Monday, March 31, 2008

Swift Dzire Pricings

Maruti's aggressive price for DZire
Sunday, 30 March , 2008, 11:17


Just as we had predicted, Maruti Suzuki has chosen to offer the Swift DZire, its new entry-level sedan, at aggressive prices. Based on the same platform as the Swift hatch, this new entry-level, A3-segment, sedan has been priced from Rs 4.49 lakh onwards to Rs 5.90 lakh for the petrol variants and Rs 5.39 lakh to Rs 6.70 lakh for the diesel variants.



The company said that the above prices are only introductory and could be revised later. The new Swift DZire will compete with Tata Motors' Indigo CS (compact sedan), which was recently launched at Rs 3.66 lakh up to Rs 4.34 lakh and the Mahindra-Renault Logan, which is offered at Rs 3.89 lakh to Rs 5.02 lakh. Depending on the variant, the DZire comes loaded with features such as integrated stereo, steering mounted audio controls, automatic climate control and power windows. It also has dual airbags, ABS with EBD, a collapsible steering column and an i-CATS anti-theft feature. Now, when will the SX4 sport a diesel engine?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Maruti Swift DZire @ Rs 4.49 lakh

 

March 26, 2008 12:54 IST

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2008/mar/26maruti.htm

Last Updated: March 26, 2008 13:20 IST
With plans to further consolidate its position in the big-car segment, Maruti [Get Quote] Suzuki on Wednesday launched its new entry level sedan Swift DZire with an introductory price ranging from Rs 4,49,000 to Rs 6,70,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The DZire, the seventh model Maruti Suzuki has launched in the last three years, comes in both in diesel and petrol variants powered by 1.3 litre engines.

The petrol variant will cost Rs 4,49,000 to Rs 5,90,000 and the diesel Rs 5,39,000 to Rs 6,70,000.

 It has a special place in our product strategy. Millions of Indians own compact cars. With growing incomes and better lifestyle, many of them want to upgrade to a sedan. But on Wednesday, they are not able to find an entry level sedan that offers style, features and performance. The DZire offers all this, and at an attractive price," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director S Nakanishi said.

The DZire, which offers features, including integrated stereo, steering mounted audio controls, automatic climate control, power windows and dual airbags, has come as replacement of MSI's earlier mid-size sedan Esteem.

It is being launched at a time when the company has managed to race past competition in the mid-sized sedan segment (A3) selling nearly 41,000 units in the April-February period of this fiscal.

While continuing to lead India's small car market, Maruti Suzuki has emerged as the market leader in the A3 segment as well during 2007-08.





  S. Muralidhar
 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2008/03/23/stories/2008032351261700.htm



Over the last few years, there has been a sort of lull in the entry-level sedan segment. The only entrant of consequence was the Mahindra Renault Logan. The other contenders in this segment seemed to be in a state of suspended animation.

 n the case of Maruti-Suzuki, the entry-level sedan segment was slipping away and a replacement to the ageing Esteem was long overdue. No wonder Maruti decided to pull out the Esteem, a car which at one time epitomised the modern day entry-level sedan. It was also only the second model that Maruti completely scrapped.

 The replacement to the Esteem had to be an upgrade, a worthy successor that offered a step up in overall experience than what its predecessor afforded within the confines of its mandate as an entry sedan.


M aruti has been reborn as a company with a portfolio of global models with the launch of the Suzuki Swift and SX4. So, the replacement to the Esteem had to be contemporary, capable and globally relevant, even if it didn’t make it to shores overseas.

Maruti engineers worked on the replacement for the Esteem and did what they do best — reengineer an existing model and make the new one not just fit a purpose, but also desirable.

The Suzuki SX4 was conceived as a hatchback for the European market, but last year it was adopted, reengineered and launched as a premium sedan for a few markets like India.

 With the Esteem out, Maruti’s gameplan for a replacement took a similar turn, reengineer the Swift and come up with a sedan on the same platform. A plan that will help it keep costs low and develop an entry sedan that will seem like a more refined car compared to the current competition. And so, Maruti’s very competent bunch of designers and engineers came together, yet again, to design and develop the Swift DZire.

Evident Parentage

 The Swift DZire is due for roll out next week. We got to test drive the new sedan earlier this month and our first impressions, despite a few reservations, are very positive.

While developing the DZire, Maruti engineers wanted to retain the original’s overall design theme. The result is a sedan that looks very much like a replica of the small car — at least from the front, where every element, except the chrome bonnet grille is identical to the hot hatch.

