Maruti SX4

                                                         Maruti SX4
                                                      Rs 699,606.53* - Rs 944,884.2

Maruti had launched Maruti SX4 in May 2007 to compete with other sedans in the segment. Maruti Suzuki was the first automobile company to introduce class leading premium features such as air-bags, steering-mounted audio controls, auto climate control, glass antennae and many others in an A3 segment car for customer benefit. The tradition continues in the new SX4 with the company bringing in advanced VVT technology, which has so far been used only in the luxury SUV, Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Exterior

Designed by Guigiarro and ITAL Design, it was actually developed as a crossover whose platform is shared by Fiat and Suzuki. A lot of crossover is visible in the New SX4's styling. The massive wheel arches have been built to accommodate new 16" 10 Spoke alloy wheels with high-profile tires. Other macho features of New SX4 are tall upright windscreen, massive widescreen mirrors and the upright seating position of the passengers.

The headlights wrap around onto the fenders, there are big front wheel arches and the integration of the rear of New SX4 is well executed and in line with the design of the nose as well. A stylistic touch is the way the front quarter glass dips down into the beltline.

The Front of New SX4 features large, elongated wrap-around style, clear-lens headlamps, a muscular bonnet slab and a compact bumper that features matching design lines greet the onlooker at the front. New SX4 also features all new honeycomb grille finished in black matte shade. An air dam, twin fog lamps and a two-slatted grille in the middle with chrome lipping and chrome Suzuki logo round-off the front side of New Maruti SX4. It sports an unconventional design and is built to offer the look and drive feel of a crossover vehicle.

The extended wheelbase, the short overhangs, the mildly cab-forward design, the raised ground clearance, the large glass area, the oversized tail-lamp cluster and the lower wedge in the A-pillar quarter glass are reminiscent of Maruti's focus on offering practical features that will be able to better handle Indian usage pattern and road conditions. At the rear of New SX4, the tail-lamps dominate the stubby, nearly notch-back style boot lid. Reflectors integrated into the rear bumper and a third stop lamp offer additional safety. SX4's overall fit and finish quality has been benchmarked to European standards and so its design is unaltered, panel gaps and shut lines are tight and the paint job is superb.

Maruti has launched New SX4 in five variants - SX4 VXi, SX4 ZXi, SX4 ZXi Leather, SX4 ZXi Automatic & SX4 ZXi Leather Automatic. The new Maruti SX4 is available in seven shades, Azure Grey, Pearl Arctic White, Clear Beige, Silky Silver and Midnight Black. Two new shades have also been introduced - Oyster Blue & French Eclair.

Interior

Maruti has also given some cosmetic design upgrades to the exterior and interiors to make it look more muscular and smart in comparison to Fiat Linea and Honda City. The interiors of New SX4 are more or less same like the outgoing model with minor changes which includes new upholstery for seats and new gear lever in automatic variant. Also an option of USB support has been added in the dash integrated music system. Also New is Wooden finish door mounted power window console. But overall the interiors of SX4 feel a little bit cramped with less rear leg room and small rear windscreen. Front seat headrests are very big in size and the distance between the seats is also very less. Leather seats are optional in the top-end ZXi variant; it also comes with a neatly integrated in-dash music system as part of the standard package.

Automatic air-conditioning with attractive matt-silver dials and steering-wheel-mounted controls for the music system are also part of standard fitment in the ZXi variant. The pair of brushed chrome strips that straddle the central console looks good and the chromed air con controls also look and function well. It is obvious there are a lot of bits carried over from the Swift on the insides as well, stuff like the steering wheel, power window buttons, air con vents, some switchgear and the gear stick. The electric mirror adjuster knob feels particularly tacky. A nice touch, however, is the fact that there is space to store a bottle in all four door pockets and that this car can be bought with leather seats. In terms of equipment, the New Maruti SX4 is really good.

Engine

Last Gen SX4 was powered by 1586cc, 4 cylinder petrol engine with developed maximum power 102 Bhp with maximum torque of 154Nm. The New engine is a 1600cc VVT(Variable Valve Timing) powerplant producing maximum power of 104 Bhp at 5600 rpm with maximum torque of 145 Nm at 4100 rpm. Maruti has plonked a new 1.6 VVT engine in SX4 so that it complies with the strict emission norms which will be in effect from April, 2011 in 11 cities in India. The new engine is a 1600cc VVT(Variable Valve Timing) powerplant producing 104 Bhp which is 2 Bhp up from previous 102 Bhp.

