Pearl Arctic White roof, Pearl Arctic White, Granite Grey, Premium Silver, Blazing Red and Fiery Yellow color options.

The success story of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

Launched in March 2016, cumulative sales of Vitara Brezza has already crossed 2.75 lakh units. The Vitara Brezza is the bestselling SUV in India currently with average monthly sales of over 12,300 units. During 2017-18, Maruti Suzuki sold 148,462 units of the Vitara Brezza marking 36.7 percent growth. Top variants (Z/Z+) contribute 56 percent of total sales according to Maruti Suzuki.

"Vitara Brezza has been a game changer for India's SUV market. We have enhanced its allure to meet aspirations of our young customers. They now have the option of Auto Gear Shift, the acclaimed two-pedal technology, for enhanced convenience. AGS has been very well accepted by customers, and sales of AGS variants in the Maruti Suzuki portfolio have tripled in three years. By making this technology available on Vitara Brezza, together with a refreshed design, we expect India's number one SUV to become even more attractive," said R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales), MSIL