Maruti Suzuki’s position in the Indian car market is envied by most car manufacturers. I mean, just look at the company’s portfolio – it has best-sellers in almost every segment that brings ‘volumes’ for the manufacturers.
When you talk about entry-level hatchbacks, it’s the Alto that shows its rear-badge to every other car sold in India; when someone contemplates a buy premium hatchback, the Swift still comes as one of the most recommended options; and many people just never look at other options (there weren’t many actually) while buying the Dzire compact sedan despite the car setting a perfect example of how NOT to add a boot to a hatchback.
It’s not hard to understand why. Suzuki is recognized globally as the company that makes some of the best small cars (and superlative motorcycles) on the planet and Maruti has definitely benefited from that expertise. Plus, the company’s dealership and service network is second to none, and that coupled with the overall low cost of ownership brings new customers to Maruti Suzuki showrooms like clockwork.
I would also like to highlight a fact about the recent J.D. Power survey where they evaluated the automobile manufacturers’ (for the mass market) performance in new-vehicle sales satisfaction. Or in other words, they checked how satisfied the customers were with a company ‘during’ the sales process. Toyota came on top with Maruti a close second – that is a huge feat if you take into account the number of vehicles the Indian company sells!
However, competition has been growing in each and every segment where Maruti operates in and to give all of them fitting replies, Maruti has not one or two but as many as 6 new launches scheduled within the next 6 odd months. Here is the list…
Maruti’s 6 Upcoming Launches in India
- Ciaz: NOW LAUNCHED (Read Launch Report, prices and pics)
Expected Launch Month: October 2014 [Launch Date between 1 to 10 Oct]Expected Price: Just undercutting the Honda City- Competition: Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and others
What is it like?
A proper C-segment sedan that would replace the SX4 and would come in both diesel and petrol guises from day one. The 1.4-litre petrol engine puts out 92 PS and 130 Nm torque while the diesel churns out 90 PS and 200 Nm torque. Segment-best fuel efficiency figure of 26.2 km/l for the diesel is already out in the open and more than 5,000 units of the Ciaz have already been booked.
- Dzire Facelift
- Expected Launch Month: By December 2014
- Exp Price: Same as the current Dzire or a trifle more
- Competition: Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, and Tata Zest
What is it like?
The new Dzire will retain the same engine-gearbox combos of the current one, and the facelift will bring with it new headlamps, restyled front bumper, LED DRLs (Day-time Running lights), and new alloy wheels. We also expect the Dzire facelift to get some more equipment like push-button Start/Stop, keyless entry etc.
Coverage & details of Dzire facelift with closer spy pics
- Swift facelift/Sports/AMT
- Expected Launch Month: October/November 2014
- Exp Price: Same for the facelift, if its the Sports could cost 50-90 thousand more
- Competition: Hyundai Elite i20, Volkswagen Polo, and Fiat Punto Evo
What is it like?
While it is mysterious what is Maruti bringing, a few production cars spotted inside Maruti plant’s stockyard suggest that the new Swift (whatever it is) will get additional DRLs, new alloy wheels on the cosmetic changes front and probably some new features on the inside. However, the Swift Sports, if introduced, would anyway carry all those changes along with a more powerful engine, possibly the 90PS VGT version of the same 1.3L DDIS. There is also a report of Swift getting an automatic gearbox.
Coverage of Swift with spypics
- Alto Facelift (and AMT)
- Expected Launch Month:
Early 2015October 2014 - Exp Price: 2.5-3.5 Lakhs
- Competition: Eon, Go etc
What is it like?
MotorBash was the first publication which published images of a couple of Alto mules snapped on the hills. While there are conflicting reports pegging a possibility of Alto 800 getting a facelift, we have always maintained that it would instead be the Alto K10 which will get facelifted. The car gets aggressive looking with a new face and the bigger news is that it will get an AMT gearbox as well. Engine options will remain the same.
Complete coverage of Alto facelift including spypics
- S-Cross Crossover
- Expected Launch Month: January-April 2015
- Exp Price: 10-15 Lakhs
- Competition: Renault Duster, Terrano, Scorpio
What is it like?
This is the same S-Cross which is offered in international markets. It was first showcased and confirmed for the Indian market at the Auto Expo this year and recent reports confirm that it would also be offered in CNG – a first for an SUV/crossover in India. This won’t be a sub four-metre SUV and Maruti would have a varied lineup of engines to bless this SUV with. So while the Ertiga’s petrol and diesel motors will certainly power this one, the 1.6-litre Multijet diesel is also expected to go under the hood of the top-end S-Cross.
Complete coverage of S-Cross including spypics
- Celerio Diesel
- Expected Launch Month: Jan-April 2015
- Exp Price: 4-5 lakh
- Competition: Tata Indica, Hyundai Grand i10 and a lot of others
What is it like?
The cheapest petrol automatic in India will soon share showroom space with its diesel sibling, though the latter would come with a manual gearbox at least initially. The diesel Celerio will be powered by a newly developed indigenous two-cylinder 800 cc engine that would put out around 38 PS and deliver a stupendous fuel economy figure of 27 kmpl. The top variants will come with ABS…
Complete coverage of Celerio Diesel including spypics
So, as you can see, this is a huge lineup of cars that Maruti will shoot against the competition. Which one are you putting your bet on…?