In some ways the DZire’s design seems a bit awkward. The squat, chunky profile of the Swift with its rear sloping roofline seemed perfect only for a hatch. Maybe we are too used to the Swift’s five-door design that it feels not-so-perfect when redesigned as a sedan. Perhaps, over time we will get used to its looks, like we did in the case of the Fiat Palio/Siena and the Tata Indica/Indigo.
 ear profile



 


From the front three-quarter viewing angle, the boot of Swift DZire seems to be a ‘slap-on’ that doesn’t quite gel with the original design, especially since the front half of the sedan is identical to the hatch. But move fully to the rear and it becomes evident that Maruti designers and engineers have done a good job of providing the DZire with a character of its own.

 The short, stubby boot of the DZire still manages to remind us of the general design direction of the Swift hatch, like the peeled back design of the tail-lamps.

 But the DZire’s back is entirely different from the original. A raised boot lid with a lip that merges with the shoulder line of the car seems to be distantly reminiscent of Chris Bangle’s style.

A thick chrome garnish just on top of the rear number plate notch attempts to offset the heaviness of the oversized boot lid. Clear-lens rear combination lamps are new, featuring a more striking layout and only a relatively close inspection will reveal that they are very different from the Swift hatch in terms of overall design.

 or easy loading access to the large 440-litre boot, the chunky lid cuts deep into the new compact rear bumper. Reflectors and an additional stop lamp have been incorporated into the rear bumper and are available depending on the variant.

 With the addition of the boot — a big change at the rear — Maruti designers have also been able to make other changes that have added an extra dose of practicality to the new sedan.

The Swift hatch has a roof that slopes down at the rear, which, together with the thick C-pillar, makes the rear passenger area inside the car very dark. In the Swift DZire, though the wheelbase and overall height of the car remain the same, Maruti designers have managed to free some space on the side by cutting into the original’s thick C-pillar. The result is a longer rear door and a larger glass area at the rear. This in turn means easier entry and exit for rear seat passengers, better visibility for the driver and more airy and brighter interior. One change that we would have liked to see in the new DZire, particularly because it is a sedan, is a longer wheelbase. This would have enabled Maruti to offer more legroom at the rear.
 imensions carried forward



 he Swift hatch’s dimensions have been carried forward for the sedan (including the wheelbase), except the overall length, which is now 4,160mm from 3,695mm in the hatch. Ground clearance and turning radius also remain the same.

With the wheelbase remaining the same, rear legroom in the DZire will be lower than rivals such as the Logan. To offer the rear passengers a more relaxed posture compared to the Swift hatch, the DZire’s rear seat backrest is angled at 27 degrees, about five degrees more. Apart from this, there is no change in seat position.

Interior trim quality in the DZire is almost identical to the hatch version. A neat, new music system has been integrated into the dashboard that adds a lot of charm to the top-end variant of the new DZire. The steering wheel is the same unit that is offered with the Swift and SX4 too. Steering mounted controls for the music system are standard in top-end variant. The instrument cluster in the DZire has round dials with chrome surrounds and features a white backlight, in contrast to the orange-lit dials in the Swift hatch.
 imilar engine


Another carried forward feature in the DZire is, of course, the choice of the same two powertrains. Since Maruti engineers have managed to keep the higher kerb weight of the DZire low, the new sedan is only heavier by 30 kg . Thanks to this, there is effectively no impact on the car’s performance. The power-to-weight ratio remains pretty much identical. It is another matter that the big boot when loaded could affect the performance of the engines in the sedan.

The 1,298cc, 16-valve petrol mill in the DZire puts out the same peak power of 87bhp @ 6,000 rpm and the maximum torque too is the same 113 Nm @ 4,500 rpm. The fun-to-drive DDiS diesel engine in the DZire also generates the same peak power of 75 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 190 Nm @ 2,000 rpm. The all-aluminium mills are relatively refined compared to what the competition in this segment offers. Drive feel and performance are very similar to the Swift hatch.
 ome reservations



 here are three features that we would have liked Maruti to incorporate in the DZire. First, the Swift hatch has a blacked out A-pillar for lending it a floating roof effect when looked at from a distance. But, carrying it forward into the new sedan for retaining the Swift parentage isn’t quite justified. In our opinion, it doesn’t gel with the sedan’s profile.

 econd, though both the engines perform very much like in the hatch, the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) package in the DZire could have been better than the hatch, after all the expectations of customers in this segment will be a bit higher than of small car buyers.

 nd, third, the interiors of the DZire could have been made more upmarket and a beige/two-tone colour theme would have gone well with the sedan’s image.
 ricing, the key


 Overall, Maruti has a strong replacement for the Esteem. The DZire has the potential to help Maruti come back with a bang in the entry sedan segment. Pricing will be key, particularly since competitors such as the Tata Indigo/CS and the Mahindra Renault Logan have pricing power on their side.