Dimensions and Weights
Overall Length (mm)	4490
Overall Width (mm)	1735
Overall Height (mm)	1560
Wheel Base (mm)	2500
Ground Clearance (mm)	180
Front Track (mm)	1500
Rear Track (mm)	1495
Boot Space (liter)	505
Kerb Weight (kg)	1200
No of Doors	4

Fuel Economy
Mileage Highway (km/liter)	15
Mileage City (km/liter)	10
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	11

Capacities
Seating Capacity (person)	5
Fuel Tank Capacity (liter)	50

Performance
Maximum Speed	Km/Hour
0-100kmph	11.5seconds
1/4 Mile	seconds

Engine
Engine Type/Model	16V DOHC, VVT
Displacement cc	1586
Power (PS@rpm)	105PS @5600rpm
Torque (Nm@rpm)	145Nm @4100rpm
Valve Mechanism	DOHC
Bore (mm)	78
Stroke (mm)	83
Compression Ratio	9:1
No of Cylinders (cylinder)	4
Cylinder Configuration
Valves per Cylender (value)	4
Fuel Type	Petrol
Fuel System

Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5Gears
Clutch Type
Final Reduction Gear Ratio

Suspensions
Front Suspension	Independent suspension with gas-filled McPherson strut & anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension	Semi independent torsion beam with gas filled shock absorbers

Steering
Steering Type	EPS
Power Assisted	Standard
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.3

Brakes
Front Brakes	Ventilated discs
Rear Brakes	Drums

Wheels and Tyres
Wheel Type	Alloy Wheels
Wheel Size	16-inch
Tyres	205/60 R16

Maruti Swift

                                                      Maruti Swift
                                                      Rs 409,091.22* - Rs 583,950

Cars from the Maruti Suzuki stable need no introduction. Except for a few, India's largest carmaker has been able to capture a sizeable chunk of each segment it's entered - if not lead it! A Maruti today isn't just all about economy and utility but also about ensuring that their products are slightly more trendy and stylish than before without sacrificing performance or any of the other core values that their cars have come to stand for in the Indian marketplace. In light of the recently implemented BS IV emission norms, we test the new BS-IV compliant Maruti Swift petrol and diesel.

Design:

It's been six years since its debut, but the Swift's design still feels fresh and young. The basic design theme of the Swift, is really very close to the modern avatar of the iconic Mini Cooper, the predecessor of the once upon a time “common man's car in Britain” - the Austin Mini. The Swift borrows heavily from the Mini on the design front and one of the first things you'd notice is the wheel-at-each-corner stance and the floating-roof. It's a design element wherein the A & B pillars which are normally body-coloured are blacked-out, giving one the impression that the roof is really floating from the C-pillar. What it also does thankfully borrow, is the Mini's cheeky demeanor, although in 1.6 guise which sadly isn't available in India.

Interiors:

When the Swift was launched in the Indian market, Maruti Suzuki used this rather successful car to set internal benchmarks for design, styling and fit & finish. The Swift is currently available in three trim levels - LXi, VXi and ZXi with the petrol engine and the diesel comes in two variants - LDi and VDi . The ‘L' comes with air-conditioning and power steering while the ‘V' variants add power windows, tachometer, central locking and body-coloured mirrors and door handles. ABS is available as an option on the ‘V' variants and standard on the ZXi, which is the feature-laden variant. It comes with dual airbags, built-in MP3 player with steering-mounted controls, height adjustable steering and a climate control system and alloy-wheels.

The front seats of the Swift are fairly comfortable and the thin A-pillar and the large side view mirrors increase the visibility and make parking convenient. The driving position is good enough (though some short drivers will have to get used to the largish dashboard and a nose which really is larger than it seems from the inside) and like most of the modern cars, it even comes equipped with the steering mounted audio controls (in the ZXi only), making scanning through music easier without taking your eyes off the road. The Swift has 232 litres of boot space, which isn't really a lot, but it can accommodate two medium sized suitcases. The rear seats are comfortable for two large adults, but it's only just about adequate in the legroom department - more so if you've got someone tall in the front seat.

