The upwardly mobile young buyers of premium hatchbacks are a fickle lot who change their mobiles, computers, digital cameras and even their girlfriends at the drop of a microchip. Many change their cars even before wearing out the first set of tyres. Since its launch in 2005, the Maruti Swift has been able to keep its nose ahead of fierce competition from an aggressive pack of excellent larger hatchbacks like the Hyundai i20, Ford Figo, VW Polo, Tata Indica, GM Beat, Fiat Punto, Skoda Fabia, Nissan Micra, Toyota Liva and Honda Jazz. To shake them off Maruti had added a diesel mill and then the Ritz built with a substantially similar platform and engines to help it cater to those who wanted funkier styling. The time had however come for some bigger changes.
While retaining a somewhat similar shape a new Swift model will soon be here. It will be a bit longer and have dramatic new wrap around headlights and taillights. The extra length makes for more legroom in the rear seat with a slightly more sloped backrest. It also sports truly classy interiors with better quality black plastics with chrome trim and black upholstery. The classy dashboard offers controls for perfect climate control and music. The computerised multi information display between the speedo and RPM counter tells you all that you want to know about speed, fuel, mileage, etc.
To propel this package is a new VVT K-Series petrol engine and a tweaked up diesel mill. The Variable Valve Timing adjusts the valves for slow and high speed driving to offer superior acceleration with better fuel efficiency at any engine speed. The turbocharged multi injection common rail diesel mill delivers high torque at low engine speeds for better acceleration and fuel efficiencies. Under ARAI test conditions the petrol and diesel models deliver 18.6 and 22.9 KMPL. Under normal driving conditions these mean roughly 20 per cent less or about 15 and 18 KMPL respectively.
The launch with the price announcement is scheduled for August 19. The value of the package will probably be worth an extra `40,000 but I think they will only raise it by half that amount to keep it competitive. Maruti went the whole hog to give the cream of India’s automotive journalists a wonderful test drive near Udaipur on the excellent winding road between Devigarh and Mount Abu.
The writer is an automotive expert and the former editor of a
national magazine