-Update3.0-
Just drove the Diesel base version Ldi. Super smooth car. Unfortunately,
cabin space remains the same, meaning back seat spacefor well built
passengers, is not good. Definitely not a car to take a long drive in for people like me.
Secondly the parking is going to be a headache as visibility out of rear screen is dismal.
I don't know what the Maruti engineers were thinking. I had made a booking(now
cancelled) as I assumed that Maruti would extend the wheelbase, like the**Tata's did for
Indigo, when they supersized their hatch Indica.Unfortunately to save on money and
production headaches, Maruti has just simply added a boot, andreclined the rear
seats** a bit to make it look like there is more space. But those big C-Pillars don't fool
anybody, once inside. Also why are they hell bent in providing a black colour dashboard,
when the whole world has moved to beige? including the Tata's?
I know for an ex-showroom price of 5.35 the Swift Dzire Ldi is a good deal, especially
since it comes with tubeless tyres, i-cats security system etc. **but I can't
give up comfort and convenience for 3kms/ltr more mileage(vis-a-vis Indigo LS Tdi**, which
is incidentaly 30k cheaper, so that mileage thing gets taken car of in the long run anyway!).
I like to arrive at the end of my journey, relaxed and comfortable, not with
a backache and a bumpy experience as the car understeers around corners!
So folks its back to the good old war horse the Indigo Tdi for me, shame since I waited
6 months for this car, nope Maruti, this is not what I Dzire-Pun intended!
-UPDATE 2.0- March 11th, 2008-
It's official the new sedan will arrive in Showrooms shortly. The car has
been named " D'zire " by Maruti. Expect it to cost 50, 000/-Rs morethan the
current swift entry or loaded model. To all those, who thought my SpySnaps
shown below was a joke or at best some Photshop work, what say thee?.
-
Hi to all automotive fans! I know you are going to thank me for this. I have written to the Overdrive
and AutoIndia magazines for info, but even they couldn't figure out the
new sedan coming from the Maruti stable to replace the Esteem! So I went ahead and did their job!
The new Swift Sedan is rumoured to be priced around 5 lakhs for the base version. Considering the fact that the Tata Indigo and Indica cars account for nearly 80% of all Diesel Hatchbacks and Sedans sold in the country, Maruti wants a piece of the pie.
The Diesel sedan will sport the same 1.3ltr Fiat MultiJet engine doing the rounds in the Swift.
This enginewill also be seen in the **new Indica V3 coming in 2008.
The Petrol engine may be the same with a 1.6ltr option on offer for performance oriented buyers.
So if you liked the performance and handling of the swift but really wanted a boot, you just got your wish! Though I must say I am not too happy about the looks! Just doesn't seem to gel for me.
There is also the new face-lifted Indigo with minor external/internal tweaks to look out for in 2008 alongwith, maybe the new Indigo based on the X1 platform, though it was scheduled for a 2009 launch.The Bang of 2008 is going to come with the launch of SKODA Fabia for 6.5 lakhsplus,
in January 2008 at the Auto Expo in Delhi! Incidentall yours truly got a private lookat the Fabia already! Will post a reviewonce I get a test drive vehicle!
-Update1.0-
It has been just confirmed31/12/2007 the Esteem production has finally been stopped, for all those of you that just bought the Esteem.sorry, my condolences!l.o.l! Check out the SPY snaps from the Maruti Factory itself, its thewhite car!Click the link "View Next Photo"! The Swift Sedan will take over theEsteems slot and will be launched in the first or second quarter of 2008. Expect the price to start at 5.10 lakhs for the base petrol and 5.85-5.95 for the Diesel base vesions.
-HOT NEWS-
*Incidentally got a call from the dealer at Skoda and got a unofficial test drive of the
SKODA Fabia! Test drive report coming soon! Also got a test drive of the new Indgio
CS(compact sedan)! *
