NEW DELHI — Maruti Suzuki, India's largest automaker, is planning to replace its long-running Esteem sedan with a new four-door version of the Swift.
Maruti's strategy to phase out the Esteem and launch the Swift sedan has been laid bare with this scoop shot on Maruti's assembly line, forwarded to Autocar India by a reader.
Code-named YV3, the Swift sedan is essentially the three-box version of the Swift hatchback. Interestingly, most of the design and engineering has been carried out by Maruti's own engineers in India.
The rear doors, roof and rear section are different and have been redesigned. The high waist extends all the way through to the rear and merges into the sharply curved lights that bear the same "peeled-back" theme of the Swift, to ensure a strong family resemblance. The stubby trunk has the bustle-back shape first seen on the BMW 7 Series and now aped by the rest of the car world.
There doesn't appear to be any change in the wheelbase, which means that interior room won't be much better than on the hatchback. Twin airbags and ABS are expected on the top-of-the-line variants, which should retain the ZXi nomenclature.
Mechanically, the sedan will mirror its hatchback sibling, sharing the same engines. These include the 1.3-liter G-series gas engine from the Esteem, although the Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter Multijet diesel will be the more popular option.
Maruti is targeting sales of at least 3,000 units per month. To achieve that figure, observers expect the Swift sedan to come at an aggressive price — around $12,700 for the base gasoline version and $15,200 for a fully loaded diesel variant.
What this means to you: At these prices, the new Swift sedan should give India's hotly contested C-segment a wake-up call. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent
Maruti's strategy to phase out the Esteem and launch the Swift sedan has been laid bare with this scoop shot on Maruti's assembly line, forwarded to Autocar India by a reader.
Code-named YV3, the Swift sedan is essentially the three-box version of the Swift hatchback. Interestingly, most of the design and engineering has been carried out by Maruti's own engineers in India.
The rear doors, roof and rear section are different and have been redesigned. The high waist extends all the way through to the rear and merges into the sharply curved lights that bear the same "peeled-back" theme of the Swift, to ensure a strong family resemblance. The stubby trunk has the bustle-back shape first seen on the BMW 7 Series and now aped by the rest of the car world.
There doesn't appear to be any change in the wheelbase, which means that interior room won't be much better than on the hatchback. Twin airbags and ABS are expected on the top-of-the-line variants, which should retain the ZXi nomenclature.
Mechanically, the sedan will mirror its hatchback sibling, sharing the same engines. These include the 1.3-liter G-series gas engine from the Esteem, although the Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter Multijet diesel will be the more popular option.
Maruti is targeting sales of at least 3,000 units per month. To achieve that figure, observers expect the Swift sedan to come at an aggressive price — around $12,700 for the base gasoline version and $15,200 for a fully loaded diesel variant.
What this means to you: At these prices, the new Swift sedan should give India's hotly contested C-segment a wake-up call. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent
Add A Comment »