Maruti Suzuki to launch “The Dzire

Maruti Suzuki to launch “The Dzire

Contrary to the popular belief that Maruti Suzuki India will launch the Ertiga much before it launches the
Swift Dzire Compact sedan, here is a piece of news that could bring a smile on the Swift DZire lovers.

The product of a Suzuki joint venture in India (which is by itself the largest automaker on the
subcontinent), the Swift Dzire is the new sedan version of the nimble little hatchback available
in overseas markets. And while the previous-generation version appeared to have added a trunk as
an appendage off the back of a Swift, the new version looks like it just lost the upper part of
the hatch for what looks like the smallest trunk this side of a newborn elephant. (Cue the ballpark
organ music.)

Viewed from the rear, the “Swift Sedan” looks decent, but the funny proportions are unavoidable,
since Suzuki wanted it to be below four metres in length to enjoy the Indian government’s excise
benefits for small cars. As a result, the stubby tailed new Dzire is shorter than the old one,
which is 4,160 mm long.

Personally, my heart never wanted to choose the DZire; its rear design was weird and unsightly
and the integration of the boot seemed slapped on as an after-thought. But, my head was still
telling me all along that the DZire was one practical car, combining the ability to tackle the
kind of limitations that the Indian driving condition has and at same time packing the allure
of the Swift's design and performance into an affordable entry sedan.

At the end of the day, what Maruti Suzuki has done is taken a car that is already a benchmark
(the Swift) and added a boot to it. Sounds like the original Swift-Dzire story right? Yes, but
we only hope that the automaker manages to transfer the now available excise duty benefit on
the Dzire, to the customer when it announces prices.