 We expect the Swift DZire to be priced in the Rs 4.5 lakh (for the LXi variant) to Rs 6.2 lakh (for the ZDi variant) range. Unlike the Swift hatch, the DZire gets a top-end diesel variant in the ZDi, which features dual airbags and ABS as part of standard fitment.



S. Muralidhar

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

 Maruti previews ‘Swift Dzire’

http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/19/stories/2008031960422100.htm

 The sedan will be launched on March 26


NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) is all set to launch its much-awaited sedan ‘Swift DZire’ on March 26 that will be available in petrol and diesel variants. Though the company officials did not reveal the price of the car, it is likely to be priced below the existing sedan ‘SX4’ launched last year. However, auto experts say the petrol version would be in the price range of Rs. 4.50-Rs. 5-lakh, while diesel variants would be available for over Rs. 5.50-lakh.

“The image of a hatchback and styling of Swift is carried forward to the sedan. The DZire project, which started in 2005, is a planned progression of the Swift hatchback. The new vehicle has been designed and conceptualised at about Rs.30 crore,” said MSIL Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) Mayank Pareek during the preview of the new car here. Maruti Suzuki will be expanding the capacity of its Manesar plant to three-lakh units a year by October 2008 from about 1.4-lakh units. The Manesar plant will produce the diesel and petrol variants of Swift hatchback and sedan, SX4, and the yet to be launched A-Star

Pre launch Information.

Move over Esteem, Swift Dzire is here!

Srinivas Krishnan
March 24, 2008

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2008/mar/24swift.htm


Say hello to the new Swift Dzire. And goodbye to the Esteem. That's right, the new Dzire effectively replaces Maruti [Get Quote] Suzuki's tired, old workhorse.

And about time too, considering that the Tata Indigo and the Mahindra Renault Logan have been actively biting off sizeable chunks of the Esteem's traditional marketshare. Now Maruti has the right ace in the pack... and about time too.

 aruti Suzuki started work on engineering a three-box version of the Swift way back in 2005. And the brief given to the engineers was that the Swift sedan would in no way lose out on the core attributes of the hatchback, which is primarily funky, cutting-edge looks and driving pleasure.

 s the Dzire is just 30 kg heavier than the Swift, the engineers of what is essentially an indigenous project, have been successful.

And before you ask, there has been no change in the wheelbase, which means that the legroom for the rear passengers is unchanged. The only concession to back-seat drivers is that the rear backrest is now wider and angled back a little bit for more comfort.

 gain, the powertrain options are also unchanged. Both the four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines mated to a five-speed manual transmission are on offer. The 1,298cc petrol engine of course develops 87 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 11.5 kgm at 4,500 revs, while the famous Fiat-derived 1,248cc turbodiesel motor has 75 bhp and 19.37 kgm on tap.

As you can see, there has been no upward revision in the power ratings, while the gear ratios have not been tweaked around either. Except for some marginal reprogramming of the ECU, the drivetrains are identical to those of the smaller sibling.

 e drove both the diesel and petrol versions of the Dzire, and the first impressions are that the presence of a boot does not make itself felt. The torquey diesel could be the car of choice, as it pulls the Dzire on the highway very well, and is equally driveable on city streets... with no drop in the fun quotient either.

 he petrol engine is, of course, rev happy and should please those who find the sticky fuel, um, a little sticky. Maruti Suzuki engineers have also revised the spring ratings at the rear, which means that the ride is slightly better for the rear passengers and not as hard as it is in the hatchback.

We expect the Dzire to be priced quite competitively, maybe a little above Rs 500,000 for the entry-level petrol LXi, going all the way upto almost Rs 700,000 for the top-end diesel, the ZDi. And going by Maruti Suzuki's Midas touch with virtually all their recent launches, it looks like the Esteem will soon be a distant memory.

For a full driving impression and more details and specifications of the new Swift Dzire, pick up a copy of the April 2008 issue of Business Standard Motoring