Engine, Transmission and Fuel Efficiency:

The Maruti Suzuki Swift was initially launched with a 1.3-litre petrol engine which is the same block that did duty on the Maruti Suzuki Esteem, and the Swift was incidentally the first Indian car to be powered by the Fiat's 1.3-litre Multijet engine - which now powers more than nine Indian cars manufactured by Fiat, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors. The Swift's 1.3-litre petrol powerplant has been replaced by Maruti Suzuki's new 1.2-litre engine as all the new cars manufactured from April 2010 should fulfill the Bharat Stage-IV norms in 13 major Indian cities. This is the same motor which propels the Maruti Suzuki Ritz and a detuned version of the same block is there on the Maruti Suzuki Eeco.

The gear ratios of both the Swifts have been well calculated and have taken into account city as well as highway driving habits of the Indian consumer. Which means, that you can actually lug the car around in a lower gear than you'd think was possible and still have the car pull away without too much fuss? The first three gears are short and produce a good amount of torque which makes overtaking easier. The fourth and fifth gears are tall which makes cruising on highways that much lighter on the wallet since the car is sipping less fuel.

The Swift petrol returned an overall figure of 11.98kmpl which included driving in the city and the highways - albeit rater swiftly (pun intended!). The Swift diesel's overall mileage was around 14.5kmpl and no doubt, can be bettered with a light right foot and long winding roads where the car will happily cruise in the tall 4th & 5th gears all day.

Driving Dynamics:

The engineers at Suzuki have stuck to the basics and designed a simple and compact suspension design for the Swift, to increase cabin space. The car sports McPherson struts at the front and has a torsion beam suspension (with coil) setup at the rear. The Swift has decent ride at low and high speeds. The ride is smooth and fairly composed and most of the road shocks and vibrations are absorbed by the dampers. The slightly high-ish profile tyres also help in this and the ZXi (with the alloys) comes shod with 185/70 R14 rubber whereas the other variants come with 165/80 R14.

The steering wheel of the Swift is light at low speeds and feels meaty to hold. However, the electronic power steering system feels a bit slack at higher speeds as the steering doesn't really weigh up as much as one would have liked. A heavier steering at speed would go a long way in giving the driver better feedback of the road conditions and further boost his/her confidence to take corners with even more aplomb.

Dimensions and Weights
Overall Length (mm)	3760
Overall Width (mm)	1690
Overall Height (mm)	1530
Wheel Base (mm)	2390
Ground Clearance (mm)	170
Front Track (mm)	1470
Rear Track (mm)	1480
Boot Space (liter)	232
Kerb Weight (kg)	1075
Gross Vehicle Weight (kg)	1490
No of Doors	5

Fuel Economy
Mileage Highway (km/liter)	18.2
Mileage City (km/liter)	14
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	14.84

Capacities
Seating Capacity (person)	5
Fuel Tank Capacity (liter)	43

Performance
Maximum Speed	158Km/Hour
0-100kmph	13.8seconds
1/4 Mile	19.1seconds

Engine
Engine Type/Model	1.3L, DOHC, DDiS Diesel
Displacement cc	1248
Power (PS@rpm)	75PS @4000rpm
Torque (Nm@rpm)	190Nm @2000rpm
Valve Mechanism	DOHC
Bore (mm)	69.6
Stroke (mm)	82
Compression Ratio	17.6:1
No of Cylinders (cylinder)	4
Cylinder Configuration	Inline
Valves per Cylender (value)	4
Fuel Type	Diesel
Fuel System	Common rail multi injection @ 1400 bar

Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5Gears
Clutch Type	Hydraulic
Final Reduction Gear Ratio	3.94

Suspensions
Front Suspension	MacPherson strut and coil spring
Rear Suspension	Torsion beam and coil spring

Steering
Steering Type	Rack & Pinion
Power Assisted	Standard
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.7

Brakes
Front Brakes	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes	Drums

Wheels and Tyres
Wheel Type	Steel
Wheel Size	14 inch
Tyres	165/80 R14

Maruti Ritz

                                                             Maruti Ritz
                                                      Rs 402,001.43* - Rs 559,263.96

The Ritz is a stylish and contemporary car with an advanced European design that offers a superior drive quality, performance and visibility. The car comes with supremely refined engine options in petrol and diesel and its high quality interiors are extremely roomy and spacious.

Exterior

The roofline of the car which flows in an arc to combine with an almost vertical rear windows conveys a sense of lively movement, at the same time boosts aerodynamic efficiency. The design flow continues on the exterior with distinctive styling that comes with its boomrang taillights. Moreover, the car has distinctive curves which give the car a sporty look. Moreover, the crease lines on the side give the car a youthful and unique shape and make the car one of the trendiest cars in its category. The front and rear fog lamps make it easier to drive in foggy or other difficult weather conditions. The alloy wheels on the Ritz add to the car's style quotient and make it lighter to drive. They also provide better stability.

