Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) is all set to expand its presence across the sedan segment. While the company?s SX4, launched in May 2007, is already outperforming high-end cars in the mid-size sedan segment, the company will shortly unveil its much-talked about Swift sedan.
To be launched at the end of March, the car will be a replacement to the Esteem and would compete with the likes of entry-level sedans like Tata Indigo. “The image of a hatchback and styling of Swift is carried forward in Swift DZire,” says Mayank Pareek, executive officer, (marketing and sales), MSIL, adding that the new car would be available in both petrol and diesel versions and would be available in three variants of each.
Though the company did not share the price band of its upcoming Swift sedan, sources in the industry say it would be pitched as an entry-level sedan and would be priced around Rs 5.0-5.5 lakh. This is much lower than the price of SX4, which costs around Rs 7 lakh and competes with top-end models like Honda City, and would help the market leader to offer products across all price bands.
“Designed by Suzuki engineers in Japan, the sedan version of Swift would have same engine specifications as the existing Swift and will be built on the same platform as the hatchback. It would have a 1.3 litre petrol as well as diesel engine,” says C V Raman, chief general manager, (R&D), MSIL while speaking at the preview of the car.
With virtually no product in the entry-level A3 segment after the company decided to phase out Maruti Esteem that had been on Indian roads for more than one-and-a half decade, MSIL was losing out market in the sedan segment to Tata Indigo and Hyundai Accent.
Currently, A3 segment comprises of around 15 models including Ford Ikon, Chevrolet Aveo, Mahindra-Renault Logan, Honda City, Hyundai Accent and Verna and Tata Indigo and Indigo Marina. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the segment grew by 8.46% during February to 16,380 units as against 15,103 units during the same month last year.