Interior

Every feature in the Ritz is designed keeping the needs of the driver in mind. The waterfall console with its silver lining and two tone dashboard adds a feel of luxury to the interiors. The Ritz offers plenty of cabin space and seating and driving comfort. It allows for a high seating position on account of its high roofline. Moreover, because of its dash mounted gearshift and adjustable height of seats, the driving gets more enjoyable, thereby allowing overall ease of mind. A host of storage options throughout the cabin make the Ritz convenient and accessible to use. For example, the under-seat utility tray and dash mounted coin holder come in handy as they offer more storage space and let you keep objects out of sight yet near while driving. The Ritz also offers a superb combination of comfort and shelter. It allows lateral movement, reclining movement and adjustable one-way height that lets you seek an upright position and get a good view of the road. Plus, the height adjustable seat belt makes driving more secure. The Ritz also comes with a tilt adjustable steering that allows steering wheel height to be adjusted. With only a small, useful change in the tilt, the car adds plenty to your daily driving pleasure. Also, the 60:40 rear split is very useful when travelling with a lot of luggage, extending the boot space into unutilized passenger area at the rear. The Ritz comes with an inbuilt stereo and Mp3 player that can be controlled with steering mounted audio controls that make driving more convenient and safer for you.

Engine

The Ritz comes with the all new K12M engine and the tried and tested DDiS diesel engine with developed technology. The K-Series K12M engine is refined, powerful and offers best in-class fuel efficiency and low emissions along with a really smooth driving experience. The engine is an advanced 1.2 litre, 16 valve unit which is responsive and powerful. At 85PS @ 6000rpm and 113Nm @4500rpm, the engine boasts improved compression ratios which in turn deliver better initial and passing acceleration for smart overtaking in city driving conditions. Besides being powerful, the K12M is also highly fuel efficient and the lightweight DOHC unit reduces friction, improves durability and delivers best in class fuel economy at 17.94 kmpl (Maruti Suzuki figures). The engine is also more silent with reduced vibrations and being BSIV compliant, the lower emission levels make it a green and eco friendly car.

The award winning and internationally acclaimed DDiS diesel engine is highly responsive and offers a smoother and refined drive. With low NVH levels and best in class mileage, high power, high torque and low emissions, the car also boasts of low maintenance costs.

Safety

Equipped with ABS and EBD the Ritz offers uncompromised safety to its occupants as well as pedestrians and with its dual front airbags the Ritz qualifies to be one of the safest cars on the road today. But that's not all, with immobilizer iCATS and central locking system, the Ritz ensures that it stays with you always.

The Ritz is available in eight exciting colours such as Superior White, Silky Silver, Baker's Chocolate, Glistening Grey, Racing Green, Firebrick Red, Blue Blaze and Midnight Black.

Dimensions and Weights
Overall Length (mm)	3715
Overall Width (mm)	1680
Overall Height (mm)	1620
Wheel Base (mm)	2360
Ground Clearance (mm)	170
Boot Space (liter)	236
Kerb Weight (kg)	1015
Gross Vehicle Weight (kg)	1430
No of Doors	5

Fuel Economy
Mileage Highway (km/liter)	15.5
Mileage City (km/liter)	11.1
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	12.1

Capacities
Seating Capacity (person)	5
Fuel Tank Capacity (liter)	43

Performance
Maximum Speed	Km/Hour
0-100kmph	13.29seconds
1/4 Mile	seconds

Engine
Engine Type/Model
Displacement cc	1197
Power (PS@rpm)	85PS @6000rpm
Torque (Nm@rpm)	113Nm @4500rpm
Valve Mechanism
Bore (mm)
Stroke (mm)
Compression Ratio	:1
No of Cylinders (cylinder)	4
Cylinder Configuration	Straight, Transverse
Valves per Cylender (value)	4
Fuel Type	Petrol
Fuel System	MPFI

Transmission
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5Gears
Clutch Type
Final Reduction Gear Ratio

Suspensions
Front Suspension	McPherson strut with coil spring
Rear Suspension	Torsion beam & coil spring

Steering
Steering Type
Power Assisted	Standard
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.7

Brakes
Front Brakes	Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes	Drum

Wheels and Tyres
Wheel Type	Tubeless tyres
Wheel Size	14 Inch
Tyres	165 /80 R 14